Family is ‘mini-church’ for children, says priest

The Catholic devotion should begin with the family and center on the children.

Fr Antolin Asor, OSA, who celebrated the Children’s Mass yesterday at the Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño, gave this reminder and  emphasized the importance of the family as the “mini-church” where teaching devotion to children begins.

This reminder wasn’t lost to couple Guillermo Purca, 30 and wife Gerlie, 21, who carried their seven-month old first born Chris Derek amid the thick crowd who attended the Children’s Mass yesterday morning.

“We want him to be familiar with the ways of the Catholic church at an early age,” Guillermo, who is currently unemployed told Cebu Daily News.

He said they wanted their son to grow up as a God-fearing person and to be devoted to Sr. Sto Nino.

“Señor Sto Nino has made many miracles and helps the people especially the children,” he said.

Osar said the parents should be examples to the children and they should teach them to pray.

“They should be taught to pray while they are still young. It is important for them to be guided, to form and mold their heart and mind because they are the future citizens,” said Asor, who is also the school director of the Colegio del Sto Nino.

Asor said they decided to choose “Sto. Niño: Refuge of the Filipino Christian Family” as the theme for the 446th celebration of the Fiesta Senor because “the Christian life centers on the family.”

“The children are the grace of love of the couples. They have to be protected and cared for,” he said.

He said the family is the foundation of the children’s faith, the “first-school” of the children specially on values formation.

Asor said the parents should serve as good examples of devotion to their children.

“Non-practicing parents without good values are not good influence for the children,” he said.

Asor also challenged the parents to make an effort to do good because they are the first teachers of their children.

He said  families should make an effort to “plot out” their plans when they start a family.

“Starting a family is never easy. Parents have to make sure that they can provide the needs and establish good moral foundation to their chidlren,” he said.

Alem Saga, security officer of the Basilica del Sto Nino said they estimated around 400,000 people who flocked the Basilica for the children’s mass yesterday. /Candeze R. Mongaya, Reporter