Fr Peter was assisting at the Year 3 retreat of a local school which was being held in the Church premises. Of the 50 or so kids he said he recognised some who come to Church on Sundays. One of these kids, at the end of the retreat, approached Fr Peter and asked him, "Are you St Peter?"
When Fr Peter narrated this amusing event, I had a good laugh. Children always come up with something totally unexpected and different. Later was wondering what would have prompted the child to ask Fr Peter that question. Perhaps it could have been a simple case of misunderstanding between 'Father' and 'Saint' - after all, both are abbreviated in common use. But I think it was more to do with what the child had observed. Fr Peter was the one who opened the Church and the various other places for them to use. And what was the theme of the retreat? Kingdom of God and heaven! Most probably, there would have been some mention of St Peter having the keys to heaven. And for the child, he must have put two and two together: Peter and keys. Hence the natural question: "Are you St Peter?"
Wonder what would have been the next question, if Fr Peter were to have said, "Yes!"
When Fr Peter narrated this amusing event, I had a good laugh. Children always come up with something totally unexpected and different. Later was wondering what would have prompted the child to ask Fr Peter that question. Perhaps it could have been a simple case of misunderstanding between 'Father' and 'Saint' - after all, both are abbreviated in common use. But I think it was more to do with what the child had observed. Fr Peter was the one who opened the Church and the various other places for them to use. And what was the theme of the retreat? Kingdom of God and heaven! Most probably, there would have been some mention of St Peter having the keys to heaven. And for the child, he must have put two and two together: Peter and keys. Hence the natural question: "Are you St Peter?"
Wonder what would have been the next question, if Fr Peter were to have said, "Yes!"
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