The St. Monica Group of Tahan St. Theresa’s Parish in the Diocese of Kalay conducted a half-day seminar on August 27, 2025, honoring the feast day of their patron saint.

The event marked the first such gathering at the church since the COVID-19 pandemic and the onset of political unrest in the country.

Held from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM, the seminar, titled “How to become a good mother like St. Monica,” was led by the Diocesan Social Communication Director and RVA Tedim Chin Service Coordinator, Rev. Fr. Joseph Thang Nen Zo Mung. It was attended by 192 women, a turnout that exceeded parish expectations.

Fr. Joseph’s address centered on the virtues of St. Monica, known for her steadfast prayers that led to the conversion of her son, St. Augustine, and her husband, Patricius.

He framed the family as a “domestic Church,” citing the Second Vatican Council and Pope St. John Paul II, and emphasized the mother’s critical role in guiding children, referencing Proverbs 22:6.

“Parents had not attended a seminar to become parents, and there is no examination to become parents,” Fr. Joseph stated, underscoring the importance of intentional preparation for marriage and family life.

He elaborated on the sacrament of Marriage, its nature of “unity and indissolubility,” and its purposes: the good of the spouses and the procreation and upbringing of children.

The teaching also highlighted exemplary women from the Bible, including Mary, Ruth, and Esther, as models of virtue.

A key portion addressed mitigating common family tensions, specifically urging mothers-in-law to empathize with their daughters-in-law based on their own past experiences.

“A mother is the first teacher for the children… If a mother knows her role, the Church will become vibrant, and the world will be peaceful,” Fr. Joseph concluded, inviting attendees to emulate St. Monica and instruct their children to learn about marriage before receiving the sacrament.

The Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Joseph Kap Tung Nung, expressed profound gratitude, noting the seminar’s importance given the area’s status as an early victim of the nation’s political strife.

“We dare not gather in the Church from time to time,” he said, making the successful event a milestone for the community.

The seminar concluded with a Q&A session, a word of thanks from a participant, and a final blessing from the priests, leaving the parish community spiritually nourished and reaffirmed in its faith.

By RVA Tedim Chin Service