Welcome to the HCA Teachers Page! Here you will find activities, downloads, and information concerning mission awareness and education for your students. Participating in the Holy Childhood Association is a wonderful opportunity for you as teachers, together with other school faculty members, to educate and to form the students in your care in missionary awareness and support through prayer and sacrifice for the missionary work of the Church!
As a teacher, catechist, or parent, you have a tremendous impact on the young people with whom you interact. In the seeds you plant in the hearts of young Catholics lies the hope of a better world. We offer you our thanks and our prayerful support for your work with the young and for your continuing commitment to HCA. May our united efforts inspire our students to go forth proclaiming the Gospel to the ends of the earth!
Feast Day – St. Therese of Lisieux, Co-Patron Saint of the Missions
October 1, 2011
Holy Childhood Day
October 3, 2011
Holy Childhood Association Mass
October 23, 2011
World Mission Sunday
November 14, 2011
Orders for Lent/Easter program due
Advent 2011
HCA Christmas Artwork Contest begins
December 3, 2011
Feast Day – St. Francis Xavier, Co-Patron Saint of the Missions
January 31, 2012
HCA Christmas Artwork Contest entries due
March 11-18, 2012
HCA National Prayer Week
May 2011
HCA Awards sent out
Other Resources for Students
Check out HCA Kids Online!
The Pontifical Mission Societies has updated its website for children – www.hcakids.org. Soon, this site will also feature more games, graphics, and downloads, as well as multimedia content! Don’t forget to visit our main website as well – www.onefamilyinmission.org – for activity sheets, past issues of our award-winning newsletter, It’s Our World, and a month-by-month mission education calendar with easy-to-use ideas and prayers to help educators and catechists incorporate mission themes into the existing curriculum.
MISSION Magazine Published by the Society for the Propagation of the Faith, a Pontifical Mission Society is available for students in grades 7 through 12 at no charge. This Catholic Press Association award-winning magazine features stories about the evangelizing work of the Church in the missions. A discussion guide for each issue is available online here.
World Mission Rosary and World Mission Rosary Poster
Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen (national director of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith from 1950 to 1966) developed the World Mission Rosary. Each of the five decades is a different color to represent areas of the world where the Church continues her evangelizing mission. The children’s World Mission Rosary comes with a booklet featuring an explanation of the significance of its colors, as well as age-appropriate reflections for the Joyful, Sorrowful, Glorious, and Luminous Mysteries. The poster features “what”, “who”, and “wow!” facts about the World Mission Rosary, as well as a brief explanation of its origin and meaning. Also, be sure to visit www.hcakids.org to pray the World Mission Rosary online!
Faithful Witness DVD
“Faithful Witness”, a 52-minute audio/radio documentary produced by the Pontifical Mission Societies, was released in December 2009 as we marked three decades that have passed since the death of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, former national director of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith (1950-1966). This documentary offers a reflection on the life and witness of Archbishop Sheen, and his love of Church, family and the missions. The audio CD is free and appropriate for grades 7 and up. Please call 1-800-431-2222 to order.
Mission Voices: Speaking of Faith
Ordinary people. One extraordinary message. This describes the new website of the Pontifical Mission Societies – www.missionvoices.org. The multimedia site has audio messages from missionaries and from priests, religious and laity, as well as from diocesan directors of the Pontifical Mission Societies and Catholic media professionals. No one is introduced so that listeners may focus instead n the message – and give thanks for the call, at Baptism, to be a “mission voice” to speak of our faith in Jesus every day, by words and the very example of our lives.
HCA Prayer Cards
Order from these prayer cards (in packs of 100): The Peace Prayer of St Francis of Assisi, the HCA prayer for children of the world (both featuring photos of children in the missions), and a prayer to St. Therese of Lisieux (featuring a photo of St. Therese).
Helping Hand Envelope Looking for something a bit more “hip” to distribute to older kids who want to make a contribution to HCA? Conducting a fundraiser separate from Advent or Lent? Consider the Helping Hand Envelope. The envelopes are offered free of charge and are a great alternative to our coin boxes/folders!
Polly Parrot Lapel Pins
Show your commitment to HCA by wearing a Polly Parrot pin! One-inch cloisonné lapel pins feature a standing Polly with the letters “HCA”.
"HCA News" email
If you would like to see your elementary school or parish school or religion featured in our "HCA News" email, please contact Colleen at 314-792-7664 or CCoughlin@archstl.org. "HCA News" is emailed to all principals, mission moderators, and parish school of religion coordinators.
If you or your school are interested in joining the Holy Childhood Association, please contact Miss Colleen Coughlin, Coordinator for the Holy Childhood Association.
Write:
Holy Childhood Association
20 Archbishop May Drive
Saint Louis, MO 63119
Special Events and Pictures
Welcome to the HCA Teachers Page! Here you will find activities, downloads, and information concerning mission awareness and education for your students. Participating in the Holy Childhood Association is a wonderful opportunity for you as teachers, together with other school faculty members, to educate and to form the students in your care in missionary awareness and support through prayer and sacrifice for the missionary work of the Church! 
East Africa Update (2nd page kids info)