Mite Box Lent

Missionary Childhood Association (MCA) Mite Box collection:

We have placed the order for the Mite Boxes from the Missionary Childhood Association for Lent 2024. Catholic Schools and Parish Religious Education Program should now have the MCA boxes, posters, and prayer cards. Further details and instructions are available in the Letter for MCA Mite Box Collection 2024. If you have any questions or changes in your order for next year (Lent 2025), please let us know. Thank you for your commitment to the Church’s missionary efforts and helping to foster understanding in the hearts of our children and youth.

Here is an example of the outreaches supported by your efforts through the MCA Mite Box Collection. Recently, the Missionary Childhood Association combined efforts with Sister Litty George at the St. Charles Mtwivila Primary School in Iringa, Tanzania. Through the donations of MCA, these children were provided with necessities including food, clothing, school tuition coverage, school supplies, play time equipment – and lunch.

The Missionary Childhood Association provides food to hungry children around the world, including these kids in the Mission Diocese of Daru-Kiunga, Papua New Guinea. In addition to nutrition programs, MCA members help children in Papua New Guinea gain access to education by building schools, providing books and catechetical materials, bringing clean water to schools, and providing health care.

Generous hearts and welcoming faces can not mask the living conditions and poverty that also surrounds Nairobi. Kibera is a one mile square foot slum where about 750,000 people live. It is one of the most crowded places on earth. Families live in wood and corrugated metal shacks, crowded together, with no running water, electricity or sewage systems. MCA members help missionaries teach children about Jesus and provide food, education, and shelter.

Finally, here are some reminders regarding the two Lenten programs used in our parishes and schools. The Mite Box program is an outreach from the Missionary Childhood Association or MCA (formerly the Holy Childhood Association or HCA), one of the Pontifical Mission Societies represented in the Mission Office. It is a mandatory annual program in our Catholic Schools, CCD and Religious Education programs for children and youth. It will continue this year but with some modifications. The Rice Bowl program is sponsored by Catholic Relief Services (CRS) and organized in the diocese by the Social Concerns Office. Rice Bowl is an elective program that may be held any time throughout the year with an emphasis on Lent, but it is not to conflict with or replace the Mite Box program. If you have any questions please feel free to contact the Mission Office or the Office of Social Concerns.

May God reward you for your efforts in service of Christ and His Church,

Rev. Woodrow H. Pace,
Director of the Mission Office

Your MITE BOX Makes a Difference

MEET FORTUNE MASEKO

Fortune Maseko is 10 years old from Blantyre, Malawi, who is currently preparing to receive her Confirmation at the Holy Ghost Parish. She spoke with MCA about the COVID 19 pandemic, and how that global crisis made her more aware of God’s constant presence in her life: “My family and I prayed together a lot during those times, and this in turned strengthened my faith,” Fortune said. Thanking all the children who take part in the Mite Box campaign, she encouraged them to join her in “praying for God’s mercy and to continue working hard in school.” According to USAID, only 41 percent of students complete their primary education on time. Support from MCA this year helped more than 25,000 children in this region of Malawi can learn about the faith and attend school.

MEET SARAH

Sarah, from Yendi, in northern Ghana, has struggled through most of her 12 years of life: Due to a speech impediment, she was considered an “spirit child” or a bad omen. At the young age of 4, she was rejected by her family and her community. Thanks be to God and relying on the support of the Mite Box campaign, Sister Stan at the Nazareth Home for God’s Children rescued Sarah, giving her a home, and education, and loving care. Now 12 years Sarah is the top of her class of 35 students and credits her rescuer: “Sister Stan brought me here, she saved my life,” she said. There are over a million orphans in Ghana. Your generosity with MCA helps missionaries such as Sister Stan provide a safe heaven for children like Sarah.

MEET JOHN NICOLAS

“At school, I try to treat others as my brothers and sisters, because I see Jesus in every person,” says John Nicholas, a 15-year-old who lives in Uganda, in East Africa. He also prays with his family and watches the children’s Mass on Uganda Catholic Television. “I am glad that my family and parish have given me an opportunity to grow and participate in witnessing to Jesus as my friend and brother and whom I am able to share with those around me.” In 2021, support from MCA in Moroto, Uganda, where John lives, provided an education for some 1,200 young people. Funds were also allocated to a local hospital, and to a program preventing child trafficking. According to the US State Department, thousands of Ugandan children as young as seven are exploited in forced labor in agriculture, fishing, forestry, cattle herding, mining, stone quarrying, brick making, carpentry, steel manufacturing, street vending, bars, restaurants, gold mining, and domestic service.

MCA International Bulletin

From Sister Roberta Tremarelli, AMSS, Secretary General of the Missionary Childhood Association (MCA) in Rome, please see the most recent newsletter from the MCA International General Secretariat (October 2023).

This issue features “voices of children” in the Missions, including from Ghana, Haiti, India, Italy and Rwanda.