Pretoria Children’s Sodality Going Strong

by Erin Carelse · June 27, 2018

As a continuing initiative to promote a safe and healthy society for the young, some dioceses have started children’s sodalities. The Pretoria archdiocese is one of several, with a strong sodality for children.

Called Masolenyana a Kriste Morena (Little Soldiers of Christ), this sodality of children is meant to promote spiritual life through dedication to prayer, adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, spreading the Kingdom of God to other children, and doing works of mercy for those in need.

During the few past years, the sodality has managed to extend across all deaneries of the archdiocese, through the guidance of its chaplains, Frs Cosmas Matooane and Paul Tatu CSS.

They also launched a new sodality for children who have outgrown the Little Soldiers of Christ. Masole a Kriste Morena (Soldiers of Christ) is meant to help the grown-up Masolenyana to maintain the same spirit of goodness, and to lay a strong foundation for the quality leaders of tomorrow, formed on the principles of the Gospel.

Workshop

This month, parents working with Masole and Masolenyana sodalities, together with the leadership of the sodalities, underwent a day’s training on how to cater for the spiritual needs of children in the world of today.

Held at Jolivet House at the archdiocesan chancery, the workshop was conducted by Frs Tatu and Matooane.

About 15 members of the leadership of the sodalities and 15 adult members were part of the workshop.

In the attempt by his disciples to stop parents from bringing children to him in order to lay hands on them, Jesus instead rebuked the disciples and called the children to him, saying, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them! For the kingdom of God belongs to such as these” (Lk 18:16).

“This concern for children by Jesus becomes a lesson to all to cater with love for the wellbeing of children,” said Fr Tatu.