‘Every child is an artist’ – Fr Austin Peres at Children’s day celebrations, Surathkal

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‘Every child is an artist’ – Fr Austin Peres at Children’s day celebrations, Surathkal

Mangaluru: The children’s day was celebrated in a unique way at Sacred Herat Church Surathkal, on 10 November 2024, Sunday at the Church Sabhabavan hall. The celebration began with the Thanksgiving Eucharist at the church in the morning at 9.00, followed by the informal celebrations at the church hall.

The day officially kicked off with a warm welcome from Ms Lavita Correa, the catechism coordinator. The excitement was palpable as the catechism teachers took charge, leading the children in a variety of engaging games. These activities were designed to get the students peppy and excited, setting a lively tone for the day’s events.

The film Bum Bum Bole, the Hindi dubbing from the Iranian movie called The Children of heaven was screened on a big LED screen with sound effects. This heart-touching and imaginative film captivated the children’s attention, offering an opportunity for deeper reflection. After the screening, Fr Richard D Souza specialized in film appreciation conducted the evaluation of the film, where they were invited to share their thoughts on the film. The evaluation focused on film appreciation and the valuable lessons it conveyed. Students were asked to reflect on the themes of the film, and their feedback was gathered to assess their understanding and emotional connection to the story. The insightful comments from the children demonstrated a remarkable level of engagement, highlighting their capacity for empathy and thoughtful analysis at such a young age.

Following the film, the excitement continued with a quiz competition, which involved 12 groups. The topics covered a wide range of subjects, from Bible stories, the catholic church, liturgy, saints and the local deanery. The quiz not only tested the students’ knowledge but also was a platform for the faith formation of students. After lunch, the games and various outdoor activities like special treasure haunts etc were conducted by Mr Roysten Robin and the team from ICYM Katipalla Church.

Fr Austin Peter Peres in his presidential address at the grand finale of children’s day celebrations shared a poignant quote from the renowned artist Pablo Picasso: “Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once they grow up.” This powerful statement resonated with the children and teachers alike, encouraging everyone to nurture their creativity and imagination as they grow older.

Fr Richard D’Souza in his chief guest address, spoke fondly about cherishing the days of childhood, emphasizing the value of play, learning, and joy. The message reminded everyone of the beauty and wonder of being a child and enjoying childhood.

The Church Hall was filled with energy and joy as 250 students and 20 dedicated teachers took an active part in the celebrations.

The children were awarded prizes mementos and ice cream. Ms Shoba compeered the valedictory programme, Ms Lavita, the Catechism Coordinator welcomed the guests and Ms Teena Rebello proposed a vote of thanks. The programme was concluded with the baila dance.


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