It wasnt a huge effort at our school, Christ the King in Pleasant Hill, CA, and im sure i sold very few as my parents were not very supportive of that kind of fundraising. https://www.ncregister.com/blog/where-did-all-the-pagan-babies-go. Despite its apparent condescending tone at times, it instilled a radical sense of urgency in children that we are responsible for one another.. Along the way, in all the villages we passed through, there were people who were full of joy to see young people. Diane, Good question , though , about where all the money went . I have no idea what spurred me on this morning to do a search for Pagan Babies maybe I was trying to recall my first exposure to racism. The poor pagan was already named Herman , right ? And of course, she knew that no pagan baby was coming to stay at 159 Findlay Avenue, no matter what I said. MJ, yes, the price was $5.00 and the money was kept in a cigar box, of all things! When we got five dollars the children would pick a name for the pagan baby, send the five dollars to the priest at the mission who would snatch the baby from an eternity of suffering and baptize it with the name we sent along. monetization of National Catholic Register RSS feeds is strictly prohibited. Should they be angry or should they just feel anguish for the sorry state of the religion these days ? If only we could all do so well with five bucks , eh ? Im 50, and though Ive heard the term pagan babies (mainly in books by people a little older than me) , it wasnt used when I was in Catholic school from about 1969-77. I named all my pagan babies after my cousin Karen, who had died at age 2. The principal was standing nearby wondering if he should intervene . There were milk cartons to hold the money. I thought the amount was $10, but $5 does sound more realistic. When Father Andrew Small, O.M.I., asked who remembered them at the inaugural World Mission Dinner May 2 at the Pierre Hotel in Manhattan, a few hands went up, mostly belonging to people with gray hair. Your description is how I remember things! Cover Reveal for My Road Trip Cowboy Romance! But I assured her that my Karen went straight to heavenMonsignor had said so and celebrated a Mass of the angels in white vestments rather than the usual funeral Mass in her honor. I think that the white kid had flowers in his hand and maybe a halo on his head. Possibly the nuns coerced the kids in those classes into giving more? If you register with MISSIO by noon February 2, 2017, youll be entered for a chance to join the Pontifical Mission Societies on their pilgrimage to Rome in May 2017, and an audience with Pope Francis. Renew or manage your subscription here. But, in fact, the entire program was rooted in a sense of solidarity and charity in the broadest understanding of the word. however, rings true today. When Oblate Father Andrew Small asked who remembered them at the inaugural World Mission Dinner in New York, a few hands went up, mostly belonging to people with gray hair. Pagan Babies is classic crime fiction from the master of suspense, New York Times bestselling author Elmore Leonard. I could fold bandages and scrub floors in the dispensario, change diapers and scrub floors in the orphanage, wash vestments and scrub floors in the churchyou can see the pattern. Glad that I could kick up some dust . Youre an idiot that is exactly what happened at my grade-school as well. I stole your Money so that I could lend it back to You and Tim with Interest!!!!!!!!! pagan babies When I attended Corpus Christi Catholic School in the 1950s and 1960s there was a program we all called Pagan Babies . Kids', toddler, & baby clothes with Pennies For designs sold by independent artists. http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/1202140.htm, http://asksistermarymartha.blogspot.com/2006/08/announcing-pagan-baby-reunion.html. Charlie stood up to his full height of about four foot three , his head held high , a serious look on his face . It seems hard to believe, but according to the National Coins. Many of those kids still have their adoption certificate, like Bob He stood right in the middle of the group . I well remember my days as a grade schooler at St. Helenas School in Philly. I dont remember selling stamps , but a vague memory comes back to me about Christmas stamps . That was the early sixties . A friend of mine, from back in the 80s, played guitar in a band with that name (weird thing about that is, hes Jewish). Anybody have some spare change ? I suspect that Patricia never named them after you , David . Adopt A Pagan Baby - 1959. "I loved Pagan Babies. The novel begins in Rwanda.The protagonist is a priest named Terry Dunn. I just found yur comment .). By the way , I was born in SF . We didnt know any better (though Church elders should have, but thats another story, isnt it?). My most cherished reward for raising money for the missions was a Madonna-and-Child nightlight that graced my bedside table well into adolescence. Same thing, just a more PC name. I remember the rice bowls but no actual rice. Such a mitzvah. PJ. As I write this I still feel the hurt and frustration 50 years later. I know its not a politically correct term, but babies are not getting baptized or raised in the faith. Philadelphia 76ers Premier League UFC. The publics had no idea what we were talking about. The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user. Father Andrew Small, O.M.I., national director of the Pontifical Mission Societies and host of the evening, welcomes the archbishop. With touching little pictures of hungry children. Each classroom was given small cardboard collection boxes . Some we're pretty outrageous!" Thanks for your thoughtful comment . - Ann C. I think there was some small prize involved for any student that sold them. The Mary list is endless. She thought that it would be the greatest thing in the world for me to become a nun. Yes, as a lesson for us to be generous the Pagan Babies idea may well have been beneficial . To get the bike we have to sell nine million thirty six thousand three hundred and eight candy bars .. There were just people who needed another shoulder on their plow. I should have asked them if they had ever run into any pagan named Herman . More and more babies are not getting baptized or raised in the faith. When five dollars was collected the box would go.somewhere ..and a new box would be folded out by the teacher . But, in fact, the entire program was rooted in a sense of solidarity and charity in the broadest understanding of the word. Labeling any baby pagan, much less sweeping into this category all foreign children of color, makes me look back with embarrassment. Thanks for the comment . What did they really think about it ? What memories. And I think that if you bought your own Pagan Baby you got to take the certificate home. Yup. Gina Cascone grew up in central New Jersey and is the author of Pagan Babies, Mother's Little Helper, and coauthor of twenty-six books for children. Saving Pagan Babies occurred during a simpler There was excitement in the air . Marianne Bruce is organizing this fundraiser on behalf of Edgardo Gonzalez Pagan. I served lunch to old people and I received so many compliments from the old people that I thought that I was a goner . We, the four oldest who got those tiny banks with a coin slot in the top, were convinced that our small amounts of money (most of which we found on the street while walking home from school, a lot of pennies) would buy us a Little Brown Pagan Baby that we would name Harry (I don't remember why) and that Jesus would love us for that purchase. Every month after the money was collected, a students name was "randomly"picked out of a bag with the chosen name becoming the "Pagan Baby of the Month.". Somewhere in the beachhead dump of stuff I call a filing system I have an adoption certificate which states that our class rescued some poor benighted child from the toils of Satan. That means that many of our grandbabies are pagan babies! Show. The certificates were white, thick,wrinkly paper with burnt orange and brown late 60s modern catholic designs. . In Catholic school in San Francisco in the Sixties, we also collected for the pagan babies daily, and got to name the baby once we had five dollars. I do agree that the biggest thrill was the goal of the reward of getting to actually choose a name for an unknown child & therefore beat our class opponents! Its a wonderful window on the old days , isnt it ? went into some general fund and wasnt really sent where we imagined that it was sent at the time . An interactive Web site will feature video interviews with some of the former pagan babies, now nuns, priests and catechists carrying on the Lords work in their homelands. When they reached $5, they then ransomed a child overseas, got a certificate and the right to name the child. Remember the "Pagan Babies"? Every month after the money was collected, a students name was randomlypicked out of a bag with the chosen name becoming the Pagan Baby of the Month. Certificates were horizontally displayed above the green & yellow cursive writing examples atop the blackborads. Watch for these changes, Eight more pro-life activists for FACE Act violations. Here is sister Mary So-and-So in the plane about to fly off to baptize the pagans . The mission has a church,' Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan of New York reminded his guests in opening remarks. For every $10.00 collected you got name the baby. Keep writingthis is good stuff! In the background it shows mosques, pagodas, etc, all the better to drive home the horrors wed saved him from. Patti Maguire Armstrong Patti Maguire Armstrong is host of the TV talk show Ladies of Another View and an award-winning author and journalist. Sports. My first lessons in social justice came through saving pagan babies. I feel the same way as you do. They took me down to Carmel Hall when I was around 10 or 11 and had me volunteer with the nuns. All for $5. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Or maybe Pagan Babies: and Other Catholic Memories. I went to a public school. After all, it makes sense. This made my day. for missions in foreign lands. But , heres the thing : When the class had five dollars then that class got to name a pagan baby . I dont remember what exactly the certificates were certifying Im assuming that little Christine Marie had been duly baptized but I know when we were younger we were told that we were buying the pagan babies. I went to catholic school the same time you did. My Jewish neighbors always bought a packet of the Childhood Catholic Christmas seals. I also seem to recall mention of it in some dimly remembered memoir I read years ago about growing up catholic. Glad you enjoyed it . Thats 40 babies right there. If I had to walk down an aisle or through a classroom on my own, I tried to muffle the noise by slowing my step. There is in the heart of every priest, and I hope in the heart of every Christian, the longing to be a missionary, to be a proclaimer of the good news to the ends of the earth, he said. If they're actually disabled, they can file the application with the city to get a handicap spot installed. Maybe the kids of today are more savvy . Actually , as I remember , the girls in the class were very worried about this but we boys werent so much concerned with the little pagan familys problem . Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, retired Archbishop of Washington; best-selling author Mary Higgins Clark; and television commentator Larry Kudlow were each named 2012 Pontifical Ambassadors for Mission. Congratulations for moving on and helping children in other countries. One of my fellow employees is reading a book called Pagan Babies. Pagan babies are certainly a unique experience us Catholic schoolkids share! How many people who raised their hands the first time were still in contact with their pagan babies? It is a few years after the genocide of the Tutsis by the Hutus.. Father Terry lives in Rwanda with his girlfriend Chantelle. Its to raise money for the school , the salesman countered . I had a lot of Pagan Babies named Mary Margaret!! Youre too late. We too raised $$ for pagan babies. Ah , maybe it taught us some basic values , anyway ( or maybe it screwed us up so badly that we dont even realize how much ) . At every Catholic school in those days were collections to save unbaptized children not taught about God (Pagan Babies). HELLO!!!!!!!! It was boy versus girl "I think they cost five dollars." if you can open your heart and you want to do something to help, PLEASE donate here to the Gonzalez Family . Hilarious ! Catholic Connection (right after the news). Of course, the prizes helped. I used to take my dads loose change Anyone have proof the Catholic Church ( the dedicated Nuns ) were able to get the pagan baby money to its intended recipients? Catholics practice infant baptism because we take care of our childrens basic needs and what is more important than filling them with the Holy Spirit? David. Through the years, I have often wished I HAD one of those certificates as I have told the story about them to others and NO one seems to BELIEVE IT! When I was in grade school prior to ~1961 in Catholic school, we collected money (our little pittances of coins) for some vague, needy group covered by the catch-all term pagan babies.* Were collecting money for the pagan babies?* As I recall, there were little paper boxes that we saved our coins in and then turned them in to someone periodically. Imagine what they would cost now." Cary had guts, for sure , for such a bold attempt at fraud . It is Catholic mission crowd-funding,making it easy to support those givingspiritual and material comfort to the sufferingand marginalized . Hearts of Gold, A Gilded Age Historical Romance Series. members of Christ, are incorporated into the Church and made sharers in her mission There must be a lot of pagan Davids running around out there, bought with purloined funds. Back in the 1950s and early-1960s, and possibly before that, the Catholic schools sponsored an ongoing drive to raise money for missions in foreign lands. Love Your Sister Powered by Discourse, best viewed with JavaScript enabled, 5.00 together, we got to buy and name a pagan baby. Her latest books are What Would Monica Do? Bog bodies, secret passages, and amazing tombstones are all possibilities as well as the latest archaeological discovery. Not many hands went up. sacraments. What did we kids know ! Seriously has anyone ever ran into a pagan baby named Herman or Mary or any other name?? I went to a Catholic grade school from 1984 to 1994 and have never heard the term. Wow. Someone must have decided it was no longer a good way to raise money for Catholic missions. Being a Jewish kid born and raised in South Philadelphia, I never heard about Pagan Babies until I married my Catholic Bride. baptize it and give it the name we chose." Im sure that Beverley Anne is fine and doing well . My mother was horrified. Pagan Babies is classic crime fiction from the master of suspense, Ne. Through Baptism we are freed from sin and reborn as sons of God; we become members of Christ, are incorporated into the Church and made sharers in her mission ( CCC 1213), Scripture stresses the importance of this sacrament. UNICEF is the United Nations Childrens Fund. , Those madcap Catholics. In three years, we bought sixthree boys and three girls. None of my non-Catholic friends ever believed my pagan baby stories, either. I had several, actually all girls named Mary, of course." We did that too. There were competitions between classes . Other prizes were plastic pencil cases with a ruler that formed the lid ; it slid out . My mom was not into that kind of stuff. I attended St. Judes Grade School in Detroit, Michigan (1958 to 1966) and as I recall Pagan Babies were a big thing. I knew immediately what you were referring to even though we never went to church & I went to public school. And most students did sacrifice that 5-cent candy money for the cause of bringing the word of god to the uneducated families somewhere in the world that the missionaries, usually Maryknolls stil active in missionary work today were working to convert the pagans usually Africa, in my day (probably deepest, darkest Africa). It may speed things up . which is how he found your story!!! Thanks for the comment . We were never quite sure what a pagan was . I attended Dominican High School (1966 to 1970) and actually it was in those years that I started my wayward path. What was written on the boxes? No , Sid , Im pretty sure that Jewish people were not considered pagans - but , who knows with some of those nuns . Catholic Register, more than one-third of millennials now say they are unaffiliated Then Father Small asked for a second show of hands. I did the saving bond thing , too . When I attended Corpus Christi Catholic School in the 1950s and 1960s there was a program we all called Pagan Babies . Usually an ice cream party, it seems. But Cary was caught . Two stories I recall from those days: one boy in my room kept bringing in UNBELIEVABLY large amounts every day (. As a young girl at St. Albert the Great School in Dearborn, Michigan, we wore blue uniform jumpers and beanies. Now I am teaching fourth grade in a little Catholic school in Venice . My allowance was 25 cents a week . You :-)) In A.D. 381, the early Church Fathers wrote in the Nicene Creed, "We believe in one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.". 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