By Lissy Maruthanakuzhy
Monippally: A parish priest in Kerala has taken on a unique phenomenon in the southern Indian state – alcoholism among pre-teens.
“Kerala is the only state where even 12 year olds have become alcoholics,” laments Fr Joseph Kaduppil of St Thomas Church Cheenkallel, a parish under Palai diocese.
The 46-year-old priest, who came to the parish five years ago, told Matters India that he had suspected alcoholism and other abuses were prevalent among young children. It was confirmed after he organized confessions for catechism students.
The priest blamed peer pressure for “drug abuse, sex abuse, alcoholism and hedonism which are very rampant now among the children.”
Fr Kaduppil also noted the children become individualistic. “Selfie is part of it. No photo without me, is their attitude,” he added.
The priest said he prepared the students for the Sacrament of Reconciliation one grade for each Sunday.
Mini Binoy, a catechism teacher and mother of three teenagers, said the preparations helped children become aware of their failures in life.
On November 6 the parish organized a seminar for the catechism children to educate them on the Seven Sacraments, the Ten Commandments, and the Five Precepts of the Church. Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament was also part of the program.
More than 300 students from grades four to 12 attended the event that the parish prepared for several months.
Mini said Fr John Mattayany of Palai diocese, the resource person, narrated the story of David and Goliath. He told the children like David who carried five stones to face Goliath they should face temptations through confession, communion, rosary, personal prayer and Word of God. He also encouraged the children to attend daily Mass.
The seminar was organized as part of the Conclusion of the Year of Mercy, Mini explained.
Christo Maruthanakuzhy says the seminar and the Adoration reawakened his spirit. “The seminar helped me how to understand my peers, and help them,” the 14 –year-old boy told Matters India.
He said the priest also taught them to receive Sacraments in the proper way. “He cautioned us how to face the sinful moments. For this he suggested the following five means: Sacrament of Confession, Holy Communion, Praying the Rosary, Reading prayerfully the Word of God and personal prayer.”
Litto Jomon, 12, who was standing nearby, chipped in: “He also taught us some ejaculatory prayers for daily recital.” He said the priest narrated the story of David and Goliath to explain how one can fight temptations through prayers. “He helped us understand the importance of the 10 commandments in our day to day life.”
The parish also organized a “pithru sangam” (meeting of fathers) as part of the preparation and to address problems among children. “Our children are going through a difficult period surrounded by various types of media,” said the priest, who teaches canon law in a few seminaries. “We can help our young children only when they place confidence in the elders, be it parents, teachers, or siblings,” he told the fathers.
Jomon Cyriac, a participant of the fathers’ meet, says their parish priest is “much concerned about the welfare of the children. The students trust him.” He said found the fathers’ meet informative and enriching.
The priest urged the fathers to conduct family prayers daily and have at least one meal a day with all members. “Listen to your children. When they are upset they are disturbed by something. Give them your quality time.”
The priest also finds sponsors for parish programs. “Recently he found a sponsor for white kurta as uniform for 54 altar servers. People are ever ready to contribute to a good cause,” Shiny George, a mother two teenagers, told Matters India.