In my Elementary and High School days, I am a member of C.C.D.(Confraternity Of Christian Doctrine) of Sta. Cruz Church. We are divided into different groups with different function. We hold our Sunday mass under the Chapel adjacent to the Church.
*1.fisherman group-assigned to fetch and bring home safely the children in their area of responsibility.
I forgot the name of the other group so I’ll just name them by their function.
*2 Refreshment Team- assigned to prepare and distribute the food after the mass. Consist of Milk (sometimes chocolate) and galletas (a kind of biscuit).
*3.Preacher - Our group is to interpret the gospel and create a drama situation so that the children could understand the gospel in laymen’s term. Just before our officiating Priest will deliver his sermon.
*4.Choral Group - Here I learned to play the guitar. Playing mostly mass based songs. We performed every Sunday (morning) in the side Alter then during Mass at the Chapel for these little children.
Our Parish Priest then is Father Paul Crainz then Father Getty. Miss Caballero (then replaced by Ate Lulu) is our Social Services Head and our Coordinator. Ate Charito is our Choir Master and Voice Teacher (I’m not a good singer that is why I had to learn how to play the Guitar. Get that!).
Here I learned the true meaning of our Bible. We will discuss and brainstorm every Saturday what is the best to way to interpret the Gospel. This will be used in the next day mass. Years after years; that is our routine. It gave me vast knowledge in understanding people. I also learned the true meaning of patience, hard work, dedication, and forgiveness due to the example shown to us by the above-mentioned name. Those people genuinely showed their love and care. They honed our skills and developed us to be productive in our own little way. They gave us confidence in dealing with other people. We became man for others. To do volunteer work unselfishly without expecting or thinking of return of favor. Our trips to Seminary or attending a” Retreat” is a welcome news for us. Not counting when December comes and when they would surprised us with our individual gifts.
Of course there are petty quarrels but those made our bonding stronger. Those things have taught us to so resolve our differences by listening to one another and always use the “WE” instead mo “I”. This part of my life that I would re-lived over and over again.
This is where I met my lovely sweetheart who became my wife Evelyn.
Prior to becoming an active member, I would always run or hide whenever I see Volunteer or the Fisherman group looking for children. Learning the free snacks being served after the mass, I was motivated to try. That first try had me hook in going even not being fetch or would excitedly wait for Sundays to come. Suddenly I find myself with a lot of new friends and a lot of new thing to learn. I just don’t know if this organization still exists up to this time.
If there is one in your locality, I would suggest for you to encourage your children to join. It will also helped them a lot in developing their self esteem and their personality.
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