LINGAYEN, Pangasinan, June 1, 2013 – Kids nowadays should go back to taking pride in their identity as Catholics, a priest said.
“Be proud you are Kids for Christ, be proud you are for Mary, be proud you are for the Church,” Fr. Victor Embuido told an estimated 2,500 CFC – Kids for Christ members this morning.
Fr. Victor Embuido asks kids to be proud of belonging to Jesus, of belonging to the Catholic faith. [Photo credit: Ruel Tenerife]
Proud of the sign of faith
Fr. Embuido, who is also the spiritual director of Couples for Christ – Pangasinan, explained that this owning of one’s identity can be seen through simple actions like making the sign of the Cross.
“Huwag niyong kalimutan na dalhin ang Diyos kahit saan sa pamamagitan ng sign of the Cross (Do not forget to bring God wherever you go through the sign of the Cross),” he said.
The parish priest of Our Lady of Purification parish, Binmaley also explained how Catholics at present do not mind making the sign of the faith at home, but will make hardly noticeable signs of the Cross – as if ashamed — if they are in public like praying before meals in restaurants.
”Bakit ‘pag nasa labas ang liit-liit ng sign of the Cross natin? Huwag niyong ikahiya na kayo ay mga KFC, huwag niyong ikahiya na kayo ay Katoliko (Why is it that when we’re outside our sign of the Cross is so small? Let us not be ashamed that we are KFC, let us not be ashamed that we are Catholic)!” he said passionately.
Jesus, first thing in the morning
Fr. Embuido also reminded the young delegates of the Luzon Kids’ Village (LKV) that the sign of the Cross should be the first thing they should do in the morning, not reaching for the cell phones or their iPads.
During his homily, Fr. Embuido asked everyone present to make a promise to follow Jesus by ‘praying always’.
“Today you make a promise. Promise mo ‘yan kay Jesus, promise ng lahat ng mga nandito..Hindi lang ng mga KFC, pati ng mga magulang, pati mga camera man natin, walang maiwanan (This is your promise to Jesus, a promise of everyone here, not just of KFCs, but also parents and even our camera men, no one will get left behind),” he said.
The Luzon Kids’ Village is the yearly island conference of CFC – KFC that gathers kids from as far away as Palawan, Mindoro, Bicol, as well as Metro Manila.
CFC – Kids for Christ is the kids’ ministry of Couples for Christ, which caters to children 4 to 12 years old. [Nirva’ana Ella Delacruz]
