Usually, I am on my own for these mission animation
sessions; during the month of October I was blessed to have a partner – Fr.
Patrick Byrne, SVD - as I traveled around the Archdiocese. Until recently, Fr. Pat was the International
Secretary General at the Vatican for the Missionary Childhood Association
(MCA), our children’s mission society.
As such, he visited the missions regularly, making sure that all the
sacrifices made by MCA members were being used properly. As you would imagine, his stories are
riveting.
“How many of you had a glass of water this morning?” he
asked the children from Duxbury to Chelsea, and Everett to Canton. Most hands went up. “And you’re all still alive? No one got sick?”
Father marveled.
(This was usually followed by a little laughter and nervous looks exchanged.)
“Thanks be to God! Why is that?” Because the water is good for us… was the answer he most often received. Fr. Pat would then tell the students about all the places where their support of MCA made it possible for missionaries to bring clean water to children so that they don’t get sick from drinking contaminated water. He would tell them that, while it was a great start, there were still about 6000 children who die every single day, while we are going about our business, because they have no choice but to drink the dirty water; they get sick, have no access to medical care, and many die.
(This was usually followed by a little laughter and nervous looks exchanged.)
“Thanks be to God! Why is that?” Because the water is good for us… was the answer he most often received. Fr. Pat would then tell the students about all the places where their support of MCA made it possible for missionaries to bring clean water to children so that they don’t get sick from drinking contaminated water. He would tell them that, while it was a great start, there were still about 6000 children who die every single day, while we are going about our business, because they have no choice but to drink the dirty water; they get sick, have no access to medical care, and many die.
There was no more laughter, but the looks were still
nervous.
Reading their thoughts, Fr. Pat would say, “But Father, I’m
only one little kid! What can I do?”
“You can pray, of course! And sacrifice too!” the children
were told. We gave them World Mission
Rosaries and explained the different colors standing for the various parts of
the world and handed out their Mite Boxes.
Father reminded them that though they might think their sacrifice isn’t
much, when they are all added together, the total makes a difference - they are
literally saving lives!
Many of the students sat, with their rosaries and mite boxes
next to a bottle of clean water as we spoke, and thanked God for their
blessings. They were taking their first
missionary steps!
-Maureen Crowley Heil
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