PONTIFICIUM OPUS A SANCTA INFANTIA

Experiences and Testimonies

EUROPE
AGAINST THE USE OF CHILDREN IN WAR

         The Convention on the Rights of the Child states that, in order to be enrolled in the armed forces and participate in military actions, an individual must be at least 15. Some people consider this limit too low and consequently an international coalition has been formed that aims to raise the minimum age from 15 to 18.

        The Missionary Childhood in Belgium, France, Switzerland and 19 other European countries has decided to join the "international coalition to stop the use of child soldiers". Each country proposed an awareness-raising activity among their youngsters.

       Thus, for example, in Belgium, for the occasion of Inter-cultural Day (21st October 2000), children and young people brought toy weapons which they threw into a large net that took the form of a huge dove, the symbol of peace, in order to express solidarity with child soldiers.

VENEZUELA
FIRST MEETING OF FATHERS AND MOTHERS 
OF CHILDREN OF THE MISSIONARY CHILDHOOD

The meeting took place at Caracas on 20th May 2000 and its aim was "to animate and foment the missionary spirit among families and to encourage material and spiritual co-operation in the representatives through the missionary commitment of the Universal Church".

        Parents exchanged views on the experience of having a child or adolescent in one of the Missionary Childhood groups. There was a total of 87 participants from seven of the country's dioceses. 

            The central theme of the encounter was "Family and Mission" and the event ended with a Eucharistic celebration presided by one of the auxiliary bishops of Caracas.

INDONESIA 
PILGRIMAGE OF THE CROSS

The Missionary Childhood in the diocese of Larantuka, Indonesia, has organised a pilgrimage of the Holy Cross through all the parishes of the diocese. For the occasion of the Jubilee 2000, the children sought to strengthen their friendship with Jesus and in order to demonstrate this are carrying the Cross throughout the diocese with the aim of visiting children in distant parishes.

The bishop himself was present at the start of the journey, and celebrated Mass. The Cross remains in each parish for 10 to 14 days and the children from that parish then carry it to the next one. Along the journey, other children await the passage of the Cross with dances, folk costumes, songs and poems. There are many children - as well as adults - who, while the Cross is present, go to church to pray. The people of the various parishes welcome the Cross with great devotion, many decorate the streets through which it will pass. This initiative has moved and changed the entire diocese, with Protestants also participating alongside Catholics. Even some Muslims take part who, together with the police, provide a guarantee of security. Some parishes have welcomed the Cross under pouring rain which, nonetheless, has not discouraged children or adults from participating. On other occasions, in order to be moved from one parish to another, the Cross had to be carried for several kilometres on foot. In the end, it will be placed on the peak of the San Dominggo hill. The idea is to repeat this experience every five years. All this is thanks to Jesus' little missionaries; a small idea that has enjoyed huge success.

BRAZIL
THE GROWTH OF MISSIONARY CHILDHOOD

         In Brazil, the Missionary Childhood is growing rapidly. In 1997 there were three Formation Meetings for Missionary Childhood Animators (EFAIM), Level 1, with a total of 278 participants. 

         In 1998, 11 such meetings took place with a total of 821 participants. 

        In 1999, there were 17 meetings and 1310 participants and finally, in 2000, there were 20 meetings and 1756 participants. 

         Throughout this process, more than 170 dioceses have been involved.

VENEZUELA
SCHOOL FOR MISSIONARY ANIMATORS (SOMA) VIA INTERNET

         The National Direction in Venezuela has begun an SOMA service via Internet aimed at those Missionary Childhood animators who, for various reasons, cannot attend the SOMA centres in their respective countries. The service is in Spanish. Students can access subjects regarding formation through a secret code that they must use in order to enter the SOMA web page. Each student is assigned a group and a tutor who must follow and guide his students and mark their exams. Once students pass the exams, they are awarded the corresponding certificate.