Year of Mercy Camp: A call to live in the spirit of The BEATITUDES

Building Bridges in the Spirit of the Beatitudes was the theme for the 2 day session. Highlighting the final 3 Beatitudes, it explicated the essence by which every Catholic child should emulate in their lives and that ‘is’ by possessing an unblemished heart, by personifying a peacemaker and by embodying persecution with the eventuality of retaining tangible and ceaseless jubilation from God.

36 students from Standards 4 to 6 of SJC catechism classes joined in The Year of Mercy Camp Part 2 that was held on the 10th and 11th of September 2016. The students were engaged in various interactive learning activities such as exploring and comprehending the beatitudes through their personal life encounters. Some exhilarating recreations such as Socrates games, Station games, Mind Mapping and video viewing had challenged the Catechism students to be more reflective to how the spirit of beatitudes could dwell in their hearts and aspire them to become devoted children of God.

Later that evening the Students and the Catechists participated in the Holy Eucharist Celebrations after which they were treated to BBQ dinner. Their night concluded with the viewing of “The Good Dinosaur” movie that further supplemented the beatitudes from a situational perspective.

The closing session on the second day was with an animated “Amazing Race” adventure. The students were batched into 8 groups, each assuming the role of a specified beatitude. Each group was then assigned a challenge that tested their attitudes in various situations. The climax of the game was with a symbolic “treasure in a box” similar to that of Gods’ teachings and HIS rewards of having the right attitudes—experiencing the Kingdom of Heaven, basking in HIS comfort, attaining satisfaction, beholding God and HIS Mercy…. to name a few. The sessions’ finale was with the community song “Trading my Sorrows” where all the students and teachers sang and danced to glorify the Lord by chorusing Yes Lord! Yes Lord! Yes Yes Lord! Amen.

Indeed, the camp was beneficial with the children acquiring an in depth appreciation of the Beatitudes with the collaborative effort from the Catechism teachers and the guidance of our Parish Priest Rev. Fr. George Packiasamy and not forgetting the parents of the Standard 4 till 6 students who assisted in serving the meals to the children. It was resolutely determined that the bridges among the church communities are truly built on the spirit of the beatitudes. As Michell, the SJC Catechism Coordinator stated in her session, “What we sow is what we reap”. We sow the seed of love, we reflect and demonstrate the right attitude, and we will reap the love of God that everyone desires.

by Jane Buniel

CATECHISM RETREAT ON BEATITUDES – Part 1