Page 7 - Fruit of the Vine issue no. 1

When our atrium was forced to close suddenly in March 2020, there was much heartbreak, of which a huge share was connected to the nine children who were interrupted in their sacramental preparation. Thankfully, we were able to resume some in- person work in August and September with these children.
We began with several much-enjoyed small group sessions outdoors. The highlight and unique blessing of this preparation time was the opportunity to reflect on the True Vine parable in a makeshift atrium space in my backyard, under the grape arbour! We dubbed it our “True Vine Atrium.”
Having experienced so many Covid disappointments in their preparation experience, the children were thrilled to hear that they were the only children of our atrium who had ever reflected on the True Vine
wonder as they examined the vines and grapes and connected them to the words of Jesus.
We did indeed wish to remain, with Jesus and in this space. However our sessions moved into the church proper — all suitably sanitised, masked, and
distanced, of
course. With many
protocols in place
but nonetheless
much joy, these
children with their
families were able
to celebrate First
Reconciliation and
First Communion
in the early fall before restrictions closed us down yet again.
Yet again we are being pruned, but we trust with joy in the fruits to come.
Dale Balkovec (Nepean, ON)
Fruit of the Vine | June 2021
while surrounded by living, grape- bearing vines. There was much excitement and
the gifts we offer you...
At t h e
beginning of
the atrium year, in October 2020, I introduced the prayer table and elements of it. We had a procession and enthronement of the Bible. After the procession, I read from the Bible and pondered about the Holy Book. I asked, “What do you want to say to Jesus?”
Olivia immediately held on to the Good Shepherd statue, kissed it, then smiled. I smiled back and said, “Hmm, is Jesus happy?” She said, “Oh yes!”
I forgot that it was Covid time when I saw the delight in her eyes.
Then the rest of the children came closer to the prayer table, wanting tokissJesustheGoodShepherd,too.I said in a crowd control alert, awakened to the safety issues surrounding this pandemic, “Maybe we can just give Jesus a flying kiss like
this...” And everyone did.
What a delight to watch these children with their very innocent spontaneous kiss response! So pure that I wished there were no Covid so that I could just allow the children to be who they wished to be at that moment.
Murita Chua (Vancouver, BC)
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