As Seen in the Press

Spreading Peace (From Isle of Wight County Press, Friday, March 16, 2018, p52)

Michael Douse and John Morley (both Catenians) flank Fr Odoemene

An island priest is visiting schools to spread the word of peace.  Fr Emmanuel Odoemene, parish priest for St Thomas of Canterbury, Newport, and St Saviour’s, Totland, has set up the Peace World, a tool for school evangelisation.

He said: “I have already started visiting a variety of secondary and primary Catholic, Church of England and non-denominational schools.

“I have produced a booklet, which covers 20 topics.  It is a platform for learning about justice and peace issues, aimed at raising the aspirations of young people to engage with the world around them and, hopefully make a difference.

“The sessions last for around 25 minutes and the children are given the opportunity to ask questions.

“There are also activities they can take part in with the help of their teachers.”

The pupils are encouraged to do a range of tasks, such as writing a poem about peace, raising awareness about important global issues, planting and tending a community, school or Church garden and planning ahead to celebrate the International Day of Peace on September 21.

Fr Odoemene said: “When I look through the eyes of the children in the classroom, I think of the abounding opportunities for our Peace World.”

Fr Odoemene was also invited to address the Island’s Catenians and talk to them about the Peace World.

The Catenians is an association of Catholic laymen who are committed to their faith, their families, to those in need and each other.

A Peace World Session

Fr. Odoemene in a classroom session

Young students are showing incredible optimism with the Peace World initiative introduced in their schools on the Isle of Wight.  They feel increasingly challenged to do something that can make a difference in the school and community.  Schools are planning to initiate various campaigns.  They are looking forward to the next edition of Dragons Den – a diocesan event where schools are asked to create a social action project and present it to a panel of judges.  These are exciting times indeed!

Flashback: Alex’s letter to President Obama

Dear President Obama,

Remember the boy who was picked up by the ambulance in Syria?

Can you please go get him and bring him to [my home]?

Park in the driveway or on the street and we will be waiting for you guys with flags, flowers, and balloons.

We will give him a family and he will be our brother.

Catherine, my little sister, will be collecting butterflies and fireflies for him.

In my school, I have a friend from Syria, Omar, and I will introduce him to Omar. We can all play together.

We can invite him to birthday parties and he will teach us another language.

We can teach him English too, just like my friend Aoto from Japan.

Please tell him that his brother will be Alex who is a very kind boy, just like him.

Since he won't bring toys and doesn't have toys Catherine will share her big blue stripy white bunny.

And I will share my bike and I will teach him how to ride it. I will teach him additions and subtractions in math.

And he [can] smell Catherine's lip gloss penguin which is green.

She doesn't let anyone touch it.

Thank you very much!

I can't wait for you to come!

 

Alex

6 years old

[21 August 2016]

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