SAN DIEGO — “Children helping children.”
That’s the simple idea behind the Missionary Childhood Association (MCA).
“Through MCA, young people understand the universal nature of the Catholic Church and recognize that they are missionaries today in prayer and sacrifice,” said Sister Eva Rodríguez, a member of the Sister Servants of the Blessed Sacrament, who serves as MCA director for the Diocese of San Diego.
“After learning about the great needs of the world’s poorest children,” she said, “young people are invited to pray and to offer financial help, so that children in the missions today may know Christ and experience his love and care.”
Founded in 1843 by the French Bishop Charles de Forbin-Janson and, formerly known as the Holy Childhood Association, the MCA is one of the four Pontifical Mission Societies, which operate under the jurisdiction of the pope.
At the diocesan level, the MCA is part of the diocesan Office for the Missions, which works in coordination with the Office for Schools and the Office for Evangelization and Catechetical Ministry.
The MCA is primarily for children in kindergarten through eighth grade. Locally, 39 Catholic elementary schools, one high school, and about 10 to 15 parishes’ religious education programs participate in the program each year.
It encourages them to pray, make sacrifices, and contribute financially to their peers in mission countries.
Sister Rodríguez visits all of the Catholic elementary schools annually to make presentations to the students.
“The stories that I share … reflect a reality of life that many of our young kids are not familiar with,” she said. “So, they ask questions, reflect on what they see, and become interested in the lives of these children (from mission countries) who smile even though they are poor. Children are compassionate, and their hearts are moved when they see someone in need.”
The MCA distributes small coin boxes, inviting students to offer their donations, especially during the Advent and Lenten seasons. In addition, schools and religious education programs organize a variety of activities to raise funds.
Some of the most common fundraisers include bake sales, popsicle sales, ice cream socials, dime races, can and bottle recycling, and “Jeans for Jesus,” an activity through which students donate $1 for the privilege of not having to wear their school uniform for a day.
Additionally, many schools use the MCA “mite boxes” and coin banks shaped liked small globes to collect donations throughout the year.
The amount of money collected by the schools and parishes varies. Sister Rodríguez said that it often can range from $250 to $3,500.
She said that the Missions Office received a check April 14 from St. Michael’s School in Poway for $11,898.04.
“This is the largest amount we have received recently,” she said. “I am happy and proud to see the students’ response and generosity when the school organizes activities to raise funds for MCA.”
Sister Rodríguez cited St. John of the Cross School in Lemon Grove as another recent example of students’ generosity.
This Lent, at a March 24 assembly, MCA School Coordinator Aurelia Barreto reminded St. John’s students of their baptismal call to be missionary disciples. She connected the three pillars of Lent — prayer, fasting and almsgiving — to their support for children in developing countries.
The students sang the song “Go Make a Difference” and, later in their classrooms, received MCA coin boxes and a letter to their parents that explained the project.
Every school year, the diocesan Missions Office holds two MCA Masses, one in March for San Diego County and another in October for Imperial County. The purpose is to recognize and give thanks to God for the students’ generosity through the MCA.
Students take on various liturgical roles during the Masses, including serving as lectors and offertory gift-bearers, and many dress up in the cultural attire of mission countries or as missionary saints. At the conclusion of Mass, all of the schools are presented with a certificate in recognition of their support for the MCA, and everyone is invited to lunch.
About 475 people, including around 335 children representing 25 Catholic elementary schools, participated in the MCA Mass celebrated March 18 at Our Mother of Confidence Parish.
There is also an annual MCA Christmas Artwork Contest. From among all of the diocese’s entries, the Missions Office selects 25 for submission to the national level of the competition. Nicole Monroy, a fifth-grader at Sacred Heart School in Coronado, was recognized among the national winners in 2024.
“MCA brings the missions to the classroom and motivates the students to put their faith into action,” Sister Rodríguez said.
She said it’s “wonderful” to meet high school students who are involved in charity work because they learned to help the poor as elementary school students.
“That is why I think that my job is to plant seeds, knowing that God will do the rest.”>
