A Reflection on My Pastoral Work I love to be with children, but I have not yet experienced to handle a lot of children.

It was Sunday afternoon, the weather is fine and theres something in me that I felt excited, and a bit nervous. When I arrived in Habay Elementary School, I saw children playing around. Then, finally, I come to encounter them inside the classroom. At first, I felt unease because I thought the children are really hard to handle. But it was just a misconception. The children were so respectful and they listened to what I told to them. As in my prepared catechism module, I first let the children watch a movie. It was all about the life of Jesus Christ. As to my comfort and with the children, the movie has so many languages available and fortunately, theres a Cebuano version available. As the movie was going on, there were still children coming in. Everyone was watching the movie seriously as if they were touched by the story. I was just kind of observing them the whole moment. It was my first time to meet those children, yet I felt so comfortable. They were so humble. They seemed

to be afraid of being noisy, so as they were afraid to be scolded. After the movie, I discussed to them the last part of the movie. They were so eager to listen and they partake in the discussion with their modest ideas. So as after the discussion, almost everyone was hungry. Before ending our session with a prayer, I let them take their snack. We all leave the classroom full and happy. encountered no problem with the children! At the end of the day, I realized so many things with regards to my experience with those children. We really have to reach out to them as we reflect with their inner lives and live a child-like life, not a childish one. One way of reaching out to them is by serving them by being present to and with them, being conversational, and mentoring even when we do not have a formal mentoring relationship with them. The best way is through this catechism thing since they still really need to know more about our faith and to whom they believe, in Jesus Christ. Being with those children that whole Sunday afternoon made me reflect of the Gospel passage written in Matthew 18: 1- 5, "He (Jesus) called a little child and had him stand among them. And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you Thank God, I

will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me." Though it was my first time to be with those children, they really inspired me by the way they behave. The respect, humility, simplicity, and innocence that theyve shown to me made me realize that pride and arrogance never makes any sense. If only all children are brought up with knowledge, faith and love in our Savior, Jesus Christ; if only everyone live a child-like life (not a childish one), the world would be in peace and prosperity.