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HCA: Children Helping Children
The Holy Childhood Association offers young Catholics from kindergarten through eighth grade the opportunity to grow in faith through mission education, sacrifice and service to others. HCA helps young people understand the universal nature of the Catholic Church and recognize that they are missionaries today, in prayer and sacrifice, sharing their love and their faith in Jesus with children all over the world.A Pontifical Mission Society
French Bishop Charles de Forbin-Janson founded 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 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 stirring adults to show the same generous spirit.
The response to Bishop Forbin-Janson’s appeal was extraordinary. In a few years, the unique concept of “children helping children” spread not only throughout his native France, but all over Europe, then to North America, Latin America, Asia, and in the last 40 years, to Africa.
HCA was raised to the status of “Pontifical” in 1922 by Pope Pius XI.The Holy Childhood Association in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia
The Holy Childhood Association provides mission education materials and presentations to grade schools and parish religious education programs throughout the Archdiocese.
For more information about HCA in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, contact Maureen Rilling at (215) 587-3945 or HCA @adphila.org.