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Adeladius Makwega – Dodoma, Tanzania
We are celebrating the 20th Sunday of Year A in the Church’s liturgical calendar. In this Sunday’s Gospel, the Canaanite woman gives us an example of what the Lord calls great faith.
“Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David. My daughter is severely tormented by a demon.”
However, Jesus responds to the woman with seemingly harsh words:
“I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. It is not right to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.”
It is at this point that the Gentile woman demonstrates the greatness of her faith. She says to Jesus:
“Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.”
Her response demonstrates her humility, her understanding of salvation, and her faith in God, who is God of all people. Through the abundance of God’s mercy, everyone can share in His grace.
The grace of God will reach each one of us, my brothers and sisters. Faith in Jesus can unite people of different cultures and races.
These are some of the teachings shared by Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization of the Catholic Church, which is responsible for promoting the spread of the Gospel throughout the world.
Meanwhile, at the Church of the Immaculate Virgin Mary, Chamwino Ikulu Parish, in the Archdiocese of Dodoma, the priest who celebrated the first Mass strongly emphasized the importance of maintaining good relationships in our lives. He explained that everyone with whom we live as neighbors is a witness to our lives, whether in marriage, family, neighborhood, or other circumstances of life.
At this parish, another important message emphasized to the faithful was the need to complete preparations to welcome the Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Dodoma, His Grace Beatus Michael Kinyaiya, who is expected to administer the Sacrament of Confirmation.
At exactly 7:00 a.m., as Mwanakwetu was leaving after attending this first Mass, he met three women who were hurrying to attend the second service. It appeared that two of them were newcomers to the parish.
One of the newcomers said:
“Where we came from, there was a children’s choir, and it was scheduled to sing just like the other choirs. This helped us greatly because those children learned to sing at an early age. The choir had everything, including uniforms, an account, and strong leadership. I also learned to sing at a very young age. I am not sure whether other churches have children’s choirs that are as strong, organized, and exemplary as that one…”
Because the women were speaking over one another, Mwanakwetu did not hear the entire conversation. Nevertheless, what he heard was enough to make him reflect deeply on the place of children in the life of the Church.
Now the question is for you, the reader of this article: Does your church have a children’s choir like that?
I know you, as people of the nations, have an answer.
Just as the Canaanite woman demonstrated her faith through humility and perseverance, so too should we raise our children in an environment that builds their faith, talents, discipline, and love for the Church.
A children’s choir is not merely a place for singing. It can be a school of formation, discipline, cooperation, and faith. A child who is given the opportunity to participate in Church ministry from an early age learns responsibility, cooperation, and how to serve the Church wholeheartedly.
Therefore, it is important for every parish to reflect:
What opportunities are we giving our children in the Church? What kind of environment are we creating for them to develop their talents and grow in faith?
Remember
Faith can unite people of different cultures, races, and backgrounds. But faith must also be nurtured and passed on from one generation to another. Children are an important part of the Church of today and the Church of tomorrow.
I wish you a blessed and wonderful day.
makwadeladius@gmail.com
0717649257
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