HOLY CHILDHOOD ASSOCIATION

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1 CHILDREN HELPING CHILDREN HOLY CHILDHOOD ASSOCIATION CHILDREN HELPING CHILDREN Sept. - Dec Dear Boys and Girls, Let us begin with the Holy Childhood Association (HCA) Prayer. Ask your teacher for a prayer card.) Vol Junior Gr. 4-6 Lord, our God, help us to walk with You and to live out Your mission in today's world. Help us to bring the Good News of Your Son, Jesus, to the ends of the earth. Open our hearts to children who are in need, children who are sick and children who live without peace. Through our prayers and actions, may our brothers and sisters in the Missions come to know the love of Jesus. We make this prayer to You, our living God, knowing how much You love us always. Amen. Welcome back to another year of membership in the HCA. We hope that you are doing well in your studies and praying for each other. As we journey toward Advent, which begins on Sunday Dec. 1 st, 2013, open your hearts to mission children in need around the world. Bishop Charles de Forbin-Janson founded the Holy Childhood Association in France in This year we celebrate our 170 th anniversary worldwide! Ask your parents if they were members when they were young. Here is a HCA membership card from This newsletter will focus on the country of Haiti. We encourage you in your daily prayers to recite the HCA prayer and to think about the children of Haiti. Remember our purpose: to pray for, to learn about and to pray for others in need. As you learn about the children of Haiti, know that you are joining with children around the world to help all children in mission countries. These children need your help, support, understanding and prayers. One hundred per cent of the money you raise goes directly to support projects helping children.

2 Haiti is a beautiful country in the Caribbean. It shares the island of Hispaniola with the Dominican Republic. The Haitian people are friendly and kind people. They have unfortunately lived through many natural disasters such as: hurricanes, severe storms and earthquakes like the one in 2010 that killed many people and left even more homeless to this day. The Canadian Government has sent a lot of money to help them rebuild and have access to medicine and education. Interesting facts about Haiti Population: 9,801,664 (July 2012) President: Michel Martelly Capital City: Port Au Prince Languages: French and Creole (spoken by 80% of pop.) Religion: 80% Catholic Michaëlle Jean, former Governor General of Canada was born in Haiti and now lives in Canada. Interesting Places to Visit in Haiti Ile de la Tortue Ahoy me mateys! Did you know that pirates once lived in Haiti? Ile de la Tortue is off the northern coast of Haiti. The island is shaped like a turtle. Some of the people t h a t lived there in t h e 1620 s became pirates. They were called buccaneers because of the buccan grills they used in cooking. If you watched the movie Pirates of the Caribbean, Captain Jack Sparrow landed in the port of Tortuga on this island. Interesting Animals in Haiti Haiti has a tropical climate which means it s hot and rains a lot. Many animals like this climate for example: whales, crocodiles, snakes, frogs and bats. There are 3 interesting types of bats found here the greater bulldog bat, the sooty mustached bat and the leaf-nosed bat. Why do bats fly at night? Because they can t drive! Interesting Transportation in Haiti There are many forms of transportation in Haiti. One way to travel is by moto-taxi. This is a motorcycle that you hop on behind the driver. Another interesting way to travel is by Tap-Tap. A Tap-Tap is a bus or a pick up truck with seats in the back. They are often brightly painted and really crowded. When you want to get off, you tap the side of the bus to signal the driver to stop! Would you like to ride in one? There is also an amphibian only found in the jungles of Haiti called the whistling frog. It whistles in the evening. Some people like the sound but others find it creepy! What s a frog s favourite music? Hip hop! La Citadelle la Ferriere A fortress is like a big castle. This fortress was built in It has views in all directions to spot enemies approaching. It took over 15 years to build and is large enough to house 5000 people! The walls are 4m thick. (Can you measure how thick that is?) If you visit there be sure to find all the hidden passages! For it is in giving that we receive. St Francis of Assisi St Francis of Assisi ( ) grew up in a rich home in Assisi, Italy. He was a fun loving boy who was very popular and kind to all. When he grew up, he decided to devote his life to God and to helping others. He gave away all his good clothes and money to the sick and poor. His father was very angry with him. How do you think his rich friends felt? St. Francis began to tell others about God. He was kind to everyone especially the poor. He loved animals, birds and all creation. Many people began to follow this good man. They called themselves Franciscans. There are many Franciscans today who are devoted to God. Like St. Francis, they work hard and love all God s creatures. We remember St Francis every October 4 th. Did you know that Pope Francis I chose his name because St. Francis was such an inspiration to him? He decided that he wants to do all he can to help the poor too. How can I live a life like St. Francis? When I give something away to someone in need, I feel: WORD SEARCH ADVENT HOLY CHILDHOOD ASSOCIATION PRAY SHARE LEARN MISSION HEART LOVE FRANCIS ASSISI POOR ANIMALS BIRDS HURRICANE EARTHQUAKE STORM MEDICINE EDUCATION WHALES DOLPHINS FROGS BATS ISLAND FORTRESS PASSAGES CANDLES SOCCER - chose the name Francis after St. Francis of Assisi? - is the first pope from the Americas? - is our first pope named Francis? - is our 266 th pope? - loves soccer? ADVENT Advent is a time of waiting. We light candles in church to help us anticipate the Light of the World (Jesus) at Christmas. This time of waiting gives us time to prepare our hearts. How will you prepare your heart? Did you know that St. Francis of Assisi was the first to use live people and animals in a nativity scene? Father Rick Frechette says Hello! from Port Au Prince, Haiti. As you know, many schools were destroyed in the 2010 earthquake. Father Rick has been busy helping to rebuild them. Thanks to your support, St. Vincent s school for the Deaf and Blind has been rebuilt. Many other schools are moving from street tents to strong buildings. You have helped provide food and educational material for over 3000 children. Very well done!

3 STUDENTS' CORNER We were happy to hear from St. Gabriel the Archangel Catholic School in Chestermere, AB. The Grade 5 class taught by Mr. McKenna and Mr. van Paridon made bookmarks and then asked for donations from all grades to help mission children in need. Thanks to Barb Hamilton for passing on the great news. A special thank you to Sarah, Benjamin, Peter and their parents for collecting money all year for the HCA. This dear family is a member of St. Augustine/St. Theresa Parish in Murillo, ON. Know that your donation is going to help mission children receive much needed food and medicine. Jodi Ferrara, Head Teacher at Holy Cross Catholic School in Burnaby, BC, along with staff and students held their annual penny carnival in October. They dressed up and played old fashioned games. The school is a wonderful supporter of the HCA all year long. We heard from Susan Finnigan on behalf of the staff and students of Christ the King Catholic School in Winnipeg, MB. They collected money from their annual All Saints fair, Halloween colour day and during Lent. The students were encouraged to recognize their gifts and their responsibility to share them with others. A big thank you to the children from the Once Weekly Catechism Program in St. Augustine of Canterbury Church in Brandon, MB. Under the direction of Sr. Marlene Aquino, the children prayed for, learned about and shared what they could with others Kennedy Rd, TORONTO, ON, M1T 3G5, CANADA

4 H o l y C h i l d h o o d A s s o c i a t i o n 2219 Kennedy Rd. TORONTO ON M1T 3G5 Toll free: hca@missionsocieties.ca Sept.-Dec Vol Junior Gr. 4-6 Dear Teachers/Catechists, Welcome back to the anticipation, excitement and challenges of a new school year. Whether you are using the newsletter in September or saving it for use in other parts of your Religious curriculum, know that you are helping shape the next generation spiritually, emotionally and intellectually. By encouraging your students to Pray for, Learn about and Share with others in need around the world, know also that you are a vital part of their Catholic education. This issue of the newsletter invites your students to learn about the beautiful, vibrant and very disadvantaged country of Haiti. While much is being done to help this nation, the need remains great. Together, we are supporting children in areas that still have no electricity, poor sanitation and limited access to clean water. The need for food and medicine hardly meets the demand. The problems are complex. Our Canadian government gives $50 million each year for development. They feel that the majority of Canadian aid money should go to programs supporting mothers and babies, sending children to school, buying medicines and building housing. Others, such as former Canadian Governor General Michaelle Jean, now special envoy to Haiti for UNESCO, agree but feel money must also continue to be given to the government to build up the economy for long term stability. They suggest greater government accountability. Both approaches seem sensible. Please remember Haiti and its dear people in your prayers. Please read the Intermediate and Primary newsletters for additional information. Visit our web site and find access to World Mission TV for inspirational mission stories and lesson plans featuring projects we support around the world. Thank you for all that you do! Your role is vital in raising missionary awareness in children. We d love to feature your school/parish on page 4 of future newsletters. Every fund raising effort, big or small, is important and appreciated. Please send us your photos for publication. Suggestions for Using the Newsletter 1. Always begin your lesson with the HCA prayer. Each student should have their own prayer card. (Prayer cards are available from the National Office.) They can recite the prayer as a group or have a student lead the prayer. Remind your students of why they are members of the HCA to pray for, to learn about and to share with mission children around the world. 2. Using a globe, atlas or an internet map, have your students locate North America, Canada, and then the Caribbean. Point out different islands they may have heard about. Focus next on the island of Hispaniola showing the Dominican Republic and Haiti. Ask your students their thoughts on the type of weather in this area. Religious Education: Integrating the HCA into your Program. Grade 6: You shall be My Witness Unit 5: I am the way, the truth and the life. Theme 15: Give to each other. Key Concept: To act with justice is to give to others what is theirs by right. (page 104) Outcome: Students will, through their faith, hear the call of the poor. Grade 5: May We be One. Unit 6: The church acts justly. Theme 18: Let justice flow like water. Key Concept: The earth is our home. (page 114) Outcome: Students will understand that our environment does not exist separately from human activities. Grade 4: Come and see Unit 6: Jesus reveals the compassion of God. Theme 16: Jesus announces the kingdom of God. Key Concept: The kingdom of God is about the poor hearing the good news. (page 105) Outcome: Students will learn that God wants them to be attentive to the needs of others.

5 1. Say the Mission prayer daily. 2. Read the quote from St. Francis of Assisi found on page 3. Ask them what they think it means. 3. Ask for words that express how they feel inside when they help others. Post them around your classroom as a reminder of what it feels like to be a giver and not a taker. 4. Your students could develop skits in small groups showing how it feels to give and how it feels to be one who only takes. 5. Read the story of St. Francis together (pg 3). Make a chart of ways your students can help animals and birds this winter e.g. put up a bird feeder, make suet balls. An indoor activity to help creation would be to care for classroom plants. 6. Allow time for your students to complete the 2 sections that follow the story of St. Francis. Responses can be private or shared in pairs or small groups. 7. Share the Prayer of St. Francis with your students. (See page 160 Gr.8 text.) Ask them to choose their favourite line(s). Place the line(s) at the top of a piece of paper and draw its meaning below. Display these around your Religion/Mission table or create a special bulletin board for St. Francis. 8. Pope Francis I chose his name because St. Francis was such an inspiration to him especially in his love for the poor and all creation. Ask your students for words that will tell Pope Francis I that they support him e.g. love, hope, peace, strength. Give your students a paper in the shape of a cross. They are to choose their favourite words to print and decorate on their cross. 9. Some churches allow a pet blessing near the feast day of St. Francis Oct.4 th. Plan your own Pet Paraliturgy! Ask your students to bring in a picture of their pet or favourite animal. Each picture can be presented to the class and placed in a basket near your Religion/Mission table. Be sure to sing the hymn- Make Me a Channel of Your Peace. Bring in a box of animal crackers to share! 10. Advent begins Sunday December 1, Advent should be seen as a time of quiet, joyful preparation for Jesus birth. Prayer is especially important at this time. Encourage your students to pray often as it can represent their spiritual gift to God. Remember to change your prayer cloth to purple during the Advent season. 11. Place a crèche/nativity scene in your classroom. This can be bought or class created e.g. using clay figures. You could place baby Jesus in the manger far from the crèche and each day choose a student to move Him closer to the crèche so that on your last school day together, He is placed with the other figures. 12. This year is the 170 th anniversary of the founding of the HCA by Bishop Charles de Forbin-Janson. Plan a classroom celebration to honour this milestone. Additional Activities: 1. Allow time for your students to research the bats and frog mentioned in the newsletter. 2. Creative Writing: Imagine that you are a pirate on the Isle de la Tortue. You have decided that this isn t the life for you. You plan your dangerous escape to the mainland of Haiti and make a run for the Citadelle la Ferriere. Is your escape successful? If so, did you have to use the hidden passages or did you have another more daring plan? 3. Make a list of the types of transportation used in Canada. Categories are: 1 wheel, 2 wheels, 3 wheels, 4 wheels, more than 4 wheels and no wheels. 4. Choose your favourite picture of Haiti in the newsletter. Explain in writing or to the class why you chose it. Of Note: We are very pleased to announce our new National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies - Father Alex Osei CSSp. Father Alex is a great supporter of the HCA. Join us in praying for him and wishing him well during his tenure. PLEASE: send photos and stories for use in future publications. is an excellent way to transmit photos and stories. Send them to hca@missionsocieties.ca or by regular mail to Holy Childhood Association, National Office, 2219 Kennedy Rd. Toronto, ON M1T 3G5 Also, please make sure that photos you send to HCA are cleared for publication through your school or parish Freedom of Information policy. Remember to send us copies of your parental permission forms allowing us to publish photos.