Their Assimilation of Rites
and their Guidance in the Church

Lecture by Mrs. Frieda Haddad Abs

On Thursday, November 18, 2004, Mrs. Frieda Haddad Abs, a lecturer in Social Work and Sociology and the coordinator of the Social Work Program at Haigazian University in Beirut was our guest at the Institute and made a presentation on Children and Liturgy as part of a series of public lectures on Family Pastoral Care organized by the MTh Program for this academic year 2004-5 (see full program here).

The audience included th;e dean Bishop John Yazigi, the faculty and students from both the bachelor and masters degrees as well as many guests from parishes in the region and other theological schools in Lebanon.

Firstly, Mrs. Abs referred to the New Testament pericopes that point out the positive attitude of the Lord and His disciples towards children and presented them as the foundations for any pastoral work with children.

Furthermore, she developed a precise description of children skills to understand and perceive God in their lives beginning with newborn babies until adolescence. Based on these skills Mrs. Abs proposed a series of activities and methods to be applied to help children worship the Lord the way they can and like.

Mrs. Frieda Haddad has impressed the audience with her colorful palette of everyday examples to explain the beauty of childrens mind and their wonderful way to seek the truths of life.