Every year our Catholic Church gives us the opportu-nity to prepare our hearts to receive the greatest gift on Christmas Day by celebrating the Season of Advent. During four weeks, we remember the time when people waited in anticipation for the coming of the Messiah. And while we know that the Messiah has come in Jesus Christ, we can still reflect on and celebrate the newness of his coming once again. Jesus, who is al-ready born, wants to be born in our hearts. During this Ad-vent Season, let’s make room for Him and find ways to share this gift of Jesus with our brothers and sisters who are in need in the world. Let’s help our students to become aware of the needs of others as we make missions a part of every moment. Invite them to

share their talents, time, prayers, sacrifices, and the gift of themselves. As they do this , they will understand that what we have freely received, we should freely give. That is what Christmas is about, giv-ing the gift of love- the gift of Jesus.

Wait for the Lord;

be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord.

—Psalm 27:14

SHARING THE GIFT OF JESUS

From the desk of the Director… A favorite Christmas reflection: “People are gifts – which the Father sends to us – wrapped!” Some are beautifully wrapped; most are in ordinary wrapping paper; some look like they have been mishandled in the mail; some are loosely wrapped and others very tightly wrapped. You might need someone to help open it! Every now and then we get a “Special Delivery”. The reflection goes on to remind us the “wrapping” is not the gift! At this time of the year I enjoy sharing my “favorite Christmas Present”. It’s really beautifully wrapped. It’s in a big box wrapped in bright red, green and gold paper with a big shinny bow. I’m excited to open and show it. I love their reaction! Some frown, seemingly confused; others smile, a little shy; most have a big smile and jump in delight! Some simply see a big mirror! Others see an image! Most see themselves with a big smile on their face! You are a gift! A beautiful gift! Your beauty reflects the Spirit of Jesus living in you. Those you teach see His Love reflected; in our outreach we give other children in mission lands a chance to see that they too are a gift! Deeply loved! Peace always! Fr Joseph Miller, SVD

Quarterly Newsletter December 2011

The Holy Childhood Association

One Family in Mission Diocese of San Diego

IN THIS ISSUE:

Sharing the gift of Jesus Pg.1

Proclamation of the “Good News” in Nepal Two feet of charity and justice St. Francis Xavier– A missionary in action Pg.2

Watch our young missionaries around the diocese Pg.3-4

HCA celebrates as “One Family in Mission.” What HCA does best! Pg. 5 HCA song writing contest A prayer for the missions Pg. 6

“Children helping Children”

As the Holy Childhood Asso-ciation keeps visiting schools and Faith Formation groups, we have become aware of the many efforts from our young mission-aries to reach out to the needy in the world. Activities and fund raising projects such as food drive to provide baskets for poor families, shoe boxes for Africa, free dress, baking sales, recycling, Advent boxes, and weekly collections with the mini globe coin bank are giving stu-dents the opportunity to share what they have with others and adding meaning to their spiritual life. Thank you for your gener-osity and love to the mission of the Church. Have a blessed Christmas Sr. Eva Rodriguez, SJS

This is how all will know

that you are my disciples, if you have love for one an-

other." Jn 13:34-35

Catholic social action is rooted in following the path of Jesus who

showed charity to the poor through healing and serving their needs. He also was willing to raise the hard questions of why people are poor and lack basic needs and human dignity. This is the work of

justice. Together, Charity and Justice form the anchors for Catho-lic ministries of peacemaking, serving the poor, the immigrant, the

homeless, the prisoners and neighbors at home and abroad.

Page 2 The Holy Childhood Association

Francis Xavier was born on April 7, 1506 in Spain. At the age of 19 he went to study at the University of Paris where he met Ignatius Loyola. They became good friends. Both Francis and Ignatius became priests and started a religious community of men, The Society of Jesus – also known as the Jesuits. Francis took his commitment to God seriously and wanted to tell everyone about Jesus. Even though he had little experience, in 1541 he sailed from Por-tugal to Goa, on the west coast of India. From there he went to Cape Comorin on the southern tip of India. Here he taught about Jesus and introduced many people to the Catholic faith. He also made another trip to Malacca in the East Indies where he also spread the faith. In 1549 he traveled to Japan, making him the first missionary to preach the Gospel there. Although the country of China would not allow “outsiders” into the country at that time, Francis had a great desire to proclaim the Gospel in China. There are stories of Francis giving a bribe to a ship’s captain to smuggle him into the country. Francis became very ill and died in Hong Kong in 1552 when he was about to enter China. His body was brought

back and buried in Goa, where he first began his missionary journeys. His feast day is celebrated on December 3rd. He truly was a missionary in action.

Christians in Nepal have had freedom to practice their faith only since 1991, when a new constitution established religious freedom. Before that, conversion from one religion to another was illegal. Attempts to convert others were considered a criminal offense by the ruling Hindu monarchy punishable by imprisonment. Missionaries working in Nepal since this time have invited people to hear about Jesus and His “Good News.” They also serve the poor and suffering by providing them with medical care, education and job train-ing. In Godavari, the number of Catholics attending a small local church has grown so much that Sunday Mass has Become “standing room only.” “When we started this church we had 50 worshippers,” said the parish priest. “Now we have 300 — and some have to stand.” Today, there are some 7,500 Catholics living in Nepal. The country has six parishes and

38 mission stations. More than 80 percent of the country’s 28 million people are Hindus. With your help through the Holy Childhood Asso-

ciation, hundreds more young people will learn about the Catholic faith every year and experience the loving, hope-filled wit-ness of missionaries.

Proclamation of the “Good News” is new in Nepal

Every day more students are enrolled in Nepal schools thanks to missionary efforts.

St. Francis Xavier is the Patron of Mis-sionaries and Missions

St. Frances Xavier — A Missionary in Action

Two Feet of Charity and Justice

Watch Young Missionaries Around the Diocese!

Page 3 Quarterly Newsletter December 2011

Students at St. Mary’s School in El Centro are ready to help their brother and sisters in the world as they fill-up their globe coin banks to provide food, shelter, cloth-ing, and Bibles to the needy.

St. John of the Cross School sent Christmas gifts to poor children in Africa. The project required that stu-dents placed the gifts inside shoe boxes.

Kindergarten students from St. Patrick’s School San Diego showed their missionary spirit by presenting Sr. Eva Rodriguez, SJS their donation to HCA.

St. John School students collected boxes with food to be share with needy parish families during the Thanksgiv-ing celebration.

Religious education students from St. Charles Parish in Imperial Beach worked hard to fill-up their HCA boxes as part of the Advent project organized every year.

During the HCA visit, students from St. Gregory the Great School presented a check to Sr. Eva Rodriguez, SJS. The donation represents various fund raising activi-ties organized on October, the missions month.

We’ll love to hear from you and the many activities you organize during the school year to promote missions awareness among your students.

Page 4

St. Rafael Parish Religious Education St. Therese of Carmel Parish Holy Trinity School

Our Lady of the Sacred Heart School Santa Sophia School Our Lady of Guadalupe Academy

Blessed Sacrament School Holy Family School Saint Margaret Religious Education

Our Lady of Mount Carmel School St. Kieran School St. Gregory the Great School

St. Francis of Assisi School St. Rita School St. Therese Parish Religious Education

At an event in the Imperial Valley the children in our Catholic schools and Parish Religious Educa-tion Programs were recognized for their support of the Church’s missionary efforts. This annual celebration takes place to acknowledge our students and to raise mission awareness. More than 500 students, accompanied by teachers, principals and parent chaperones, participated in the Recognition along with Celebrating Mass. There were students from St. Mary School, Our Lady of Guadalupe Academy in Calexico, Sacred Heart School in Brawley, Vincent Memorial Catholic High School and St. Joseph Parish in Holtville. The Liturgical celebration was enhanced by students dressed in the cultural attire of a particular mission country, who wore colored bandan-nas, representing the Mission Countries in the Americas, Europe, Asia, Oceania and Africa. St Mary’s School provided the choir, altar servers and lectors. The school principals and director of religious education were invited to receive a certificate of appreciation on behalf of their students. Stevan Laaperi, director of the diocesan Office for Schools, assisted with the presentation of the certificates. Reflecting on this year’s celebration, Father Miller said he hoped students “took back an inkling of what we, as staff, received from them in terms of their excitement about mission.” Sister Rodri-guez added, the Missions Office hopes that it is “planting a seed” for the future. “Who knows,” she said, “we might have more missionaries in the future thanks to these celebrations.” Our stu-dents in San Diego are making a big difference in the world. Thank you!

WHAT HCA DOES BEST…

HCA helps children at a young age to recognize they are called by Baptism to spread the Gospel.

HCA enhances an awareness of mission in children and their need to help and serve others.

HCA teaches all children that we are one in God's family.

HCA reminds children to pray daily for the vulnerable and those living in poverty.

HCA helps children understand that they are stewards of earth and need to protect and preserve it.

HCA encourages children to look beyond themselves to others and make sacrifices for those in need.

Page 5

Prayer Intentions of Pope Benedict XVI

November That the African continent may find strength in Christ to pur-sue justice and reconciliation as set forth by the Second Synod of African Bishops. December That children and young people may be messengers of the Gos-pel and that they may be re-spected and preserved from all violence and exploitation.

HCA Celebrates As “One Family in Mission”

The Nativity Story and Mission

The Holy Childhood Associa-tion invites all students to par-ticipate in our annual Christ-mas Artwork Contest. This is a way your students can bring the love of Jesus to the world’s children. Students who enter this annual contest could see their artwork appear as Christ-mas e-greetings on HCA’s web-site for kids. For more informa-tion visit www.hcakids.org

Office for the Missions Sr. Eva Rodriguez, SJS

P.O. Box 82386 San Diego, Ca. 92138

Phone: 858-490-825 Fax:858-490-8258

erodriguez@diocese-sdiego.org

A Prayer for the Missions at Christmas

Websites to Remember

www.helpthemissions.org

www.hcakids.org

www.onefamilyinmission.org

www.youtube.com/pmsusa

www.MissionVoices.org

Page 6

Holy Childhood Association Song Writing Contest

The Holy Childhood Association is looking for its theme song that ex-presses our children’s missionary call to reach out to their brother and sisters in the world. Through prayer and sacrifice our young missionaries keep alive Bishop Forbin-Janson’s dream of “Children Helping Children.” Your students will have the opportunity to visit a music studio and have their song recorded on a CD plus a cool i-pod. Our First place or grand prize winner song will be featured on our Missions National website and recognized and played during our annual HCA Mass on March 13, 2012.

Motivate your students to participate! Do you need help? You may contact Kathy Jimenez at kjimenez@diocese-sdiego.org or Sr. Eva Rodriguez at erodriguez@diocese-sdiego.org Phone: 858-490-8253 or 858-490-8255 Remember the contest is open to all Catholic School students and CCD/ RE program and home school students cur-rently enrolled in grades K-8. You may participate as a group or individually. All entries must be postmarked and /or received by the Office for the Missions no later than January 30, 2012.

Dear God,

As we celebrate the joy of Jesus’

birth, we pray for children who are

poor, hungry, and in need. May they

experience Christ’s love and peace

though the work of missionaries.

We remember especially the chil-

dren of Kenya and East Africa who

now suffer from drought and fam-

ine, and those who care for them.

May they all find strength and en-

couragement in the “Good news”

of the birth of Jesus. Amen.