Stories Told, Lessons Learned

Whenever I speak about mission work done for children because of the Holy Childhood Association, I start by telling students a story. Recently, the Religious Education students at Holy Family Parish in Duxbury, MA heard a story about some average, ordinary people (we’ve come to know them as Jesus’ Apostles) who were busy trying to live their normal lives when they met a Man who changed everything.

After their encounters, they left their homes to follow their new Friend, eager to hear His every word and be a witness to His every action. He sent them off to faraway places to share the message of God’s love with everyone they encountered. In doing so, Jesus asked them to give up their comfortable homes, their way of life, and even their family and friends to embrace perfect strangers, bringing them closer to God.

They became missionaries.

I gave the students homework – isn’t it awful? Homework – from a guest speaker! Go home, I told them, and with your parents, go online and find Jerusalem on the map; then find Rome. That’s where St. Peter ended up! Can anyone locate Turkey (then called Asia Minor)? St. Paul went there. Next, look for India. St. Thomas went all the way to India to preach the Good News! They took Jesus’ last words to “Go to the ends of the earth and preach my gospel…” very seriously!

Sometimes, the students are surprised that God is still calling people to this work; average, ordinary people are still listening to Him when He says “GO!” These missionaries need our prayers and sacrifices.

Through the Holy Childhood Association, our children are empowered to take responsibility for their part in this vital work. They come to understand that without their help, children in Zambia may not eat, little ones in Ecuador may have no health care and their counterparts in Haiti may not go to school.


That last part can sound fun for our kids. No school - what do they do? Go to the beach or have play dates? When I explain that many of the children work, even at the age of 5 or 6 or that sometimes they spend their days scavenging the garbage for food for their families, suddenly the shine of that idea wears off.

When the story is told, our children learn important lessons. Sometimes, they only need a little homework!