Missionary Childhood Association: New Name, Fewer Feathers – but the Same Great Works

The Holy Childhood Association in the United States will henceforth be operated under the title the Missionary Childhood Association (MCA).  This will be part of all new materials moving forward. I imagine there will be a period of transition between the two names. Although some of you offered understandable reasons why the word “Holy” is essential to who we are, the overwhelming sense from the field was that the word MISSIONARY is a welcome change. It has nothing to do with any sense of being "old-fashioned." Indeed, I am one of the few people still taking about the pagan babies. I embrace our beloved tradition. However, taking our cue from many other parts of the mission family, I am with those who think that inserting the word "Missionary" into this vital program is a very good step to take.

Not unlike the organizational consolidation that took place several years past, this change brings us into closer alignment with the universal “branding” of this mission society for children.

  • ORDERING MADE EASY: Also new this year is the ordering process for Missionary Childhood Association materials. The primary mode for ordering MCA materials will be ONLINE, starting by mid-July.  A postcard announcing this change and the availability of an online Resource Guide is being sent to all schools and parishes throughout the United States the week of July 9.  PMS diocesan staff will be able to access online ordering through our INTRANET similar to World Mission Sunday ordering. Non-PMS will have a link to the ordering site through HCAKids.org (which will become MCAKids in due course). They will register through a sign-up page and then place their order.
  • IT’S (STILL) OUR WORLD: We continue to offer our award-winning newsletter, It’s Our World, with some modifications.  The newsletter will now be published free-of-charge as Advent and Lent editions for grades Pre-K-K, 1-2, 3-5, and 6-8.  A Leader’s Guide will also be available for each liturgical season featuring activities and critical thinking questions for the It’s Our World newsletters.  There will be two timed shipments of these materials. There will be a flat shipping fee for both shipments which will be modest but will be paid at the ordering stage by credit card.
  • SACRIFICIAL GIVING:  Lent boxes, folders and envelopes will be re-branded and available for shipment as soon as orders are entered into our new online system. 
  • CHRISTMAS ARTWORK CONTEST:  Our Christmas Artwork Contest remains the same. Entry forms will be available for download and printing via the MCA website. This year, however, two winners will be selected to receive the “grand prize.”  Not only will these drawings be featured as the official artwork on the national office calendar and Christmas card, but also sent to Rome to be included in a special international collection of children’s artwork to be presented to the Holy Father at the conclusion of the Year of Faith.
  • PRAYER WEEK: Our National Prayer Week program is the highlight of this year’s offerings and as such will feature additional resources centered on the World Mission Rosary, including a World Mission Rosary poster. It will be re-named “Prayer and Penny Week” in honor of the legacy of Pauline Jaricot and will be a key moment in the efforts by the PMS to celebrate the Year of Faith, called for by the Pope and due to begin in October 2012 – Mission Month - lasting to the Feast of Christ the King 2013. The Holy Father has asked the PMS to promote the recitation of Archbishop Fulton Sheen’s World Mission Rosary throughout our entire worldwide network during the Year of Faith. Prayer and Penny Week will contain daily suggestions and reflections for the prayerful celebration of our missionary vocation and our mission family.
  • AROUND THE WORLD: The Around the World Program will be discontinued as of this year. However, those dioceses in which schools and parishes are active participants, may still order decals through the national office by calling Iliana Prevost at (212) 563-8738 (iprevost@propfaith.org) or Erica Johnson at (212) 563-8709 (ejohnson@propfaith.org).

Friends, I am convinced that the New Evangelization and Year of Faith has become so urgent for our Church and our society because faith formation efforts with our children and young people have been lacking overall. I look forward to strengthening our commitment to our younger missionaries - they are where it all begins.

In Mission,

Fr. Andrew OMI
National Director

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