Children Growing in Faith and Leadership

 On February 8, the Children's Rosary at St. Thomas Church in West Hartford, Connecticut met to pray the Rosary. It was a particularly special meeting as one of our members who recently turned 5 had decided he would like to lead a decade for the first time. This is Liam who is shown kneeling in front with a gray sweater and light brown paints. However, as the first decade elapsed and I asked him which of the remaining four decades he would like to lead he said with a smile the 6th. He has a very good sense of humor. However, it did not take him long to get up his courage and as Peyton made her way to the podium to lead he asked to join her. This was a very big step for Liam and the excitement in the pews from the parents was palpable. Everyone was rooting for him. His voice became strong and constant as he led the prayers with Peyton. Liam had first arrived at the Children's Rosary when he was two and was a very big help placing flowers at the foot of Our Blessed Mother at the end of each decade. 

Liam's courage had some unexpected effects. During the last decade another boy of similar age to Liam asked to lead. This is Paul shown above in the red jacket. This was only Paul's 3rd time attending. We later found out from his mother that Paul had decided if Liam led that he would too. Additionally we were very happy to see Gia ask to help lead the last decade. Gia is shown in the top picture above all the way to the left with a pink chapel veil. This was Gia's first time at the Children's Rosary. It is always heart warming to see children take a step forward in their prayer lives. Each child grows at their own pace. It is also wonderful to see the mentorship. Peyton has been attending the Children's Rosary since she was 4 years old. She and several other older children have become strong mentors to the younger children. My mom who is in her seventies attended the Children's Rosary that day and she left very happy. We each it seemed were touched by the beauty of children growing in faith and becoming leaders in their faith.