Missionary Childhood Association

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Getting Started with MCA

By Baptism, every child is invited to participate in the Missionary Childhood Association. As one of the four Pontifical Mission Societies, the Missionary Childhood Association seeks to help all children develop a missionary spirit through their prayerful and sacrificial support of children in the Church's mission dioceses.

View this year's newsletter for an overview of the Missionary Childhood Association: 

Newsletter

 

About the Missionary Childhood Association

“Age is not an obstacle to the achievement of sanctity and children can highlight it with their testimony of piety, fidelity and love for God.” Sister Roberta Tremarelli, AMSS, Secretary General of the Pontifical Society of the Missionary Childhood 

The Missionary Childhood Association (MCA) is one of the four Pontifical Mission Societies and is active in more than 150 countries throughout the world! Established in 1843, the MCA's goal is to gather prayers and sacrifices for children in mission dioceses, following founder Bishop Charles de Gorbin-Janson's motto of "Children Helping Children." 

What is unique about the MCA is that it is not just about children in the U.S. praying and giving to children in mission dioceses; it is about ALL children praying and sacrificing for other children around the world. As our children in the U.S. pray and give for those in other parts of the world, those children do the same for them; in this, a relationship of giving and receiving is created. Through praying, sacrificing, and learning about other children around the world, children develop a missionary spirit. In our Baptism, all of us are called to be missionaries, no matter the age. 

"In virtue of their baptism, all the members of the People of God have become missionary disciples (cf. Mt 28:19). All the baptized, whatever their position in the Church or their level of instruction in the faith, are agents of evangelization." Pope Francis, Evangelii Gaudium 120

 

Monthly Resources

New resources are posted at the beginning of each month from August - May that foster children's understanding of being a missionary disciple. These can be used as a family or in the school setting.

 MARCH RESOURCES

 

Access the entire collection of resources:

 ALL MONTHLY RESOURCES

 

Access additional resources of the National Office of the Pontifical Mission Societies: 

National Office Resources

 

Whether you are a teacher or a parent, feel free to reach out to our office to learn more about how you can participate with your children in the MCA.

 

Mission Moderator Sign Up

The mission moderator will receive the monthly MCA resources (featured above) directly by email. 

If you are signing up for your school or parish, you will serve as the liaison between the school/parish and the Mission Office.

As the mission moderator, you will also have the ability to select additional resources, such as prayer cards, mite boxes, rosaries, posters, and/or envelopes. These are all made available for free to help foster missionary animation.

Mission Moderator Form

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  • Mission Moderator Contact Information




  • Recommended Resources







  • A resource developed by Venerable Fulton Sheen for teaching the need to pray for the spread of the Gospel to the whole world. World mission rosaries are made by volunteers within the archdiocese. They are available on a first come, first serve basis.


  • In 1926, Pope Pius XI established an annual collection for the missionary work of the Church worldwide called “World Mission Sunday.” It is always celebrated the second to last Sunday of October. These envelopes are available if you would like your students to participate.

Schedule a Visit or Presentation

Visits and presentations are always available for teaching about the MCA. Just contact our office at [email protected]!

 

World Mission Rosary

The World Mission Rosary was developed by Venerable Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen (national director of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith from 1950 to 1966). Each of the five decades is a different color to represent areas of the world where the Church continues her evangelizing mission. Free pamphlets and world mission rosaries can be obtained through contacting our office.  This pamphlet is also available in Spanish.  

Thanks to our many volunteers throughout the archdiocese who make these world mission rosaries, we are able to offer them for free! If you are interested in being a volunteer, please contact our office. 

  

Christmas Artwork Contest

The Missionary Childhood Association Christmas Artwork Contest is open to all Catholic school, parish school of religion, and homeschooled students in kindergarten through eighth grade. Twenty-two different illustrations will be chosen as winners, as well as two grand-prize winners whose artwork will be the official National Christmas card of the Pontifical Mission Societies.

Contest Guidelines

 

Entries must be postmarked by January 31, 2023. 

Please send all entries to our local office:

Missionary Childhood Association
Attn: Artwork Contest
20 Archbishop May Drive
St. Louis, MO 63119

 

What happens when you win?

Winning artwork will be available as e-greetings on the website of the National Office of the Pontifical Mission Societies during the Advent Season. Additionally, all winners will receive a commemorative plaque and will be celebrated at an event in the Advent Season by the National Office.

Within the Archdiocese of St. Louis, winners will be recognized at World Mission Sunday Mass, as well as have their artwork displayed at the Cardinal Rigali Center during the Advent/Christmas Seasons.

  

Winners from the Archdiocese of St. Louis

Congratulations to all of our national artwork winners from the Archdiocese of St. Louis who have won over the years!

2021-2022

Aiden, Christ, Prince of Peace School

Jillian, Holy Infant School

2020-2021

Sarah, Holy Infant School

2018-2019

Camille, St. Joseph School (Cottleville)

Reagan, St. Joseph School (Cottleville)

2017-2018

Anna, Assumption School (Mattese)

Carly, Holy Infant School

Keegan, St. Margaret of Scotland School

Sam, Christ, Prince of Peace School

2016-2017

Elise, St. Justin Martyr School

Molly, Holy Infant School

2015-2016

Olivia, Christ, Prince of Peace School

2014-2015

Ella, St. Justin Martyr School