By Rachel Curry
Saint Padre Pio, St Teresa of Calcutta and St Mary of the Cross MacKillop made a rare appearance at St Brigid’s Catholic Church in Midland last month as CFC Kids for Christ held its first All Saints Day Parade.
CFC Kids for Christ Co-ordinator Liza Malabanan said the event aimed to provide an alternative way for children to celebrate Halloween and All Saints Day, by inviting them to dress up as their favourite saints.
Held on Sunday, 30 October, the parade was the first to be held in Perth, although similar events have been organised by CFC Kids for Christ in Sydney and the Philippines.
“We believe it is important for our children to remember and honour our saints, as they serve as inspirations and good examples for them, and for us adults too; that here are ordinary people with extraordinary hearts who chose to love and follow Jesus, and that anyone can be like them too,” Mrs Malabanan said.
About 30 children participated the parade, which CFC Kids for Christ hopes will be a new annual tradition, before attending Mass at St Brigid’s.
During his homily, Midland Parish Priest Father Ken Asaba explained to the congregation that the saints were ordinary people, just like them, who had extraordinary hearts. After Communion, the children were asked to come forward to the altar as their saint was called, and Mrs Malabanan said this left both the children and their parents “beaming with pride”.
“The children were shy at first but eventually became comfortable when they saw the other kids dressed up too,” she said.
“Judging from the lit-up faces of the community, as well as their applause while each child walked from the back of the Church to the altar as their saints were called, I would say it was a success.”
Fr Asaba also praised the parade, noting that he had received a lot of positive feedback from parishioners who attended the Mass.
“I think the All Saints Day Parade is a perfect alternative or substitute for Halloween and, at the same time, a great way of encouraging the children to love saints and live saintly lives. I would like it to become an annual event in our parish,” he said.
CFC Kids for Christ is a family ministry of Couples for Christ (CFC), an international Catholic renewal community whose goal is to strengthen the Christian family. For more information, visit www.cfcwa.org.au.