While contributing his own money for foreign missions through the Propagation of the Faith, Bishop Charles de Forbin-Janson shared his hope of establishing an organization to aid the children of China with his friend Pauline Jaricot, founder of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith. She suggested appealing to the children of Europe to help their sisters and brothers in other countries, and so began the work of the Holy Childhood Association – young people in service to mission youth around the world. In 1922, HCA was given the title Pontifical.
Now called the Missionary Childhood Association in the US, the Association is established in more than 130 countries in the world. MCA promotes mission and global awareness among school age children. MCA is unique to other organizations that assist children in that its primary aim is to encourage children to share their faith with children in the developing world through their prayers, personal sacrifices and financial offerings.
MCA is the official missions program in the Diocese of Harrisburg for elementary schools.
Each year, the Missionary Childhood Association of the Diocese of Harrisburg acknowledges the special achievements made by an elementary school whose students have demonstrated exceptional mission awareness and Christian concern for children in developing countries of the world.
