Altar Servers’ Ministry
This is a very important ministry in the liturgical life. The children are trained by animators of each Mass centre under the guidance of the Priest in charge. Many of them do “double duty” that is serving the both Syro-Malabar and Latin Church liturgy. Their patron is St. John Berchmans and their model is St. Dominic Savio. Savio Fest (in the first or second Saturday of May) is one of the important days of their celebration. Visitator has once attended one of such celebration in the year 2019. Annually they may have picnic or pilgrimage or activities of sports and games, besides their spiritual training. Some of them manage to read Malayalam language and some can read only the transliteration. Some of them can only assist the Holy Qurbana when it is celebrated in the European Languages. But we can perceive the interest of their parents and children themselves in assisting the Liturgy. A Guide Book is in preparation for the commonusage of all the Altar Servers.
Cherupushpa Mission League (CML-Little Flower Mission League)
CML was started in Kerala enthralled by the inspiring words of Pope Leo XIII “The salvation of India is in her sons” and the teachings of St. Alphonsa. CML in Ireland was inaugurated on 1 November 2021 by Apostolic Visitator Mar Stephen Chirappanath. Due to the lock down restrictions its activities were not carried out during the covid period. During the year 2023, activities were commenced under the leadership of Fr. Joe Pazheparambil, the Director of Children ministry. The main focus was to establish CML in all the mass centres across Ireland.
MISSIO 2K23, the 2023 year activities were inaugurated on August 12 by Bishop Mar Lawrence Mukkuzhy and the benedictory speech was delivered by Mar Bishop Stephen Chirappanath. Animators were selected from all Mass centres and given training. There is total of 39 animators from 33 mass centres. Video presentation and PowerPoint presentation were done for all children to give them an overview about CML.
CML membership is for all catechism children who have received their first Holy communion; Class 3 to Class 10. In Ireland there are approx. 3600 children as the members of CML. As children under the process of faith formation, CML is a platform to practice what children learn in Catechism classes. Both the qualities of leadership as well as team work are inculcated in the formation o CML. The theme selected for the 2023-24-year activities is “Respond to His call, together into His field”. It has mainly three aims; First one is, fostering the missionary works of the Catholic Church. Being a member of CML, children will have more opportunities to perform our missionary duties by means of prayer, and charity works. Second one is Vocation Promotion. Third one is personality development – children will be given opportunities to develop and improve their organizational and leadership skills and qualities. During the month of October 2023, Mission Rays -a video program to learn about mission centres and missionary saints - was completed by children from various mass centres. This was followed by an online Mission Quiz. 138 children registered and there were more than 50 attendees participated for the programme. During the month of November, Holyween-Saints Dress Up competition was held. More than 50 children participated. A prayer calendar was given to all children during the month of November 2023 to pray for the departed family members and friends. A Christmas advent calendar is currently being given to children in order to prepare them to receive baby Jesus in their hearts spiritually. A number of mass centres carried out the Mission Sunday fund raising programme successfully. A mission centre will be selected by each member and they will pray for the selected centre and support them with charitable works. An online experience sharing with the missionaries is being planned as well.