EUROPE/CZECH REP. - "The big power of small deeds": the seventh national mission congress of children from Holy Childhood

Kroměříž (Agenzia Fides) - Promoted by the National Direction of the Pontifical Mission Societies of the Czech Republic, the seventh National Mission Congress of the children of the Pontifical Society of Holy Childhood was held on October 5 in Kroměříž, within the context of the Extraordinary Missionary Month. As underlined by Olga Loučková, Diocesan Director of the PMS of the Archdiocese of Olomouc, in the note sent to Agenzia Fides, these congresses take place every three years and this year it was the turn of the archdiocese of Olomouc. The realization of the program was arranged for by “Little Mission Club” at the primary school in Kroměříž. Everybody tried hard so that the preparations turned out as best as possible: teachers, children, their parents. The parishioners from the parish of Virgin Mary joined to help, too.
At 10 o´clock the holy mass celebrated by Archbishop Jan Graubner, who is also in charge of missions at the national level, began. At the altar there were also priests accompanying Little Mission Clubs from other places. After the homily the Archbishop welcomed eight new members in Holy Childhood. After receiving their promises of commitment, he blessed them and hang a small cross on their necks. Then the national Director of PMS Leoš Halbrštát put a missionary scarf on their shoulders. The children brought gifts for individual continents to the altar.
After the celebration the children traveled across the continents with the "Great Missionary Game". Many activities, quizzes and games related to different continents were prepared in the stands. Among other things, they experienced what it means to eat with chopsticks or feed someone else, or still rely on each other when one is blindfold, or agree on how to move with their legs tied together. At each stand there was an activity that illustrated the motto of the congress: "Big power of small deeds".
In the afternoon a theatre scene from the life of children from various parts of the world was performed. Subsequently, a Salesian volunteer spoke about his missionary service in Mexico, accompanying the story with photos of the places where he spent eighteen months.
The highlight of the day was to plant a tree in the garden under the castle to commemorate the seventh Missionary Childhood Congress. Unfortunately it was raining heavily and only a small group of over 300 children registered in the Congress could participate. The Archbishop, who participated throughout the day, was the first to take the shovel and helped plant the birch. The Archbishop blessed the tree and, together with the PMS National Director, officially concluded the seventh National Missionary Congress of Holy Childhood. (O.L./S.L.) (Agenzia Fides, 23/10/2019)

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