Let the Little Ones Come to Me: Antigua Welcomes the Children of the Eucharist Program

By Sr. Edita Ulman (Diocesan Youth Delegate) 

“I saw Jesus. He took me with Him. On our way, there was water — a river — and we crossed the river, in which there were fish…”

The boy, around eleven or twelve years old, stands in front of his class-nearly twenty children, along with their teachers and a few adults gathered in the chapel of the Hispanic Centre, located near St. John’s Primary Catholic School in Antigua.

His voice is bold; his posture, eyes, and tone all show that he truly means what he says: he has just seen Jesus and spent time with Him. He can clearly describe what they were doing and the message Jesus gave him.

What is most striking is that this fourth-grader’s story came after only three minutes of silent meditation in front of the Blessed Sacrament — following a thirty-minute explanation of what Adoration means for Catholics: the real presence of Jesus, true God and true man, in the Eucharist.

The Beginning of a New Program

Perhaps the story of one child could be questioned, yet similar testimonies were given by other children in all the sessions held during the third week of October at St. John’s Primary School. That week marked the launch of the program Children of the Eucharist in Antigua. For three days, twelve classes – each with around twenty students took part in one-hour sessions led by Ms. Christine Aboud, who came especially from Trinidad for the occasion and serves as the program’s coordinator in her country.

Learning About Adoration

During the sessions, the children received a clear and engaging explanation of what Adoration is and what the main Sacraments of the Catholic Church are. Sitting on the floor of a small chapel, beautifully decorated for the occasion, the children listened attentively as Ms. Aboud explained the flame of the Holy Spirit received in Baptism, the importance of the words spoken by the priest during the Holy Mass, and why monthly Confession is recommended by the Church.

It was clear that the sessions were carefully prepared. In fact, it could be said that a small miracle was happening: Ms. Aboud managed to convey the essential teachings of the Church — to children who had never heard of Adoration before — in just thirty minutes before the actual time of prayer.How is that even possible? One explanation could be that the Children of the Eucharist (COTE) program, founded in Ireland in 2012 after the International Eucharistic Congress by Antoinette Moynihan, is the fruit of many years of prayer, dedication, and spiritual discernment under the guidance of priests and with the blessing of bishops. Each topic is prayerfully and carefully developed.

Encountering Jesus Personally

The children showed immediate enthusiasm as they sang the “Our Father” with accompanying gestures. One of the most important moments was when they listened to a passage from Scripture and were invited to imagine a picnic with Jesus.

For some, this type of prayer may seem new, yet it is a practice long rooted in Christian tradition.  For centuries, monks, lay people, and many saints — including St. Ignatius of Loyola — have used their imagination in personal prayer to deepen their encounter with God.

Mission Month: Sharing Hope for the Future

There is great hope that St. John’s Primary will be the first of many schools and parishes in the diocese to introduce Adoration to the little ones. The Children of the Eucharist program encourages children to attend Adoration once a month, with each month focusing on a specific theme and Scripture passage.

It is also meaningful that the program’s launch took place in October — the month dedicated to prayer and support of the mission in the Catholic Church. And this is exactly what is happening: people passionate about Jesus — in this case, Ms. Aboud and her team (including Fr. George Wacuma, Ms. Annalisa D’Ornellas, and Ms. Antoinette Moynihan from Ireland) — are sharing their faith and helping others encounter Jesus personally in prayer.

A Seed Planted

The final introductory session of Children of the Eucharist in Antigua was held at Holy Family Cathedral for First Communion children.

We hope that the seed planted in Antigua will be nourished and grow, so that the program will continue to flourish in the years ahead throughout the diocese.

More information about Children of the Eucharist can be found at https://childrenoftheeucharist.ie.