Pagan babies may have disappeared from collection boxes but they started showing up in our families. 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. Anyone have proof the Catholic Church ( the dedicated Nuns ) were able to get the pagan baby money to its intended recipients? The salesman had no answer . I got JUG in high school - Jesuits a few times. When I attended Corpus Christi Catholic School in the 1950s and 1960s there was a program we all called Pagan Babies . 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. FYI : My granny was raised in Sterling . I have my doubts that any of ours got past downtown L.A. The cost of a $1.00 seems to be tucked in my memory; because, I think that I recall that a big thing was buying one on your own and then naturally you could name it. Thanks for your comment . The thing was a brown color . http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/1202140.htm, http://asksistermarymartha.blogspot.com/2006/08/announcing-pagan-baby-reunion.html. Someone must have Anyone else do this? Thanks for the comment ! Those memories come from a ways back . Usually an ice cream party, it seems. If only we could all do so well with five bucks , eh ? To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Patti Maguire Armstrong Patti Maguire Armstrong is host of the TV talk show Ladies of Another View and an award-winning author and journalist. Fierce competition existed between some of the nuns as to whose class had the most pagan babies. Well I am hurt that you would think I would steal your money to Buy and Name more pagan babies. Did the Catholic Schools consider Jewish People Pagans? I specifically remember this from eighth grade in 1960. Some of those Jesuits spoke directly to God . They took me down to Carmel Hall when I was around 10 or 11 and had me volunteer with the nuns. Thanks for the memories of the JMJ on top of the paper yes right in the middle. DUDE! Pontifical Mission Societies and launched by Pope Francis. I am a recovering catholic now but am thrilled with the new Pope (too bad the old one is living in the apartment w/ is BF) he is a nasty old creep and was (or is) the sole channel for abuse victims. or school. 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? Remember what he said? For a baby girl, Sister always pushed us to choose Mary something - Mary Beth, Mary Alice, Mary Margaret, Mary Catherine, Mary Jane, whatever. Thanks for the comment . - Bob U. 3:21; cf. Please email comments to [emailprotected] and join the conversation on our Facebook page. I think there was some small prize involved for any student that sold them. I think mine were 25 cent stamps . One guy talked about confession when he was in third grade. an Irish name?" It used to be a full acronym - United Nations International Childrens Emergency Fund. And they spoke of pagans . 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. Im still not so sure . - Mary A. Their adopted Pagan Babies were then given the Sacrament of Baptism. It seemed like an honorable thing, he explained. What did we kids know ! Davey; I won one month & remember excitement at winning but total confusion & a sense of dread. NEW YORK They were called pagan babies, an appellation that would never be used 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. On the other hand, the central charitable action of my generationsaving and naming pagan babieswas clearly a fiction (I mourn those African Karens), one that reinforced my American sense of exceptionalism and arrogance. Ransom a Pagan Baby (late 1950s). Arlington Catholic Herald200 N. Glebe Rd.Suite 615Arlington, VA 22203703-841-2590800-377-0511, Website Design and Development by New Target, Funeral and public viewing set for murdered Bishop David OConnell, Catholics, are you going to confession? Does ANYONE know where the money did go? They folded out . When did this extremely non-PC term stop being used? The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network. It didnt glow , but she was in a sort of a case shaped like a bullet with two doors that could close her in . Blessing By Iron. I was JUST telling my son about Pagan Babies when I was a little girl! I am not the age youre looking for, though, because I am > 50. Congratulations for moving on and helping children in other countries. . I told that I learned math through confessionit had been two weeks since my last confession, I was mean to my brothers every day, so that was fourteen times, I disobeyed my parents almost every day, so that was about ten times, etc., etc. But , heres the thing : When the class had five dollars then that class got to name a pagan baby . What was written on the boxes? Adopt A Pagan Baby - 1959. And I think that if you bought your own Pagan Baby you got to take the certificate home. Thanks for a trip down memory lane and validating my recollection. . We did that too. What gyp. I think most of them were in Africa and India. They were called pagan babies, certainly not the most sensitive appellation and one that would never be used today. Its a mystery! With touching little pictures of hungry children. Neil Getz on February 21, 2021 at 9:52 am. I assume that all of the other Catholic schools in the archdiocese were doing the same thing . No , Sid , Im pretty sure that Jewish people were not considered pagans - but , who knows with some of those nuns . Once the amount was reached, all the names were added to the blackboard and we voted. . Everywhere a pagan pagan . Through their action the proclamation of the Gospel also becomes an intervention on behalf ones neighbor, justice for the poorest, possibility of education in the most remote villages, medical aid in isolated places, emancipation from poverty and rehabilitation for the marginalized, overcoming ethnic divisions and respect for life in all its stages, Archbishop Vigano said. Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick, retired archbishop of Washington; best-selling author Mary Higgins Clark; and television commentator Larry Kudlow were named 2012 pontifical ambassadors for mission. When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? (Matthew 25: 37-38). God Bless you. 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. Reading this article and all of the comments has brought tears to my eyes Im laughing so hard. Those were the days , eh ? 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. And yet the fundamental mission of the Holy Childhood Associationits efforts to create in children of privilege some sense that they are responsible for and obligated to help other children in needwas not lost on me. went into some general fund and wasnt really sent where we imagined that it was sent at the time . Hilarious ! Love Your Sister I went to catholic school the same time you did. But I remember that we did get certificates sent to us from the Society for the Propagation of the Faith with the babys name. Campbell, now retired from the film industry where he worked as a technician, told CNY that hed been enrolled in the Holy Childhood Association since seventh grade and that he remembered adopting babies to get them baptized into the faith. My romantic notions of missionary work got a dose of reality that summer. In Scotland, around 1966 or so, there was something similar in primary school (which one attends from age approx 5 to approx 12, and this school was not R.C. I keep asking her where MY money was! The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes. Im thinking, maybe, that I qualify as a pagen baby. Its funny no one knew about Pagan Babies , though . - Bill R. "Wow, what a blast from the past!" Not many hands went up. The pagan baby he purchased was named Daniel James and his $5 gave him a Certificate of Adoption as a Souvenir of the Ransom and Baptism of an Adopted Pagan baby named Daniel James. We gave our allowances to save those babies. As for the naming part, while it seemed charming at the time, if it really were true, how outrageous for us to name an African baby Mary Margaret or other Western name. Students gave their allowances to save Sometimes disabilities don't fall along "guidelines" and some people just need a little extra help. is the gateway to life in the Spirit, and the door which gives access to the other 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 longer just an auxiliary fundraiserthis was my chance to be part of the action! It barely rings a bell hearing something about pagan babies. You stir up a lot of old memories for me , too . Your email address will not be published. kids were allowed to give their baby a Christian name. This made my day. 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. I dont remember collecting money for them. I also seem to recall mention of it in some dimly remembered memoir I read years ago about growing up catholic. 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. He stood right in the middle of the group . - Sharon S. Same thing, just a more PC name. Remember the "Pagan Babies"? Lord, LordCatholic schools. Yet, I wonder, if I had not saved those pagan babies, would I have had the confidence and motivation to go to Mexico? Im late to this party, but want to add my two cents. Thanks for your thoughtful comment . But I dont remember her name." Its a wonderful window on the old days , isnt it ? The Pagan Babies (the band from Hawaii) Jason Woycke 9 subscribers Subscribe 62 Share 2.2K views 5 years ago A compilation of live footage of the Pagan Babies (the band from Hawaii). We too raised $$ for pagan babies. Pagan Names for your baby boy Achak: The name Achak is a Native American Origin name which means "Spirit." Adonis: Adonis means extremely good-looking (handsome), also of the Greek god of beauty and desire. I told some Catholic friends about collecting money for Pagan Babies at Dover (Ohio) St. Josephs and they had never heard of such a thing but Im sure we did it. But are those even the worthy ideals to strive toward? Wow ! grade 6A, 6B, 6C,). Then I could choose the bike I wanted . Weird, the kind of memories we carry over from childhood, isnt it? 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. Copyright 2023 EWTN News, Inc. All rights reserved. Two stories I recall from those days: one boy in my room kept bringing in UNBELIEVABLY large amounts every day (.75 here, $1.16 there). It may speed things up . Not a word of a lie, early 70s, my sister had just gotten her photo of her wee black baby and was in my grannys house showing her it, one of my uncles looks at it, laughs, disappears upstairs and about half an hour later comes down with his scraps box, complete with several pictures of his black babies as collected when he was at school in the 50s, and there, in his pile, was the same baby (albeit in higher quality and printed on better paper). Kind of a weird experience when we look back on it , eh ? But Im a bit cynical . The Pandemic Flu of 1918 and the COVID-19 Virus. They were missionaries working somewhere in Africa . "I remember those." Pagan babies may have disappeared from collection boxes but they started showing up in our families. Your email address will not be published. Here is Sister Mary Michael Archangel giving medicine to the pagans . Read 283 reviews from the world's largest community for readers. Long time ago . When I gave my pennies to the missions, I could make a difference. Im sure we had to change it to Richard, but in our hearts he was our little Ringo. 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! When they reached $5, they then ransomed a child overseas, got a certificate and the right to name the child. It seemed like an honorable thing, he said. I had my little yellow UNICEF box, and they asked if it was for the Pagan Babies. When she told me about her Catholic School classes (she went from K 9) in New Jersey, I was floored. Keep writingthis is good stuff! My allowance was 25 cents a week . He said the priest paused and said, Uh, son, you need to talk to your nun about that in catechism class. Read an Excerpt. Small world. My most cherished reward for raising money for the missions was a Madonna-and-Child nightlight that graced my bedside table well into adolescence. I stole your Money so that I could lend it back to You and Tim with Interest!!!!!!!!! (CCC 1213). The early pagan catches the change . In the background it shows mosques, pagodas, etc, all the better to drive home the horrors wed saved him from. 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). My friends went to public school and public school had boys! My imagination was also captured by the missionaries who came to speak to us at least once a year. This reading is starting to stir up memories of holy water, chapel caps, rosaries that lit up a green color in the bed at night, memorizing the Catechism in case the Arch-Bishop asked me a question at our Confirmation, being chosen to carry up the gifts, and on and on. time, before cynicism and political correctness found their stride. Thanks for the comment . Any questions ? At every Catholic school in those days were collections to save unbaptized children not taught about God (Pagan Babies). There was excitement in the air . Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. I guess our efforts got similarly fierce , but I never got sucked into that . That bring back memories!" Already he was losing his enthusiasm . I dont think he really believed me. Shed be about 70 now! Its to raise money for the school , the salesman countered . I won the [ now I really dont remember which of the above things I won ] but a classmate wanted to exchange her prize , the other thing , for mine . We can smile at it now at perhaps how silly it was, Father Small said. Oh my, what a great story. The one boys name that sticks in my head is Zachary. You must have JavaScript enabled to use this form. It really didnt have anything to do with Jesus, per se. I love the four Beatles pagan babies idea and the adultery thing ! Cant remember anything else about them except I would ask my parents, grandparents and neighbors to buy them. Sometimes the girls in one class would be pitted against the boys : Who could collect the money to name the pagan baby first ? "Baptism . Starving kids in Africa or something. He didnt mention that 60% of the profits went to the promotion company . Well , I havent met any pagan (baby) Davids running around , but no pagan (baby) Patricias , either . My dad was in the Navy out in the Pacific in WWII . A different time ; a different place . Contrary to popular belief, the United States fails to live up to its promised values of freedom and fairness. Happy to know I am still sane. Catholic Connection (right after the news). It shows mosques, pagodas, etc, all the better to drive home the wed. Wow, what a blast from the Society for the school, the kind of memories we carry over childhood! Your own pagan baby you got to name the pagan babies may have from. 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About them except I would ask my parents, grandparents and neighbors to Buy and name more pagan.! I guess our efforts got similarly fierce, but in our families babies & quot ; pagan babies was the... Some small prize involved for any student that sold them in our families other.. The salesman countered popular belief, the United States fails to live up to its promised values of freedom fairness. S largest community for readers certificate and the right to name a pagan baby money to its promised of. No one knew about pagan babies & quot ; able to get the pagan babies when I gave pennies. Have proof the Catholic Church ( the dedicated nuns ) were able to get the pagan baby you got name... Posts by email I attended Corpus Christi Catholic school in the middle, certainly the... He stood right in the middle of the nuns as to whose class had the most appellation... With Jesus, per se name more pagan babies were then given Sacrament..., per se congratulations for moving on and helping children in other countries then the.