Missionary Childhood Association
Country of the Month Archive
As members of the Missionary Childhood Association, students have a direct impact on the lives of their brothers and sisters in over 1,100 mission territories around the world. These lesson plans give a brief overview of the featured country (including country and continental maps) as well as an example, with pictures, of the work that missionaries accomplish with your students’ help. Country facts and statistics come from a variety of sources: CIA World Factbook, World Atlas, Wikipedia, and various (Arch)diocesan websites, among many others.
Asia
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MCA in Bangladesh
The next time you have a cup of tea, think about the children that Missionary Childhood supports on the tea estates of Nepal. Most live in hilly rural areas and are not near a Catholic church. The priest must come to them, sometimes only five times a year. Hear from the local bishop who is grateful for the Mass Stipends he receives from our Mission office. His priests can travel more and bring the Catholic faith to more children.
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MCA in Cambodia
Sister Eulie is a Filipina Sister on mission to Cambodia. Read how she uses a taxi, a three-wheeled vehicle called a Tuk-tuk to bring education to children whose families cannot afford to send them to school. Sister is making a difference for Cambodian children thanks to Missionary Childhood – and your students!
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MCA in East Timor
In the island country of East Timor, Dominican Sister Fatima works in a school outside the capital city of Dili. Learn how the schools is supported by our members as it educates and feeds the little ones. It is also transformed into the local Catholic church on weekends, making the most of the help we send.
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MCA in Agartala, India
The children who attend the boarding schools run by the Sisters of Charity in rural Agartala, India are very grateful to all Missionary Childhood Association members for the clean, safe water they now enjoy! A series of pipes that connect to the schools’ gutters fill a water tank with rainwater which the children can drink. MCA has done this and more for the Sisters’ schools. Read more in this lesson plan!
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MCA in Chennai, India
In Chennai, India, Salesian Sister Clara has become a “mother” to many rescued girls, with help from the Missionary Childhood Association. Read how Sister runs a shelter and school and has started a “Help Line” for street children in danger of being trafficked. Two of Sister’s girls tell there story in this important lesson.
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MCA in Myanmar
Read what Pope Francis said about the difference that YOU make when you join the efforts of missionaries, supported by our Societies, Myanmar. This lesson highlights Saint John’s School in the Diocese of Hakha. The area has one of the lowest literacy rates in the country. MCA is changing the educational status of the children of the diocese.
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MCA in Nepal
The late Bishop Anthony Sharma could tell great stories! He shared a few with Missionary Childhood, especially how our members helped differently abled children in Nepal’s capital city learn life skills. Families are also counseled by the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth about overcoming the cultural taboo of having a child with a disability, thanks to MCA’s support.
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MCA in Hyderabad, Pakistan
The children of Holy Family Parish in Hyderabad are attending their parish Catholic school thanks to scholarships from the Missionary Childhood Association. Along with their faith, they are learning all sorts of skills – including the science of pollination. How do you like their bumblebee hats?
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MCA in Karachi, Pakistan
Pakistan is not a country where it is easy to be a Christian. Imagine, then, the bravery of our Missionary Childhood members who gather at the Cathedral every year on the Feast of the Epiphany – which is International Missionary Childhood Day – to sing, pray, and celebrate their faith. Read more in this lesson plan.
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MCA in San Jose, Philippines
Even back to back typhoons don’t keep the missionary spirit down in San Jose, in the Philippines! Read how, while still recovering from major storms, Missionary Childhood members and the MCA adult team, made time to host a Campout for our members there to encourage them to keep the faith and remember that God is always with them!
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MCA in Quezon City, Philippines
The shelter of Saint Vincent de Paul is a place where girls who have been abandoned or live in unsafe conditions can find safety with the Sisters who run the home. The same Sisters also run a day care center. Thanks to Missionary Childhood, the Sisters of the Handmaids of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul receive help to run both ministries.
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MCA in Sri Lanka
The Diocese of Galle is located at the very tip of the island country of Sri Lanka and was devastated by the tsunami of 2004. They are still rebuilding and count on Missionary Childhood as a partner in that work. The children at the Cathedral Parish are able to have faith formation classes and receive their First Holy Communion! Read more from Bishop Raymond Wickramasinghe about how he counts on MCA in his ministry!
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MCA in Thailand
Sister Jancy Selvaraj is a missionary nurse in a remote village in Thailand serving tribal children. Read how Sister stepped up healthcare efforts to respond to the COVID19 pandemic and what she says she likes most about being a part of the Missionary Childhood Association.