EUROPE/ROMANIA - First Christmas for Missionary Childhood children

Thursday, 2 January 2020 pontifical mission societies   missionary animation   children  

Bucharest (Agenzia Fides) - For the first time, Romanian missionary children prepared and celebrated the Lord's Christmas together: on May 18, in fact, a first group of Romanian children had joined the Pontifical Society of Missionary Childhood, as part of a day of celebration and awareness (see Fides, 13/5/2019). On December 20, 2019, the missionary children met at the headquarters of the Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS) in Bucharest, to celebrate the birth of Jesus together. According to information sent to Fides by the PMS National Direction, the feast began with the Holy Mass presided by Fr. Eugen Blaj, National Director of the PMS, in the church of Santa Maria Regina, in Cioplea, where the children participated, together with their parents, brothers and sisters, friends and animators.
Therefore there was the representation of the traditional Christmas scene of the birth of our Lord Jesus, followed by a game and the sharing of traditional food that the parents had prepared. There were Christmas carols and a Christmas tree, elements that are part of the atmosphere of this period. However, the protagonist of the encounter was the Child Jesus. During Advent, the missionary children followed an itinerary that helped them prepare for the long-awaited moment, through good deeds and small sacrifices. In the first week they put together small savings for the most needy children, thus learning to give up less useful things for those who live in need. In the second week they decorated the tree with the good deeds they offered for their loved ones. The third week was that of the "special Christmas" gift, carefully prepared for a person that everyone perceives as less pleasant. The last days of Advent were reserved for the preparation of the crib, which represents the heart of each of us, and therefore must be purified of any thoughts, actions or intentions that may create discomfort when welcoming the Baby Jesus. (MA/SL) (Agenzia Fides, 2/1/2020)


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