Youth honored at Missionary Childhood Association event

PISCATAWAY -- When Bishop James F. Checchio addressed the small crowd gathered recently in the chapel at the St. John Neumann Pastoral Center, he recalled a past visit to a friend of his who was a priest ministering in a village in South Africa.

In the chapel were Catholic school and religious education students, who were joined by members of their families, pastors, teachers, school administrators, and catechists. They were representing their schools and religious education programs, which were honored Oct. 14 at the diocese’s Missionary Childhood Association Awards Ceremony, for their commitment, generosity, and sacrifice to the Church’s missionary activity. All listened intently as the bishop spoke.

The bishop said his friend told him the people in the village “were so joyful, even though they lived in such poverty.” He talked about how the priest recalled the gratitude of the people there, who traveled to the edge of the village to greet the priests and welcome them in before Mass, and how he spoke of the pastoral joy he felt during the many baptisms that took place after the Mass.

“With the coronavirus, things are all the more complicated there,” said Bishop Checchio. “They’re really suffering this year, so your generosity and sacrifice is even more important this year because the people there are in even greater need right now.”

Acknowledging that the pandemic has led to significant struggles and challenges for many and even affected the diocese’s normal celebration of World Mission Sunday, Bishop Checchio encouraged prayer.

“There are many people making more sacrifices and facing more challenges, but they’re praying for us and we’re praying for them, too,” he said. “That’s the beautiful thing about missions in the Catholic Church — we’re all united together.”

He reminded the students that when they gather to celebrate the Eucharist, they are connected, in a way, to the different Eucharistic celebrations going on throughout the world.

“Giving praise to the Father for bringing Christ into the world, we then receive the Body of Christ. We become the Body of Christ. We take on Christ and we take Him out into the world,” asserted Bishop Checchio. “That’s what you’re doing so well and that’s why missions are such a beautiful thing to think about and to be able to help with.”

Addressing the families, pastors, teachers, school administrators, and catechists present, the bishop said, “I’m so grateful for all you do to support, not just the children in our parishes but, children throughout the world.”

Bishop Checchio also thanked and praised the work of the diocesan Office of the Pontifical Mission Societies. He said the office is very active and the missionary work continues year-round, with endless requests for help from around the world.

“You’re helping to answer those needs,” he said to the students, “and most importantly, you’re helping our Lord answer those needs.”

Father John G. Hillier, director, diocesan Office of the Pontifical 

Mission Societies, agreed with the bishop.

“The children in the school and parish programs who will receive awards tonight, as well as others throughout our diocese, did so much to help so many in spite of the many challenges they have faced these last months with the ongoing coronavirus pandemic,” said Father Hillier. “Even in these most challenging times, our children prevailed — a great example to us.”

Speaking of the students in the diocese’s schools and religious education programs, Father Hillier stated, “They did not forget their responsibility as followers of Jesus to do all they could do through their generous prayers and their material support to help other children their exact age, who live in poverty, often in dangerous and horrifying conditions marked by diseases and violence. On behalf of those children, who benefit from your generosity, I say to you, ‘thank you.’”

In addition to those honored for their support of mission work throughout the world, one student was honored for her winning entry in the Missionary Childhood Association’s annual Christmas artwork contest.

The artwork of Elizabeth Bera, a seventh-grade student at St. Stanislaus Kostka School, Sayreville, was selected from among 10,000 entries submitted by students from across the United States. According to Father Hillier, more than 200 entries were sent last year to the Missionary Childhood Association from Catholic schools and religious education programs in the diocese.

In total, 22 winning entries were selected for the 2019-2020 school year and are currently on display at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, D.C., where they will be exhibited throughout the Advent and Christmas seasons.

Father Hillier noted that the Missionary Childhood Association, a Pontifical Mission Society that is charged with encouraging all children to be aware of the needs of children living in mission dioceses throughout the world and to support them both spiritually and sacrificially, “is uniquely the only association that involves children helping children.”

“I cannot express enough what a fantastic example you are to me and to all of us,” added Father Hillier.

Smith is associate director, diocesan Office of Communications