by Sr. Flor Florece, F.I.
Save our Planet Earth!
Feeling the effects of this year’s grueling heat, such was the battle cry of 26 children who attended the 2024 Sunday School Summer Camp in St. Ignatius Church on August 12, 2024. Receiving individually a “Letter from Pope Francis” (https://www.youtube. com/watch?v=KIVuISZGdug) to protect our “Common Home” because it is God’s gift to us and it belongs to everyone, they were challenged to work together to take care of planet earth, and put love for the world and love for our neighbors into action. And the Pope wants them to play their part now. He said, “The world can’t wait!”
One Fascinating Activity to Another.
Rhinoceros Beetles. The joy, wonder and awe in the children’s eyes could not be contained as Fr Kiyoshi Shibata, SJ brought his collection of beetles for the kids to touch and be engaged with. He showed them a video of how they develop, from egg to adulthood emphasizing need for the right environment, the right food, the right temperature, and constant care in order to reach their full potential. Several children received a pair of beetles together with a kit and a manual on how to take care of them. Donations of his Beetle Project go to refugees who have fled to Japan. Likewise, this offers a good opportunity for fathers to bond with their child and teach them about the mystery of life!
Recycling Game and Creative Arts. The children had a hand-painting activity, in which they made colorful imprints of their hand on three kinds of garbage cans. Faced with a pile of things for segregation and disposal, they were to decide which items to place in each garbage can. Which one is burnable? Not burnable? Plastic? For the rest of the day- lunch, snack time, supper, they had to responsibly throw their thrash in the right bins in Teresia Hall. From now on, on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of the month, when they have Sunday School, they will use the garbage cans they designed. And parents were urged to involve their children in bringing out the garbage from their homes.
Let’s Go Planting! Have you noticed the sizeable plant box full of weeds near the English Center? The St Ignatius International Youth Group (SIIYM), the Sunday School parents, catechists, dedicated much time and effort to clean up the space and make it ready for planting. One of the parents taught the children how to plant and they were very attentive. Each child was given a choice of what to plant, given different varieties of vegetables. “I want to plant tomato!” The catechist asked why. ”Because I love tomatoes!” she replied. Children were asked if they grow plants at home.