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Catholic youth praised for supporting Holy Childhood Association By Maria Luisa Torres  An estimated 3,000 students, parents and teachers representing 85 archdiocesan elementary schools and religious education programs filled the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels on Oct. 28 for a morning liturgy celebrating "children helping children" via the Holy Childhood Association."It made me feel good to see the faces of so many young people, because this is a celebration for the children," said John Perez, coordinator of the Holy Childhood Association (HCA) for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. "That's the essence of the Holy Childhood Association; children helping children." Sponsored locally by the archdiocesan Mission Office, HCA is an international organization dedicated to fostering children's awareness of the missionary nature of the Catholic Church. Founded in 1843, HCA promotes youth involvement in a variety of fundraising endeavors aimed at supporting programs for underprivileged kids in numerous countries around the world. HCA fundraisers include walk-a-thons, raffles, talent shows, car washes and other activities. Monies collected go to orphanages, schools, hospitals, refugee camps, centers for the handicapped, and other programs to provide shelter, education, food, clean water, medical care and other essentials. Today more than two million young people under the age of 14 across the U.S. help support various HCA-sponsored fundraisers throughout the year. In the Los Angeles area alone, participating students raised $75,000 to build 30 new homes for needy children in El Salvador affected by last year's devastating earthquakes via the 2001 Advent Hope House Project -- one of several fundraising efforts coordinated annually by HCA -- and collected a combined grand total of $271,024 for HCA programs. "As Catholics, we are all called to be missionaries; it comes through our baptism," said Cardinal Roger Mahony, who was the principal celebrant for the liturgy. "We [are called] not only to take care of our own lives, our own parish and our own archdiocese, but we must look way beyond…[and] continue the work of Jesus in the world."  "You are Jesus in this world, by your love," concurred Father David Ayotte, director of the Mission Office. He thanked both the children and adults present for their unerring commitment to "making mission possible.""You are missionaries right now -- and you are making a difference," he said. To the children, he added, "You are inspiring….Your reaching out has affected the lives of thousands all across the world; never forget that." At St. Emydius School in Lynwood, students played an integral role in collecting more than $7,000 for HCA during 2001 through church and school collections, a dance-a-thon fundraiser and various other activities. "Being here at the Cathedral today was really exciting," said 10-year-old Eduardo Fernandez, a fifth grader at St. Emydius. "It feels great to help other kids."  According to Anita Rezzo, religion teacher at St. Joseph the Worker School in Canoga Park, "It's important that the kids understand from the beginning where the money is going, to understand who they're helping.""We share information and videos with the kids [about HCA programs]," explained Rezzo. "It helps them learn what's happening elsewhere in the world and how they're making a real difference." For Stephanie Ramos, a sixth grader at St. Joseph, attending the Oct. 28 liturgy at the Cathedral "really helped us understand how God loves us." "Knowing all these people that were here today are actually helping made me realize that the special things we do are really important," said Ramos. "This was my first project as coordinator and it was a wonderful, spiritual experience being surrounded by all the children," said Perez, who was appointed HCA coordinator this past summer. "They really are missionaries." |
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