What children and teens have been up to at WMOF

Band time for teens at the World Meeting of Families

Church

Friday is the final day of the 3-day Pastoral Congress of the World Meeting of Families in Dublin, Ireland where children and teens have their own programme!

By Sr Bernadette Mary Reis, fsp

The children of families attending the World Meeting of Families (WMOF) in Dublin, Ireland, have been enjoying their own special programme during the 3-day Pastoral Congress.

Children鈥檚 Programme

Children ages 4-12 attending the WMOF have been enjoying drama, arts & crafts, prayer, catechesis, Godly play time, puppet theatre, workshops鈥攁ll created with their needs in mind. Various Bishops of Ireland have been providing the catechesis around the themes 鈥淔amilies of faith, and the importance of saying 鈥楶lease鈥� 鈥�, 鈥淕od loves me, the importance of saying 鈥楽orry鈥� 鈥�, 鈥淗ope and Happiness, the fruits of saying 鈥楾hank you鈥� 鈥�. These themes incorporate the theme of the day, along with 杏MAP导航 Francis鈥� recommendation to families to include 鈥減lease鈥�, 鈥淚鈥檓 sorry鈥�, and 鈥渢hank you鈥� in their daily interactions with each other.

Hannah Evans, Speakers Manager for WMOF 2018, said in an interview on WMOF TV that this separate children鈥檚 program 鈥渓ends an element of freedom for parents to be able to attend other workshops so they don鈥檛 have to stay with their children鈥�.

Teen鈥檚 Programme

Teens between the ages of 13 and 17 have their own programme as well. They鈥檝e been enjoying drama, discussions, 鈥極n the Couch鈥� panels and workshops also on the themes of Faith, Hope and Love. Hannah Evans says that workshop topics range from 鈥渟ocial justice to prayer, Christian meditation鈥� Also things about mental health as well which is a big thing for teenagers. It鈥檚 a big issue facing teenagers these days and how to manage their own mental health鈥�.

Fr Leo Patalinghug provided a workshop on day 2 called Spiritual Combat. He combined his extensive background in martial arts in this interactive presentation teaching teens how to fight evil and 鈥渂reak through鈥� the cycles of sin and hate in the world. Another priest, Fr Michael Remery, spoke about 鈥淭weeting with God鈥�!

In the evening they have had the opportunity to attend concerts, including one by internationally renowned Christian Contemporary band Rexband.

Listen to our report