(Click here to see a Red Junglefowl.)
Pierre told me the story of how the Holy Childhood Association began. Believe it or not, HCA started in the heart and mind of a ten–year–old boy from France, Charles de Forbin–Janson. Here's what Pierre told me.
One cold day Charles was out walking with his teacher when they came across a boy about the same age as Charles. The boy was selling roasted chestnuts. Charles noticed that the boy was not wearing any shoes. Taking pity on him, Charles took off his own shoes and gave them to the boy. Charles then ran home as fast as he could across the icy streets in his bare feet.
Charles was a very good student – and loved Jesus. When he grew up, he became a priest so that he could help people and share his faith with others. In time, Charles was made a bishop.
Missionaries who worked in China wrote to Bishop Charles. They told him about the many poor children in that country. These children did not know about Jesus and had no food, clothing or shelter. Bishop Charles went to China and other countries to tell poor children about the love of Jesus!
When Bishop Charles came back to France he told young people there about children in the Missions. French children wanted to help–they wanted to be missionaries too – so the bishop started the Holy Childhood Association (HCA). He told young people in France that they could be missionaries through their prayers and sacrifices – just like you are!
Today, children in more than 110 countries, including the United States, support the work of the Holy Childhood Association through their prayers, sacrifices and financial help. Even children in some of the poorest countries offer what little they have so that other young people may learn about Jesus. And, I should know! As the official HCA Mascot, it's my job to travel around the world to find stories about HCA kids in the Missions. You can read more about these kids on this web site or in the It's Our World newsletter.
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 Thanks to your help, the children
who live in the Maria Cecilia Hostel in Mailanijoth, India, now have
comfortable, safe beds on which to sleep. The funds donated by children
in the United States were joined with money saved by the children and
staff of the hostel so that materials could be purchased to repair,
paint and add mosquito netting to the beds. The boys joined with their
teachers in making the repairs to save on labor costs. |
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