AS chaplain of a primary and
secondary school, I consider
as one of my responsibilities the task of inculcating the spirit of
piety to the children. I consider this, of course, as a most delicate
and challenging duty considering the temper of the times, the
mentalities and sensitivities of the today’s young people who are
exposed to an environment quite different from mine when I was at
their age.
I believe that this task is carried out mainly through
example that should be preceded with a lot of prayer and sacrifice. If
the kids see the priest praying and always friendly, warm and
affectionate with everyone, I suppose they will just follow what they
see.
Of course, it is also very helpful to organize collective
acts of piety, like daily Masses in the school chapel with a class
assigned to attend it, or a class making a visit to the Blessed
Sacrament, praying the rosary, or organizing pilgrimages to shrines of
Our Lady, or holding a Eucharistic procession with a floral carpet to
add color to it, etc.
But this duty can also be fulfilled to a large extent
through preaching and teaching. It’s important that all the teachers
be trained to highlight the spiritual foundation and moral
implications of whatever subject he is teaching, no matter how
mundane, secular or technical that subject is.
This is a big challenge today because many of the faculty
tend to be simply concerned with the technical aspects of their
subjects. Not only are they ignorant or confused about this
fundamental aspect of teaching, but also are quite resistant and even
hostile to it. That is why a system of proper screening in the
selection of teachers is now indispensable.
For my part, I have tried to see how I can give the most
appropriate messages in my homilies to the students in the different
levels, from grade school to high school. And I thought of devising
the following plan.
Everyone should be invited and encouraged to spend time
with Christ in the Blessed Sacrament in the chapel. Obviously, I have
to explain the real presence of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament, and
give a lot of examples about Eucharistic devotion.
Also, everyone should be motivated to develop the Marian
devotion by praying the rosary with the family. There should also be a
lot of references to the importance of being grateful, being kind in
words and deeds with others, being quick to say sorry and to forgive
others, being always thoughtful of others, etc.
For those in Grade 1 to 4, the message of being friendly
to everyone, eager to help their classmates, kind to helpers, should
be highlighted. Also, the gesture of sharing food and other things can
be mentioned quite often, as well as encouragement to always tell the
truth and avoid lying.
For those in Grade 5 to 8, I find it relevant to tell them
to always be gentle, caring and prayerful, knowing how to listen to
others and to respect the views and opinions of others, as well as to
study seriously for love of God and not simply for grades.
They should avoid boasting of their achievements, etc.
They can be told often about God’s infinite mercy and thus, to go to
confession regularly and to show compassion always to others. They can
be reminded about giving good example to others.
They can be introduced to the idea of maintaining a plan
of piety, making use of regular practices of piety, like mental
prayer, going to Mass often and receiving Communion with a clean soul,
going to confession regularly, visit to the Blessed Sacrament.
For those in Years II to IV, I feel that they should be
demanded more and more, telling them to go out of their comfort zones,
overcoming their laziness and disorder, and develop the attitude of
wanting to serve and not to be served, to be temperate in the use of
social media, and to be brutally sincere in their mentoring sessions
as well as in confession and spiritual direction.
They need to be given more concrete examples of heroic
charity that may involve the art of suffering and patience, and the
virtue of mercy and compassion. At this stage, a lot of references to
prudence and chastity in relationships should be made. They should try
to please God all the time, especially in moments of weakness and
temptations.
Lastly, they have to be told about how to sanctify their
work and concerns, and about the true meaning of freedom. They have to
start learning about the apostolic dimension of their life.
as one of my responsibilities the task of inculcating the spirit of
piety to the children. I consider this, of course, as a most delicate
and challenging duty considering the temper of the times, the
mentalities and sensitivities of the today’s young people who are
exposed to an environment quite different from mine when I was at
their age.
I believe that this task is carried out mainly through
example that should be preceded with a lot of prayer and sacrifice. If
the kids see the priest praying and always friendly, warm and
affectionate with everyone, I suppose they will just follow what they
see.
Of course, it is also very helpful to organize collective
acts of piety, like daily Masses in the school chapel with a class
assigned to attend it, or a class making a visit to the Blessed
Sacrament, praying the rosary, or organizing pilgrimages to shrines of
Our Lady, or holding a Eucharistic procession with a floral carpet to
add color to it, etc.
But this duty can also be fulfilled to a large extent
through preaching and teaching. It’s important that all the teachers
be trained to highlight the spiritual foundation and moral
implications of whatever subject he is teaching, no matter how
mundane, secular or technical that subject is.
This is a big challenge today because many of the faculty
tend to be simply concerned with the technical aspects of their
subjects. Not only are they ignorant or confused about this
fundamental aspect of teaching, but also are quite resistant and even
hostile to it. That is why a system of proper screening in the
selection of teachers is now indispensable.
For my part, I have tried to see how I can give the most
appropriate messages in my homilies to the students in the different
levels, from grade school to high school. And I thought of devising
the following plan.
Everyone should be invited and encouraged to spend time
with Christ in the Blessed Sacrament in the chapel. Obviously, I have
to explain the real presence of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament, and
give a lot of examples about Eucharistic devotion.
Also, everyone should be motivated to develop the Marian
devotion by praying the rosary with the family. There should also be a
lot of references to the importance of being grateful, being kind in
words and deeds with others, being quick to say sorry and to forgive
others, being always thoughtful of others, etc.
For those in Grade 1 to 4, the message of being friendly
to everyone, eager to help their classmates, kind to helpers, should
be highlighted. Also, the gesture of sharing food and other things can
be mentioned quite often, as well as encouragement to always tell the
truth and avoid lying.
For those in Grade 5 to 8, I find it relevant to tell them
to always be gentle, caring and prayerful, knowing how to listen to
others and to respect the views and opinions of others, as well as to
study seriously for love of God and not simply for grades.
They should avoid boasting of their achievements, etc.
They can be told often about God’s infinite mercy and thus, to go to
confession regularly and to show compassion always to others. They can
be reminded about giving good example to others.
They can be introduced to the idea of maintaining a plan
of piety, making use of regular practices of piety, like mental
prayer, going to Mass often and receiving Communion with a clean soul,
going to confession regularly, visit to the Blessed Sacrament.
For those in Years II to IV, I feel that they should be
demanded more and more, telling them to go out of their comfort zones,
overcoming their laziness and disorder, and develop the attitude of
wanting to serve and not to be served, to be temperate in the use of
social media, and to be brutally sincere in their mentoring sessions
as well as in confession and spiritual direction.
They need to be given more concrete examples of heroic
charity that may involve the art of suffering and patience, and the
virtue of mercy and compassion. At this stage, a lot of references to
prudence and chastity in relationships should be made. They should try
to please God all the time, especially in moments of weakness and
temptations.
Lastly, they have to be told about how to sanctify their
work and concerns, and about the true meaning of freedom. They have to
start learning about the apostolic dimension of their life.
Enjoy the view.
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