RC priest: Children not only the future, but also the present

Not only are children the future, but they are also the present said RC priest Fr David Khan, as he called on parents and guardians to teach their children to do what is right.

"What you do will shape their future. Parents, what is the future are you shaping?" Khan said.

"Parents are the first teachers to children. Teach them what is right and good, so in the future they would know what to do and how to do it."

Khan delivered the homily at the Feast of the Holy Innocents, also referred to as Innocents' Day, at the Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Harris Promenade, San Fernando on Monday.

This has been a difficult year for many people, especially children, the priest told the small, spaced-out congregation. Owing to the pandemic, children did not have an opportunity to socialise, play or go to school and many of them were isolated.

But, he said, "In spite of all the difficulties, we will always have Christmas. Christmas will never be cancelled because God is ever-present to his people.

"We are called children no matter our age; we are the children of our parents. Likewise, we are all children of God. We must always strive always to do what is right, good and pleasing in the eyes of almighty God."

He referred to scriptures saying the feast commemorates the massacre of young children in Bethlehem by King Herod, who was trying to find and kill the infant Jesus.

To the children, Khan said, "The greatest gift you can give your parents is to be like Jesus."

Unlike previous years, the children did not give the priest their toys to be blessed. As a precautionary measure to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, instead they stood, and the priest said a special prayer.

Only a handful of children were holding toys.

"This year we cannot do things as we normally do, but God is there in good and bad times," Khan said.