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. To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Enjoyed reading all of your comments about Pagan Babies. I also remember a certain boy who came from a wealthier family who could buy his own pagan baby. The salesman had no answer . "Wow, what a blast from the past!" Take a look and see why Im so excited about this app and will be promoting it every chance I get. And the fact that you great people, so distinguished, so esteemed, would be here this evening to rally around this sacred responsibility of missions, what a source of inspiration and joy., No comments on this item Great mix of early US HC punk & the then emerging "Youth Crew" sound. Remember it like it was yesterday. Each classroom was given small cardboard collection boxes . Please log in to comment by clicking here, Darkness, Desolation Invite People to Draw Closer to God, Pope Says, El Arzobispo de San Juan Celebra la Misa de Nuestra Seora de la Divina Providencia, Powered by Creative Circle Media Solutions. While clearly titillating and voyeuristic, these presentations revealed a larger world and highlighted our own privileged place. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you. Catholic Church. Needless to say, by the time I graduated from Dominican there wasnt an iota of true Catholicism left in me, other than the bit I faked for a while to protect my Moms feeling. Kind of a weird experience when we look back on it , eh ? Watch for these changes, Eight more pro-life activists for FACE Act violations. Every time we got 5.00 together, we got to buy and name a pagan baby. He didnt say that the big winner was the salesman himself , who had spent only a couple of hours with the principal and with the students but now had three hundred children who would be desperately trying to sell his candy for the next two weeks . I used to take my dads loose change I am a Catholic of a certain age, a graduate of parochial school, and a former member of the Association of the Holy Childhood. Without her mothers knowledge ! I do not remember the term pagan babies at all, although I remember the little paper boxes quite well. Mom went to catholic school in the midwest in the '60s, and I remember her mentioning Pagan babies in some context when I was a kid. I remember collecting for Pagan Babies in my Catholic elementary school (I went to public high schoolwith the publics). I vividly remember the certificate you have posted, with the various nationalities represented. ), and its name was even weirder - it was collect money to feed the Black babies. Sometimes the girls in one class would be pitted against the boys : Who could collect the money to name the pagan baby first ? Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Pagan Babies at Amazon.com. BUY THIS BOOK Pagan Babies Elmore Leonard. And of course, there was competition between the classrooms. The Irish nuns in their full habits immediately looked around at the teachers as if to say , Arent you teaching these children anything ? 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. We can smile at it now at perhaps how silly it was, Father Small said. by reneeqyancy | Feb 9, 2010 | Blog | 8 comments. Other notable guests included Cardinal Sean OMalley, Archbishop of Boston; Bishop Bejoy DCruze of Sylhet, Bangladesh; actor Andy Garcia, who stars in the film For Greater Glory, which opens June 1; and Noel Campbell, who rode Amtrak for three days from the Coeur DAlene Indian Reservation in northwest Idaho to New York to attend the event. Once the amount was reached, all the names were added to the blackboard and we voted. My first lessons in social justice came through saving pagan babies. Pictures of Cherub-faced Indian, African, and Asian babies graced small cardboard NFL NBA Megan Anderson Atlanta Hawks Los Angeles Lakers Boston Celtics Arsenal F.C. . We wonder where those name choices really went . The Holy Childhood Association got many of the basics right: it introduced me to global realities of poverty and need, to notions of privilege and responsibility. Boys usually purchased boys, and girls purchased girls. When did this extremely non-PC term stop being used? Found this page while looking for something completely different, the unexpected joys of broken algorithmic search engines. A set or two of golf clubs may have been in there . We had Dominican Nuns. on a regular basis. The publics had no idea what we were talking about. In order to raise money for the missions, the grade school students were asked to bring in pennies and nickels to save a Pagan Baby. Save that document. babies. pagan babies When I attended Corpus Christi Catholic School in the 1950s and 1960s there was a program we all called Pagan Babies . And my mother prayed. UNICEF is the United Nations Childrens Fund. 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. Sign-up for E-NewsletterGet Register Updates sent daily or weeklyto your inbox. Just saw this very entertaining thread. Thanks for the comment ! Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, who once said, My greatest love has always been the missions of the church, was very much a spiritual presence at the dinner, where his name was invoked several times. Order Bulk SubscriptionsGet a discount on 6 or more copies sent to your parish, organization Adopt A Pagan Baby - 1959. Its a great way to perform works of mercy or give alms during Lent or find a family charity. To get the bike we have to sell nine million thirty six thousand three hundred and eight candy bars .. maybe NCIS or 60 minutes should get on the case? When our family moved to another part of Dearborn, we transferred to St Alphonsus parish, and I traded the blue jumper for a plaid one, and the beanie for Hush Puppy shoes. 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. The mission has a Church, Cardinal Dolan reminded his guests in his opening remarks. The Biden administration has already announced it plans to fight any ruling against the FDAs approval of mifepristone. Glad to have confirmed this for you , John . Hosted a supper the other night for some friends from church. EWTN News, Inc. is the worlds largest Catholic news organization, comprised of television, radio, Hey! 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. Someone must have decided it was no longer a good way to raise money for Catholic missions. Its a wonderful window on the old days , isnt it ? 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? ETA: and then theres this blog from someone who is completely unapologetic about their participation in the program: http://asksistermarymartha.blogspot.com/2006/08/announcing-pagan-baby-reunion.html. James Dingwall picked that name and the girls immediately protested! Thanks for checking out my blog about my fathers WWII service on the PT boats. Pagan babies, we all understood in the 50s, were babies born to parents who did not believe in a monotheistic (1 god) religion, because they had not yet received any instruction. We also collected money in Sunday School for the missions, but we still didnt get to name anyone. Pictures of Cherub-faced Indian, African, and Asian babies graced small cardboard collection boxes given to each child. Renew or manage your subscription here. Possibly the nuns coerced the kids in those classes into giving more? We sold The Tidings , which was the L.A. Archdiocese newspaper , and there were prizes . Charlie waited for an adequate answer . So, pagan baby collections in LaCrosse , too ! Over 50, attended Catholic schools from 1970-77 in Latin America. Not many hands went up. I feel the same way as you do. These days, instead of collection boxes we can use apps. Saint Martins actoss the street from you back then. Some Irish nuns were there one day to speak to the students . I know its not a politically correct term, but babies are not getting baptized or raised in the faith. for missions in foreign lands. Years later, as adults, my younger sister, Patricia, confessed to sneaking into my room and using a butter knife to weasel the coins out of the bottle to buy candy and, yes, pagan babies. But how ? Catholic mom and grandparents here. JMJ, yes! Some became doctors and lawyers and schoolteachers and others became lay catechists, sisters and priests, operating clinics and schools, colleges and seminaries, Father Small explained, and let me tell you something they need your help today as much as they needed it 30 and 40 years ago. I remember someone once making a comment about that phrase, but I can't remember what it refered to. Renee- -tell the proofreader to correct the spelling of the coin nickel in the second sentence of your article on Pagen babies. I pictured the dozens of Karens I had saved growing up safely somewhere in Africa. The assembly was buzzing . I remember doing the rice bowl thing during Lent, but I dont remember it being for the pagan babies. There have to be plenty of them around somewhere . Yeah , a few days later . "We can smile at it now at perhaps how silly it was," Father Small said. Pagan baby naming makes good memories but was , I guess , conditioning in deception . The book may rally his followers, but it wont add to their number. Here is sister Mary So-and-So in the plane about to fly off to baptize the pagans . Ive been fortunate to travel to various parts of the world and to admire (our missionaries) extraordinary love of the world and of the people with whom they live, the cardinal added. The price of adoption was five dollars, and Elementary I still think of those days and have many wonderful memories. What did they really think about it ? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? (Matthew 25: 37-38). It is Catholic mission crowd-funding,making it easy to support those givingspiritual and material comfort to the sufferingand marginalized . I still find myself wishing THOSE people had relatively lackluster and unsuccessful lives. "I remember Pagan Babies!" When she told me about her Catholic School classes (she went from K 9) in New Jersey, I was floored. Charlie was in my class . The teacher had a stack of them . 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. - Bob U. I should have asked them if they had ever run into any pagan named Herman . I went to Catholic grade school at St. Amelias for 8 years. NOT catholic, hallelujah. Always when he asked his question , no matter what the occasion , he seemed to be right smack dab in the middle of the group . Then I could choose the bike I wanted . Cover Reveal for My Road Trip Cowboy Romance! In college, I was given the opportunity to work for a month at a Franciscan mission in Mexico. Or maybe Pagan Babies: and Other Catholic Memories. Holy Hacks: Everyday Ways to Live Your Faith & Get to Heaven, Youth Pilgrims Write a New Chapter for South Sudan, Catholic Bookstore Sues Jacksonville Over Law it Says is a Trans Pronoun Mandate, Heres How Half of U.S. Abortions Could Be Stopped This Week, Argentina: New Book Gives Pope Francis Responses to Issues Hes Most Often Asked About. I remember the rice bowls but no actual rice. We were expected to sell subscriptions to our local Archdiocese newspaper when I went to elementary school. We maybe learned a little about giving though ? To learn more, Father Andrew Small, a Missionary Oblate of Mary Immaculate and National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies talks about Missio on the Catholic Connection (right after the news). Pagan Babies book. - Mary Ellen M. A lot of people never knew what I was We all started reminiscing together as if we attended the same school! Patti and her husband, Mark, live in North Dakota where they raised their 10 children. So it had to be pretty official, like our nun just couldnt pull a certificate out of her drawer and fill in the name.no, I think that it had to be signed by the big Catholic mucky-mucks. When you get to heaven have it in your pocket . Pagan Babies | Commonweal Magazine Pagan Babies By Linda A. McMillin March 12, 2012 I am a Catholic of a certain age, a graduate of parochial school, and a former member of the Association of the Holy Childhood. Thanks for a trip down memory lane and validating my recollection. As an incentive for our fundraising, when we raised $5 we were allowed to give a Christian name to a pagan baby. Biographies are listed below: 1. however, rings true today. The nuns encouraged us to bring in our pennies and when we saved up five bucks, bingo!, we bought a baby. Remember JMJ ? Resurrection If you want, you can contact the director of music programming at Hawaiian Public Radio, and ask him if hes still using it, though. Shop high-quality t-shirts, masks, onesies, and hoodies for the perfect gift. 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. Oh . "I think they cost five dollars." Pagan Babies: and Other Catholic Memories. Your email address will not be published. Especially loud clunkers could turn heads and ignite giggles. NEW YORK - They were called "pagan babies," an appellation that would never be used today. I have my doubts that any of ours got past downtown L.A. A different time ; a different place . Bonus question: Did children in Europe collect coins for the pagan babies? Sign up for 6 Free IssuesTry us out with a free trial subscription. "Thats what I remember. This brings back a memory now. That $5.00 bought you naming rights. Aiden/ Aidan: Is of Celtic, which means "little fire." Alun: Alun means "harmony." Albus: This name means "white." Use a knife, horseshoe, or other piece of iron. Remember what he said? 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. which is how he found your story!!! Herman . Christians have always believed that baptism ago. His name is Seth (pretty sure he still has that job, but it cant hurt to check). Students gave their allowances to save They took me down to Carmel Hall when I was around 10 or 11 and had me volunteer with the nuns. "I remember donations that were not enough to "buy" a whole baby we're combined and the For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ (Gal 3:27). I dont believe that UNICEF worries about saving souls. Remember getting a whack across the face at your Confirmatin? Yeah! Stories ensued. Those who would like to know what became of their pagan babies will get a chance to find out when Pontifical Mission Societies formally launches its Great Works Campaign in the coming months. Of course, there was always the show-off who bought a whole pegginbebbie for themselves and got to name it without any of OUR help. I remember a little plastic Jesus and pencil cases . Someone must have Remembering a Different A-to-Z Challenge | No Facilities. Read 283 reviews from the world's largest community for readers. She prayed, and she prayed, and she prayed with her rosary novena for my vocation. Bury it beneath your front step or porch during a full moon. A kid in my class took a five dollar bill from his mother ( without her knowledge ) and a similar result happened . Those were the good old days , eh ? If we sold a certain amount wed get a plastic statue of Mary and Jesus. It was called Adopt-A-Pagan-Baby. - Bob H. FYI : My granny was raised in Sterling . We were never quite sure what a pagan was . Like using Necco wafers to practice First Holy Communion. Two stories I recall from those days: one boy in my room kept bringing in UNBELIEVABLY large amounts every day (. It is so very true the whole Pagan baby scam my mom complained to the principal about how us kids were made to feel guilty for not coming up with the cash every day some of the richer kids would buy 10s of these Pagan babies I think we came close to sponsoring an entire small tribe in those days, Funny as hell reading this story great memories! Ransom and Baptism? That summer in Guaymas, I learned that people in poverty needed more than goodwill, and that social justice was not a simple matter of collecting spare change and sending it off to the right folks. But the pagan babies were actual children being looked after by missionary sisters, brothers and priests in their countries. Then Father Small asked for a second show of hands. The rise of AI will generate cultural content designed not to be original or even to say anything, but to produce, like a drug, the same experience, again and again. - Karyn D. But I remember that we did get certificates sent to us from the Society for the Propagation of the Faith with the babys name. "We thought that some nun in China would go out and select a baby of the proper gender, In the background it shows mosques, pagodas, etc, all the better to drive home the horrors wed saved him from. I found a bunch of them in my moms cedar chest she saved all of them! She said she named them after me. And the time I put together a shoe box with all the items I needed to go and baptize my Jewish friends across the street, Amy and Kenny Wolpin. Ransom a Pagan Baby (late 1950s). . "I remember those." Philadelphia 76ers Premier League UFC. Hopefully its from the old days. We had the cardboard boxes and there was stiff competition It seemed like an almost daily ordeal for the class nun to individually quiz each student, asking if they had made a contribution on that particular day. If my parents would only let me go to public school, the church might have had another nun. I dont think that the money went sideways. In return they were given a decorative certificate commemorating their 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. Their Pagan Babies: "Lord have mercy! Catholic Dopers >age 50- does the term "pagan babies" ring a bell? 1969 From Pioneer to Poet by Isabelle Pagan, vintage Astrology book zodiac I dont remember collecting money for them. Wowi do remember that now that you mention it. Yet, I wonder, if I had not saved those pagan babies, would I have had the confidence and motivation to go to Mexico? It cost $5.00. DUDE! I too went to Catholic School in CA, and we definitely collected money for the Pagan babies. 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. except the last. Acts 2:38, 22:16, Rom. and Holy Hacks: Everyday Ways to Live Your Faith & Get to Heaven. Some became doctors and lawyers and schoolteachers and others became lay catechists, sisters and priests, operating clinics and schools, colleges and seminaries, Father Small explained, and let me tell you something they need your help today as much as they needed it 30 and 40 years ago.. 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