Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Tai Pei (Agenzia Fides) – There are three things that Saint John Bosco thought were important: that children receive the Sacrament of Confession often, that they be well-prepared to make their Confession, and that they receive the Body of Christ with great devotion. Thus, following this teaching of this Patron of the Youth, 5 children of St. John Bosco Parish in Tai Pei recently received their First Communion after a long and careful preparation, given by priests, catechists, and parents. According to a report from Christian Life Weekly, the weekly bulletin of the Archdiocese of Tai Pei, during the First Communion Mass, the assistant pastor of the parish focused on the importance of spiritual guidance for children in their daily life, from their parents and everyone else, as well. He also gave the examples of Don Bosco and Francesco Besucco, one of the first boys that Don Bosco helped, who later died when he was only 14 years old. The assistant pastor explained that Don Bosco had received his First Communion when he was 11, and Francesco, when he was 7, and that both “wanted to pray and prepare themselves spiritually” for the event. The priest later encouraged the children to follow the example of Don Bosco’s life: going to Confession frequently and receiving Communion frequently, going to Mass on Sunday, having Jesus and Our Lady as their best friends, not falling into sin. “This is how we prepare ourselves for Confirmation, becoming better Catholics,” the priest concluded. (NZ) (Agenzia Fides 18/07/2008)
