Holy Childhood Prayer

Transcription

1 Holy Childhood Prayer Lord, our God help us to walk with You and to live out Your mission in today s world. Help us to bring the Good News of Your Son, Jesus, to the ends of the earth. Open our hearts to children who are in need, children who are sick and children who live without peace. Through our prayers and actions, may our brothers and sisters in the Missions come to know the love of Jesus. We make this prayer to You, our living God, knowing how much You love us always. Amen. BACKGROUND Bishop Charles de Forbin Janson, Bishop of Nancy, founded the Holy Childhood Association in France, in He proposed that the children of France say a prayer and make a small financial contribution for the children in China. The Holy Childhood Association is now a worldwide mission club in over 120 countries. The international headquarters is in Rome, with a National Office in each country ours is in Toronto (Scarborough) Ontario. A National Secretary, with help from volunteer diocesan Directors or Coordinators appointed by the local Bishop for each diocese throughout the country, organizes it. CANADIAN HISTORY OF HOLY CHILDHOOD ASSOCIATION In 1931 Archbishop Duke of Vancouver, BC visited the Holy Childhood International Office in Parish, France. He was impressed by the mission work of children in France, Germany and, in fact, most of Europe. He spoke with Pope Pius XI requesting permission to undertake the formation of Holy Childhood in Englishspeaking Canada. In December 1933, Holy Childhood was officially inaugurated in Canada. Today most of the English-speaking dioceses have a volunteer diocesan Director or coordinator promoting the Holy Childhood Association to children of elementary school age.

2 PURPOSE The purpose of the Holy Childhood Association is: a) To foster prayer in our children for the children of the world, that all children may know Jesus. b) To learn more about the world s children through twice yearly newsletters, audio-visual materials, prayer cards, poster, Advent/Lent activities and membership cards; and c) To develop the practice of sacrifice and sharing in our children s younger years. PROJECTS RECEIVING HELP The Holy Childhood Association aims to help the greatest number of children possible. It channels aid to institutions and organizations in the developing world concerned with children below the age of 14. Nursery and daycare centres, dispensaries, schools, maternity hospitals, and handicapped centres are among the many beneficiaries of Holy Childhood Association assistance. BENEFITS OF BELONGING TO THE HOLY CHILDHOOD ASSOCIATION The Holy Childhood Association membership brings children to God, makes gentle demands of them, counters selfishness and teaches them to pray in an informal and personal way. Their families benefit if they are willing to support and share the faith experience of the children and read the Newsletter with them. Teachers/Animators benefit spiritually as they endeavour to stimulate the faith and devotion of the children. Parishes benefit when the priest and people of the parish support the children in various Holy childhood Association activities for Advent, Christmas, Lent and the Annual Canada-wide Holy Childhood Association Mission Day (first Wednesday in May). Children in need benefit from the prayers and funds of the Holy Childhood Association. The whole church benefits from the prayers and sacrifices of children. By participating in the Holy Childhood Association, children learn to give voluntarily and this, in turn, prepares them for volunteer action when they are older.

3 MATERIALS A Newsletter focusing on a different developing country is prepared twice a year for each educational level grades 1 to 3, 4 to 6, and 7 to 8. There is a pictorial leaflet of the HCA story for kindergarten children. Educational materials to be used in promoting and teaching about the HCA are free of charge. Videos may be borrowed for a four-week period. Posters, prayer cards, membership cards, Mission Banks, liturgical year materials, a letter for parents, a video catalogue, a Step-by-Step HCA guide, and Guidelines for School/Parish Mission Day Celebration may all be obtained from the National Office. Order forms may be downloaded from the website, Follow the link to Holy Childhood Association. HCA IN SCHOOLS/PARISHES The HCA can be incorporated into the regular Religious Education program, especially when the lessons speak about the mission of Jesus and His disciples. The HCA can be formed as a children s club in the school, or an activity for an already-existing children s group. The HAC, and its work of prayer, learning about others and sharing what we have, could be coupled with activities required to prepare for First Eucharist or Confirmation. FURTHER INFORMATION/QUESTIONS Please contact the National Secretary at the national headquarters in Toronto (Scarborough), or your Diocesan Coordinator. HOLY CHILDHOOD ASSOCIATION 3329 Danforth Avenue Toronto (Scarborough), ON M1L 4T3 National Secretary Office: Fax: Toll Free: hca@missionsocieties.ca Website:

4 History of Holy Childhood Association Did you know. That the Holy Childhood Association has been in existence for 160 years and is active in 110 countries around the world? That the children of Holy Childhood fund more than 3000 projects to assist children in developing countries and that many of these mission children go on to become teachers, catechists, doctors and priests? That the Holy Childhood Association is the only Pontifical organization in the Church that exists exclusively for elementary school children? That St. Therese of Lisieux, whom we now honour as Patroness of the Missions, became a member of Holy Childhood at age seven on May 12, 1982? That the Holy childhood Association was first established in English Canada in 1933 by Archbishop William Mark Duke, our former Archbishop and that our diocese has had a long association with this organization and a strong mission focus? That the first National Holy Childhood Office was located in St. Patrick s Parish, Vancouver, in a small house on the east side of the former St. Patrick s Convent? The office was subsequently moved to St. Catharines, Ontario and then to Toronto where it exists today. That during the past school year (2009) the children of our Archdiocese have raised over $25,000 to assist needy children in mission countries? Holy Childhood Office #506, 576 Tisdall Street Vancouver, BC V5Z 3N2 Telephone/fax (604)

5 The History of the Mission Rosary The Mission Rosary reminds us of the mission effort to spread the Good News of Jesus on every continent of the world. Each decade in the Mission Rosary is a different colour. Each colour represents a different continent of the world. The Mission Rosary was inaugurated in February, 1951 by Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, who at that time was the director of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith in the United States of America. He said: We must pray, not only for ourselves, but for the world. To this end I have designed the World Mission Rosary. Each of the five decades is of a different colour to represent each of the five continents. Green represents the forests and grasslands of the continent of Africa. Red represents the fire of faith that brought the missionaries to the continents of the Americas North, Central, and South. White represents the continent of Europe, the seat of the Holy Father, who is the Shepherd of the world. Blue represents the ocean surrounding the islands of the Pacific, Oceania. Yellow represents the morning light of the east, the continent of Asia. When the World Mission Rosary is completed, one has embraced all continents, all people in prayer. Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen

6 The Mission Rosary When we pray the Mission Rosary, we pray for everyone in the world. Our Blessed Mother, Mary, has asked us to pray the Rosary for peace in the world. As we pray the Mission Rosary, let us remember to pray for peace everywhere on earth. We pray the Rosary in order to show her our love and devotion, and to share in her concern and care for children and adults around the world. We ask Mary to intercede for all the people of the world.

7 Pontifical Association of the Hold Childhood a childhood cannot wait..

8 The Holy Childhood Association encourages children worldwide to pray, learn and share so that through these actions they become missionaries themselves. The beginning.the planting of missionary awareness Financial contributions assist with educational, medical and welfare projects in poor areas of the world. HOLY CHILDHOOD ASSOCIATION 3329 Danforth Avenue Scarborough, ON Canada M1L 4T The Holy Childhood Association in Canada has a two-fold purpose: To encourage Canadian elementary school-aged children to pray for, learn about, and make contributions to HCS with the knowledge that they are helping children in developing countries to have a brighter, healthier and happier future. To provide for the physical, spiritual and educational needs of children in the developing world.

9 Let the little children come to me Mark 10:14 Your donation to the Holy Childhood Association helps children throughout the world. Donations to the Holy Childhood Association always benefit children. In Ecuador (Americas) The Holy Childhood Association provides funds for the education of elementary school-aged children. In Sudan (Africa) Children are nourished through feeding programs. In Thailand (Asia) Grandchildren of leprosy sufferers are cared for at a Child Development Centre. In Solomon Islands (Oceania) Children become friends of Jesus through Sunday School Program rallies and catechetical camps.

10 COUNTRIES RECEIVING GRANTS FROM CANADIAN HOLY CHILDHOOD ASSOCIATION 2009 GHANA 7 projects serving 2,390 children Provide 22 additional classrooms Repairs to 2 schools Completion of 2 schools construction plus a library Kenya 8 projects serving 11,343 children Reconstruction of 1 school, construction of 3 additional classrooms, office and storage areas Provision of hygiene and nutrition programs, clothing, literacy programs for needy children, orphans The building of a multipurpose hall for Religious instruction Nigeria 7 projects serving 2,381 children Construction of multipurpose hall for Religious education Provision of immunization for malaria, infectious diseases, mosquito nets and clean water Treatment of dehydration malnutrition Provision of pre and post natal care and disease prevention Provision of medical lab equipment Tanzania 4 projects serving 3,660 children Purchase school equipment and the expansion of a preschool (2 additional classrooms) for children with AIDS or those living on the streets Renovation of a rehabilitation centre, maternity ward Support for an orphanage serving children with AIDS South Africa 4 projects serving 32,200 children 3 centres for the treatment of AIDS and malnutrition Provision of food for schools serving orphans, support for mentally handicapped children and those with AIDS and children who have been abused. India 9 projects serving 3,892 children Support for orphanage to provide nutrition, education and health care, food, clothing and medical care for 2 centres serving blind children Construction of 12 additional classrooms, offices, libraries Reconstruction of 3 classrooms and office Education, medical care School supplies and clothing for children living in 20 slum areas Food, shelter and medical care for 27 schools Thailand 5 projects serving 777 children Construction of washrooms for a school serving refugees Training programs for refugees and migrant families Provision of clothing, food and medical care for 4 refugee centres Support for an orphanage providing medical care, food and clothing for refugee children