Important Information:
It has come to our notice that a lot of people are still confused about the above Institute called PMS. Here are the basic things one needs to know especially those who are yet to establish the Holy Childhood Association in their parishes.
1. What is PMS?
According to St. Pope John Paul II, PMS is the Church’s instrument of Universal missionary awareness and cooperation for evangelization of the World.
2. Objective of PMS
The primary objective of PMS is the promotion of missionary spirituality to inform people of the need of the universal mission and to promote mutual aid between Churches, and to exchange spiritual values, material resources and missionary personnel.
3. Four Organs of PMS
The following are the four organs or departments of PMS:
a. The Pontifical Society of the Propagation of the Faith.
b. Holy Childhood Association, HCA
c. The Pontifical Society of St. Peter the Apostle (SPA)
d. The Pontifical Missionary Union(PMU).
Holy Childhood Association(HCA)
This society was founded in Paris, France, on May 9, 1843 by Bishop Charles Auguste Marie de For in – Jason, the Bishop of Nancy. HCA got it’s Pontifical approval on May 3, 1922.
Aim of HCA
a. To unite all our little ones between the ages of 3 and 14 and make them friends of Jesus. As we have CMO, CWO, CYMO, CYWO, so we have HCA now.
b. To make children have special devotion to the Child Jesus, the brother of all children in the world.
c. To inculcate frequent reception of the Blessed Sacrament among the children that are Communicants.
d. Through a pedagogical-catechetical programme, parishes, schools, and families are involved in the formation of their children.
e. To guide children towards a spiritual communion and material sharing of their resources with children of other Churches, especially those in difficulty.
f. To teach them catechesis, liturgy, bible, Latin songs, and moral values, so that they live by them as they grow.
Eligibility for HCA membership
Nursery schools, Primary schools, junior Secondary Schools, Catechism classes, and Orphanages.
Conclusion In the parishesEnugu or schools, the Parish Priest, Administrator, Headmistress, or the Principal appoints one or two persons (a Lay person or a religious) to handle the children. (This is different from Block Rosary classes). The appointed person is called an Animator . Our office trains the person while he or she trains the children directly. After the children complete the period of training, the Director is invited for the enrollment ceremony. Help the children now by catching them young. Call on us at any time to assist.
Rev. Fr. Francis Agu
(PMS Director, Enugu)
