The Children of the Holy Family are also known by the name of "Supala". They have promised to avoid the consumption of food and drink harmful to the body. In 2020 the 200th anniversary of the Catholic association will be celebrated.
Colombo (AsiaNews) - "I promise to love every creature of nature and to protect it. I accept myself as a part of it. I appreciate all that exists in nature and respect all its forms of life". This is the solemn oath pronounced by 317 children of the Holy Family in the province of Colombo, also known by the name of "Supala".
On June 15th, the children participated in the group festival, which took place in the Zacharias hall of the Saint Joseph Vaz school in Wennappuwa, in the diocese of Chilaw. In front of educators, priests, nuns and laity, they committed themselves to caring for creation and at the same time giving up the consumption of food harmful to the body. Among these, Coca-Cola.
The "Supala" celebration took place in a joyful atmosphere, with songs, dances and theatrical performances. Episodes of daily life inspired by Pope Francis encyclical Laudato sì, "on the care of our common home" were staged. The short representations featured not only children but also fruit, trees and animals.
Speaking to AsiaNews, Sr. Shanthilatha, coordinator of the Holy Family Supala group, recalls that "in 2020 the Catholic association will celebrate 200 years. In view of that event, we are already organizing many things both in civil society and in the company. In preparation for the Jubilee, we also wanted the little ones to begin to understand more about nature and the world around them. So we put on a show that taught them love and respect for nature, plants, humans and animals ".
According to the educator, respect is learned from childhood and especially in the family, "being careful to clean the house or the garden. We also teach children what it is good to eat and which foods damage the body ". Together with the coordinator, the young girls were led by Rosita and Shiranthi and Fr. Anura Gamlath: the latter is part of the Holy Family Priest Association; the other two belong to a lay group. All three hope one day that "these little children will become members of the big society of the Holy Family to create a more beautiful world".