Written by Betty Lamunu Ochana.
Ms. Lamunu is a Child Protection Specialist.
“Planting Oaks of Righteousness: Empowering the Boy and Girl Child for Future Vocations and Nation Building”
In the Book of Isaiah 61:3, we read about those whom the Lord will raise as “oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendor.” This image is a profound symbol of what we are called to nurture in every boy and girl child entrusted to our families, schools, parishes, and nation: a generation rooted in virtue, uprightness and service, a generation ready for both sacred vocations and civic responsibility.
“Oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendor.”.
Isaiah 61:3
Today, more than ever, the Church and the nation need faithful, visionary, and principled leaders. We cannot afford to leave the formation of our children to chance or the winds of modern secular influence. Our collective duty – from the altar to the classroom, from the family to the media – is to intentionally empower the young generation with spiritual depth, intellectual clarity, emotional resilience, and moral courage.
Practical Steps on how to Nurture Strong Foundations in Children For Vocational Excellence And Civic Engagement
To bring Pope Francis’ message to life in our parishes, we must be intentional about how we communicate. Here are four practical steps every parish can take:
- Grounding Children in Identity and Purpose: The first step toward empowerment is helping children understand who they are and why they matter. A child who knows that they are made in the image of God, uniquely gifted, and called to participate in God’s mission on earth will walk differently, speak differently, and dream differently. Let us teach identity not as theory, but as a lived conviction. In our catechisms, let us emphasize that every child, boy or girl, has a divine purpose. Vocations to priesthood, religious life, marriage, single life, and public service all begin in the soil of this sense of identity and belonging.
- Faith and Formation Must Begin Early: Our parishes and families must be revival centers of spiritual formation. It is not enough for children to recite prayers. They must be taught how to pray, how to listen to God, how to discern, and how to serve. Boys and girls must grow up seeing priests, religious sisters, and lay Catholic leaders as joyful, approachable mentors. Let us create “vocation clubs” and mentorship programs in our schools and chaplaincies, where young people can be accompanied as they explore the stirrings of their calling. These safe spaces can also expose children to the lives of saints and modern-day Catholic professionals who model integrity and faithfulness in their vocations.
- Modeling Responsibility in a Digital Age: Today’s children are digital natives, but many are growing up without moral navigation tools. While the internet brings global access, it also brings global confusion. The Church must urgently rise to digital evangelization and guidance, ensuring that our children are not just tech-savvy but truth-savvy. Let us train our young people to be responsible digital citizens, critical thinkers, and defenders of dignity, online and offline. In doing so, we prepare them not only to survive but to lead in a fast-changing world.
A Call to All: This is Our Shared Mission
Clergy, religious, parents, educators, media professionals, policymakers, and indeed every member of the Church have a sacred mandate: to raise children who are God-fearing, others-serving, and nation-building.
The boy child must no longer be left behind in our empowerment narratives. The girl child must no longer be limited by cultural or social chains. Both must be equipped, encouraged, and challenged to pursue lives of holiness and excellence.
To all reading this, let us join hands in raising a generation of oaks. Let us sow the seeds of faith, love, discipline, and vision so deeply that when our children rise, they will shade the world with integrity, speak with wisdom, and serve with joy, in the Church and beyond.
NURTURING STRONG FOUNDATIONS: EMPOWERING CHILDREN FOR VOCATIONAL EXCELLENCE AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
— Social Communications Kampala Archdiocese