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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 1843. 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 English-
speaking 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.
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.
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, www.missionsocieties.ca 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: 416-699-7077
Fax: 416-699-9019
Toll Free: 1-800-897-8865
Email: hca@missionsocieties.ca
Website: www.missionsoieties.ca
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) 263-6135
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
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.
Pontifical Association of the Hold Childhood
… a childhood cannot wait…..
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 4T3
416-699-7077
1-800-897-8865
hca@missionsocieties.ca
www.missionsocieties.ca
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.
“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.
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
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