Bishop Charles de Forbin-Janson from Nancy in France, founded the Missionary Childhood Association (then known as the Holy Childhood Association) in 1843. Deeply affected by the distress of Chinese children abandoned in the streets, he was moved to found a society similar to the Society for the Propagation of the Faith but for children. He was convinced that though weak and needing care, children rich in faith and love are capable of playing their own part in the Church’s mission and even of encouraging adults to show the same generous spirit. The response to Bishop de Forbin-Janson’s appeal was extraordinary. In a few years, his theme of “Children Helping Children” spread not only throughout France, but also all over Europe, then to North America, Latin America and Asia - and in the last 40 years, to Africa
The Missionary Childhood Association is a Pontifical Mission Society which serves to raise Catholic children’s awareness of the plight of children all over the world. It is specifically designed to suit children of between 6 and 13 years of age. The children are called to PRAY for, LEARN about and SHARE from their abundance or from the little they possess With other children.
The official name under which this Association is called is: The Missionary Childhood Association, abbreviated in this Constitution as the MCA.
To encourage Children to share their faith with other children through their prayers, personal sacrifices, financial and material offerings. In this way children get the opportunity to help other children in need with their prayers and material support while fostering a missionary spirit and desire to spread the Good News of Jesus.
Affording Children an active part in proclaiming the Gospel to their peers, thus empowering them to develop their full potential in the Church and the world thus enhancing growth in the Catholic Faith to become joyful Disciples of Christ their best friend and model for imitation.
Lead Children to a life of values.
Material and spiritual support.
Understand the great value of the faith.
Dedicated to fostering children’s awareness of the missionary nature of the Church
Qualifications for membership shall consist of:
1. Baptism.
2. Reception or at least aspiration to receive other Sacraments, ie, Confirmation, Eucharist and Reconciliation.
3. Regular attendance of Mass.
Inactive members, those who for no justifiable cause have absented themselves from the regular meetings for three months or more shall be removed from the rolls after examination of each case by the Animators.
Each Parish shall have its own executive committee that is made up of:
The chairperson.
The vice chairperson.
The secretary.
The vice-secretary.
The Treasurer.
2 or more Committee members.
There shall be at least 4 Animators.
The Parish Priest is the spiritual director of the Association.
The chairperson standing before the Priest Announces: Father we present before you the following to be inducted as new members of the Missionary Childhood Association She/he calls out the names of the Candidates.
They have shown commitment and eagerness in becoming true witnesses to Jesus our Lord and friend and also helping other children who are in more need than they. They wish to prophase their commitment before God and their peers.
Priest: My dear children what are you asking for from the church?
Children: We wish to become the members of the Pontifical Mission Society of the Missionary Childhood Association.
Priest: Have you been instructed about your obligations?
Children: Yes we have.
Priest: Are you resolved to observe those obligations?
Children: Yes we have.
Priest: As we are children of one family of God Our Father, therefore we should stay as one family as the Missionary Childhood Association, those who help all children to renew their faith in body and spirit. Being accepted into the Missionary Childhood Association today, should be a sign in your lives, as God’s family, whom he loves, means you shall be the light that shines in the family and the salt of the earth. Your lives should be an example to all children so that they may draw closer to God.
Let us pray: Lord Jesus Christ, you said; let all little children come to me because the kingdom of heaven belongs to them. We have brought them to you today; while they take their vows in your presence. Do not allow the evil of this world to lead them astray and make them lose their faith. Let them be the light and salt of the earth, so that they may be good children. Let them never tire in doing your work and of their faith, as well as helping others who are in need. We ask this in the name of Christ Our Lord. Amen.
Godparents may go and dress the children after this.
Opening hymn.
Opening prayer.
Lord Our Father, you who loves us, We thank you for all the gifts of life that you give us daily, Bless us, protect us, and guide the meeting we are about to have, so that all we do will give Glory and Honour to Jesus Christ, he that lives and rules in union with you forever and ever. Amen.
The Register is called out.
Reading of previous minutes.
Bible sharing.
Sharing of duties for the coming week.
Song.
Closing prayer:
Lord Our Father, we love you, we thank you, for leading us during this meeting. We ask for the Holy Spirit and your Love, to strengthen us in all we do, so as to please you Our Father. Mother Mary help us and strengthen us in our faith and protect us from all evil. Amen.
February 2: Missionary Childhood Sunday: On this day, Children are called to live out the motto of the Missionary Childhood which is "children helping children.” As a special Sunday allotted for children, there will be special collection in all masses in Catholic churches which shall be forwarded to the Archbishop within fifteen days. The money collected will then be forwarded to the Solidarity Fund of the Pontifical Society of the Holy Childhood that will be used to help support programs that will benefit children.
3rd Sunday of October: Mission Sunday: Children’s Mission Sunday Celebration is an opportunity to recognize> the value of children being involved in learning about missions and practical application of that knowledge. This is the day when new Members are inducted.
December 28 Feast of the Holy Innocents: On this day we remember the holy innocents of our own era: First there are those who are never given a chance of life and who are killed through abortion; Secondly, all of those children who have been damaged by abuse, Finally today we should pray for all of those children who have the innocence of their childhood destroyed by forces beyond our control e.g. war, death of their parents, poverty, disease. Efforts should be made on this day to visit and pray with vulnerable Children in the Society.
Each parish is to have Adults called Animators who are there to offer guidance, discipline and a spiritual example for all Children as well as his or her fellow animators. Becoming an MCA Animator brings with it many blessings, but also requires a significant amount of dedication. An animator should have a strong, outgoing personality and longing to serve the Church.
In order to be eligible to be an Animator, one must have actively participated in the life of the parish in some formal manner. He or she is expected to participate in Sunday Mass each week and display a longing for continued spiritual growth and development.
The selection of animators needs to be done in consultation with the parish leadership.
At Diocesan level, there shall be a Committee for the Animators. The Animators’ Committee shall consist of the Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer, one duly elected member from each deanery.
(1) The chairperson shall call and preside at all regular or special meetings.
(2) The duties of the vice-chairperson shall be
To work with and assist the chairperson in organising and overseeing the animators and association operations.
Preside at all regular or special meetings in the absence of the chairperson. In addition, the vice-chairperson shall serve as chairperson upon the incapacitation for any reason of the chairperson, and shall so serve until the next regular election, or until the chairperson is again able to serve, whichever shall first occur.
(3) The secretary shall:
Record minutes of all regular or special meetings, and shall sign such minutes when transcribed and approved by the committee.
Carry out the general correspondence of the Association.
(4) The Vice Secretary shall:
Assist in any of the functions as assigned by the Secretary.
Perform the functions of the Secretary in the absence of the Secretary.
All the Office Bearers shall be in Office for a period of two years and subject to one reelection only thereafter.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed are you amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
I Believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ, His only son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified; died, and was buried. He descended into hell; the third day He arose again from the dead: He ascended into heaven, sitteth at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the living land the dead.
I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of Saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
Angel of God, my guardian dear, to whom His love commits me here, ever this day be at my side, to light and guard, to rule and guide. Amen.
The angel of the Lord declared unto Mary.
R. And she conceived by the Holy Spirit.
Hail, Mary...
V. Behold the handmaid of the Lord.
R. Be it done unto me according to your word.
Hail, Mary...
V. And The Word Was Made Flesh.
R. And dwelt among us.
Hail, Mary...
V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.
R. That we be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us pray: Pour forth we beseech you, O Lord, your grace into our hearts, that we, to whom the incarnation of Christ your son, was made known by the message of an angel, may by his passion and cross be brought to the glory of his resurrection. Through the same Christ Our Lord. Amen.
Bless us, O Lord, and these your gifts, which We are about to receive from your Goodness. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
O My God, I am sorry for my sins with all my heart. In choosing to do wrong and failing to do good, I have sinned against you, whom I should love above all things. I firmly intend, with the help of your grace, to do penance, to sin no more and to avoid whatever leads me to sin. Our Saviour, Jesus Christ, suffered and died for us. In His Name, O Lord, have mercy.
You begin with the sign of the Cross, saying:
+ In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned. It has been (however many days, weeks, months or years) since my last confession.
The penitent then states his or her sins. For the confession to be valid, the penitent must confess all of the mortal sins he or she is aware of having committed since the last confession, be sorry for them, and have P firm purpose of amendment to try not to commit the same sins in the future.
After this, the priest will generally give some advice to the penitent and gives a penance. Then he will ask the penitent to make an act of contrition.
After this the priest will absolve the penitent in the following words:
God, the Father of mercies, through the death and resurrection of his Son has reconciled the world to himself and sent the Holy Spirit among us for the forgiveness of sins; through the ministry of the Church may God give you pardon and peace, and I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.
The penitent makes the sign of the Cross and answers: Amen.
The Rosary is not only a mental prayer, but also a vocal prayer in which we meditate on the virtues of the Life, Death, Passion and Glory of Jesus Christ and His Blessed Mother, the Virgin Mary.
1. Hold the cross of the Rosary in your right hand and bless yourself with the Cross, saying, “In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.”
2. Still holding the Cross, say, The Apostles’ Creed.
3. On the first large bead after the Cross, say the Our Father.
On the next three small beads, say the Hail Mary, for the virtues of Faith, Hope and Charity; after the third Hail Mary, say “Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.”
4. Then announce the first mysteries.
Recite the ”Our Father” on the large bead, followed by 10 ”Hail Mary’s” on the smaller beads, then say, the “Glory Be” for each decade of the Rosary. There are five decades for each Mystery. After each Mystery, recite the “Fatima Prayer":
O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of Hell; lead all souls to Heaven especially those who are most in need of Your Mercy.
The Joyful Mysteries:
(Said on Mondays and Saturdays, the Sundays of Advent, and Sundays from Epiphany until Lent)
1. The Annunciation (Humility)
2. The Visitation (Fraternal Charity)
3. The Nativity (Love of God)
4. The Presentation (Spirit of sacrifice)
5. Finding in the Temple (Zeal)
The Luminous Mysteries (Mysteries of Light):
(Said on Thursdays)
1. The Baptism of the Lord (Sacrament of Baptism)
2. The Wedding of Cana (Fidelity)
3. The Proclamation of the Kingdom (Desire for Holiness)
4. The Transfiguration (Spiritual Courage)
5. The Institution of the Eucharist (Love of Our Eucharistic Lord)
The Sorrowful Mysteries:
(Said on Tuesdays, Fridays throughout the year and daily from Ash Wednesday until Easter Sunday)
1. Agony in the Garden (True Repentance)
2. Scourging at the Pillar (Mortification)
3. Crowning with Thorns (Moral Courage)
4. Carrying the Cross (Patience)
5. The Crucifixion (Final Perseverance)
The Glorious Mysteries:
(Said on Wednesdays and the Sundays from Easter until Advent)
1. The Resurrection (Faith)
2. The Ascension (Hope)
3. The Descent of the Holy Spirit (Zeal)
4. The Assumption (Happy Death)
5. The Coronation of B.V.M. (Love for Mary)
The Hail Holy Queen (said after the completion of the five mysteries)
Hail! Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our life, our sweetness and our Hope. To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve. To thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then, O most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us; and after this our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy‘womb, Jesus. O clement! O loving! O sweet Virgin Mary!
Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God.
That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let Us Pray. O God, whose only begotten Son, By His life, death and resurrection has purchased for us The rewards of eternal life, grant, we beseech Thee, that Meditating upon these mysteries in the most Holy Rosary of The Blessed Virgin Mary, we may imitate what they contain and Obtain what? they promise: through the same Christ, our Lord. Amen.
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