Mexican priest getting kids’ devotion with superheroes, water gun

Saltillo - Humberto Alvarez, clergyman at “Ojos de Agua” Catholic Parish in Saltillo, northern Mexico, uses atypical methods including superheroes and water guns to advocate the Catholic faith among the younger members of his congregation.

Father Alvarez celebrates every Sunday a special Mass for children while wearing unusual religious garments decorated with large images of comic superheroes and dispenses holy water using two colorful machine guns. According to Alvarez, his innovative evangelizing methods reflect the need to attract young people to the church in a region that in recent years has been seriously affected by drug-related violence, reports Newsy.com. The “Super-priest” says he is convinced that the best way to attract and hold the attention of children, and reaching their hearts, is by motivating them with what they care about, Batman, Superman, Spider-man, and what they identify as funny stuff, such as water guns. Not all parishioners approve the pastor’s unconventional methods. According to AnimalPolítico, the priest said in an interview: "There was a group that previously supported me, but they stopped because of this chasuble, and left. They told me, 'Father, we do not agree, we do not like displaying cartoons on something as sacred.' " Father Alvarez argues his preaching in parables and homilies including the adventures and exploits of superheroes are fascinating for the kids and they are very happy to end the Mass with a priest dressed as Superman spraying them with squirts of holy water.