The Archdiocesan Family Life Commission (AFLC) hosted an Introduction to Parenting Session for parents of St Philip & St James RC Church, Chaguanas’ First Communion Class of 2025 on January 12. The session allowed parents to reflect on their role as Pilgrims of Hope amidst all present-day life’s challenges.
Based on the introductory session, Episcopal Delegate Tricia Syms and her team facilitated three two-hour sessions on the ‘Children are Gift’ parenting accompaniment programme on February 2, 9 and 16. It was well received by parents.
Throughout the sessions, parents learnt and explored skills, tools and techniques for example, the Total Person Windmill (Whole Person Living) to examine their lives, virtues and values, and ways to always have and keep God at the centre of their lives.
The difference between discipline and punishment was examined. These topics proved successful as they were done in small groups and further discussed. Understanding the children in their stages of development, communication and building self-esteem in children were other topics of interest.
One parent shared, “what impacted me was how our childhood trauma affects our adult life in different ways.”
The topic on fatherhood was done through two powerful testimonies. The first testimony was by a First Communion parent who answered the call to join the journey as a Children are Gift facilitator. He spoke on his role as a father and from a son’s perspective. The second was from the AFLC’s Programme Coordinator Darendra Boodram who spoke on fatherhood from a son’s perspective.
All agreed that children need both mothers and fathers in their lives, that parenting is challenging and complex, and amongst all other things, we need God’s mercy, hope and love.
The sessions ended with a sharing and presentation to the facilitators with one parent stating that “the familiarity of everyone’s situation” had the greatest impact on her. —Verna De Silva, Chaguanas First Communion Coordinator, Parish of Chaguanas, St Philip & St James Catholic Church
Upcoming Children are Gift sessions:
April 12 – Bishop Mendes Hall, OLPH,
San Fernando
May 17 – St Francis of Assisi, Sangre Grande
For more information, email: familylife@catholictt.org; WhatsApp: 299-1047;
372-0478; website: aflcrc.org