Children and teenagers participated in the 10:00 AM Holy Mass last Sunday to celebrate World Mission Day together, which is always commemorated on the second-to-last weekend of October, the missionary month.

Wearing the shirts of the Missionary Childhood and Adolescence (IAM) movement from the Sanctuary of Health and Peace, 13 members of the movement and their coordinators participated in the Eucharistic Celebration presided over by the rector of the Sanctuary, Fr. Vinícius Maciel, SSCC.REVIEW HERE).

At the beginning of Holy Mass, to the sound of the IAM hymn and in procession, the children carried to the altar flags representing the five continents, sandals representing the missionary journey, the Holy Missionary Rosary, a globe, and the movement's flag. After the Gospel reading and before the homily, the history of the IAM's origins and all the missionary work done by its members was also read.

The group meets every Thursday at 6 pm and every Saturday at 10 am at the Sanctuary of Health and Peace, Padre Eustáquio Church. To participate in the IAM, simply call the parish office at (31) 3462-6557 and to get informed.

Missionary Childhood and Adolescence

The Pontifical Society of the Holy Childhood (IAM) was founded on May 19, 1843. This occurred when Bishop Charles August Marie Joseph de Forbin-Janson of Nancy (France) was moved by the reality described by the missionaries who evangelized in China, with whom he had a close connection since adolescence.

To fulfill the missionaries' request, Bishop Carlos called upon the children of France to help other children. Driven by this missionary zeal, the bishop spoke with Pauline Jaricot, founder of the Pontifical Society for the Propagation of the Faith. Thus, the French children committed themselves to praying a Hail Mary daily for the children of China and to helping them with a coin each month, an expression of Christian charity and universal solidarity. 

In 1922, Pope Pius XI declared the Society of the Holy Childhood as "Pontifical," meaning that it differs from transitory apostolic activity because its organization and witness are approved and assumed as an evangelizing work at the service of the entire Church.

*with information from the Pontifical Mission Societies of the Vatican (pom.org.br)