EPHPHATHA 2025: Lighting the Path of Faith for
Tomorrow’s Church
The Ephphatha Camp was successfully conducted
from 23rd to 25th April 2025 at Balehonnur for
the 6th and 7th standard children from various
parishes under the Balehonnur Deanery. A total
of 110 children actively participated in this
spiritually enriching event, which aimed to
impart liturgical awareness, strengthen moral
values, and deepen the spiritual foundation of
young participants through faith-based learning
and fellowship.
The camp was organized under the leadership of
Fr Supreeth Menezes, Secretary of the Diocesan
Liturgy Commission, and Fr Vincent Marcel Pinto,
Joint Secretary. They were ably supported by Fr
Keerthi Kiran, Fr Paul D'Souza, Fr William
Periera, Fr Anil Lobo, and Sr Veena, who all
played significant roles in engaging and
instructing the children.
Over the course of three days, the camp
covered a wide range of spiritual and liturgical
topics through interactive sessions, group
discussions, activities, and prayer moments. Key
themes included:
Liturgical Postures and Gestures: Children were
taught the significance of the various movements and
expressions used during the liturgy, helping them to
understand and participate more meaningfully in the
Holy Mass.
Religious Articles: The sessions included a display
and explanation of sacred vessels, vestments, and
other liturgical items used in church services.
Altar
Serving: A special emphasis was placed on the
importance and responsibilities of altar servers,
fostering reverence and discipline among those
aspiring to serve at the altar.
Holy
Mass and Eucharist: The camp aimed to deepen the
children's understanding of the Eucharist and the
importance of active participation in the
celebration of the Mass.
Role
of the Church: Sessions explored the identity and
mission of the Church in the life of a Catholic
believer.
Moral
and Christian Values: Through stories, skits, and
group sharing, children were encouraged to grow in
virtues such as honesty, respect, obedience, and
charity.
The camp also included recreational activities,
cultural programs, and moments of fellowship
which created a joyful and community-centered
atmosphere. The children responded
enthusiastically to all activities and expressed
great joy in learning more about their faith.
The Ephphatha Camp at Balehonnur proved to be a
fruitful and enriching experience for all
participants. It not only educated the children
on the liturgical and spiritual aspects of their
faith but also inspired them to live out their
Christian values more sincerely in their daily
lives. The organizing team expressed gratitude
to all the priests, religious, volunteers, and
the parish community of Balehonnur for their
wholehearted support and hospitality.
Fr Anil Lobo
