A northern parish is encouraging Divine Mercy devotion amongst local children by providing them with notebooks and nourishment. “Some 100 local children are regularly reciting Divine Mercy prayers from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. every day at the church,” Father Joseph Phan Dinh Trung, who heads Thinh Lac parish, said. Established in 2008, the parish in Ha Tinh province’s Huong Khe district serves 3,200 Catholics. Father Trung, 43, said he launched the Divine Mercy devotion campaign in November after major flooding caused widespread devastation in the area. “We encourage children to attend prayer sessions by awarding them notebooks or milk,” Father Trung said. The children are given coupons after each session and those who collect 10 coupons are given a notebook. Those aged 4-6 are given milk since local children sometimes lack food and are a little malnourished, he added. “I am happy to say prayers and receive gifts. I pray for my family and do not miss a session,” said Marie Han Thi Tra, a first grader. In the past she only went to church on Sundays, she admitted. Maria Nguyen Thi Hang, 10, said she used hang around with friends but now she regularly says Divine Mercy prayers at the church. “I know God loves me through such prayers, so I must say thanks to him and pray for my family,” the fifth grader said. This year’s feast of the Divine Mercy falls on May 1. Related reports: Catholics Urged To Increase Devotion To Divine Mercy VT14036