| 8/11/2009 1:15:00 PM | Email this article • Print this article |
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| Sam Smith (front left) and his family gather 800 toothbrushes and tubes of toothpaste from his family orthodontist in order to send to the people of Haiti. |
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It's never too early to foster the missionary spirit in children
By Sister Maria de la Revelacion
Samuel Smith, a sixth-grade student at Cardinal Hickey Academy in Owings, said becoming involved in a Haiti mission committee in his local parish changed his life and deepened his faith.
"It ended up being one of the most important 'yeses' in my life" he said. Sam is one of four children of Rick and Nadine Smith.
His mother said, "I have known that he was wise beyond his years and had been blessed with a great gift of compassion, teaching of Our Lord, and a spirit of sacrifice for the good of others." Nadine said that after Sam was born, she offered him up to serve the Lord, and she now truly believes that the Holy Spirit embraced him to be a zealous missionary for Christ and His Church.
Sister Mary Juliana, a Dominican sister of Nashville and the principal of Cardinal Hickey Academy, remarks that Sam is wise beyond his years.
"He never ceases to amaze me," she said. "He's very self-motivated and energized by the thought of helping others. I attribute this to his parents, who strive in every situation to instill in their children a great love of serving Christ in His distressing disguise. He has a wonderful sense of humor and has great respect for all with whom he comes in contact. He will be a great leader one day." Through an interview with Samuel, I have been able to witness how His love for Christ in those who suffer and his longing for the love of God have made him a leader in his school and parish today."
The Church proclaims that "the pilgrim Church is missionary by her very nature" (Second Vatican Council's Ad Gentes, 2). Through the Sacrament of Baptism, Catholics are called by God to be His missionaries - to spread the Gospel of Christ and proclaim the Good News of our salvation.
We are all called, no matter our age, to be missionaries through our authentic witness to the faith we proclaim, as well as through our prayers and sacrifices for the missionary work of the Church abroad.
The Holy Childhood Association (HCA), one of the four Pontifical Mission Societies present in the Archdiocese of Washington, seeks to awaken a missionary spirit among the children and youth in the Catholic schools and parishes. Founded in France in 1843 by Bishop Charles de Forbin-Janson, HCA's aim is to encourage children to share their faith with children in the developing world through their prayers, personal sacrifices and financial offerings. Through HCA, millions of children across the United States are able to unite their prayers and sacrifices with other children from different nations in order to spiritually and materially assist missionaries in foreign lands. Sam is just one of the many young people who have recognized and embraced this missionary vocation.
The following questions and Sam's answers to them show how God inspired him to share the blessings he and his family have received with those who are less fortunate, and his deep love for Christ with those waiting to hear the Gospel.
The Church tells us that by her very nature she is missionary and all who are baptized Christians share in the mission of Jesus Christ. Could you explain what it means to be a missionary in general?
Sam: I think that a missionary is someone who spreads the good word of Jesus to those who haven't had the opportunity to learn about him. When we are baptized in the Catholic Church we are all called to become missionaries and to help others who haven't had the chance to learn about Jesus maybe in foreign countries, and it may change someone's life by bringing them closer to God.
Many times we think that only priests and sisters in far-away countries are the missionaries of the Church and we forget that we are also missionaries within our families, at our school, among our friends. How would you help other children realize that they are missionaries for Jesus no matter what age they are?
Sam: I think that if they go to Mass they will find this out. If you listen to the readings and the Gospel at Mass, Jesus calls us to be missionaries as he did his eleven faithful disciples. No matter how young you are, God calls you to do something. Many people find what they are called to do very early in life. The secret is that you just have to listen and let God tell you your calling.
Can you give us some examples of how you have shared your faith and trust in Jesus Christ within your family, among friends, at school, etc.?
Sam: I have set up a prayer corner in my house and do my best to pray at it every day. I have been a part of my church's Haiti Committee and we are trying our best to bring God and hope to the people of Haiti. This project has been outreached to our school and this year we took up a Lenten collection for Haiti and raised more than $3,000 for Haitians to learn more about God.
What or who introduced you to this missionary work of the Church? What are some of the things that have caught your attention and that drive you to pray and sacrifice for them?
Sam: I do really love working with the people of Haiti. My mother was the first one to introduce this to me when she asked me if I wanted to go to a Haiti meeting with her. I said yes and it ended up being one of the most important "yeses" in my life. My father recently went on a mission trip to Haiti. I knew they were poor, but until he came back, I didn't realize just how poor they were. They have nothing and all they ask for is your prayers. Prayer is the most important thing that they want and need and every person can do just that.
What should be the main focus of a missionary in another country?
Sam: Their main focus should just be to spread the Word of God. Saint Francis of Assisi once said "Preach the Gospel always. If necessary, use words." He is trying to say that we can show that we are Christians by our actions just like how the Good Samaritan helped the man that had been beaten severely.
God gives parents and teachers the special responsibility of teaching the children and students about the message and love of Jesus Christ. What suggestions or recommendations would you give them so that they can teach their children and students how to pray and sacrifice for the missionary work of the Church around the world?
Sam: I think that kids must be taught early on in their life. First, the basic fundamentals, like praying, and then other things like exposing them to missionary work. You also have to teach kids with something fun or with something that they will want to learn with so that they are drawn in to learn more about Christ. I know that one person that helped me develop this in my life was Dominican Sister Peter Marie Chrismer (fourth-grade teacher at Cardinal Hickey Academy) who always had something up her sleeve for a fun, enjoyable religion class.
Recently, Sam and his family dropped off at his parish 800 dental hygiene packages for the mission in Haiti. Sam had taken the initiative, after a comment was made in the Haiti committee, to ask his family orthodontist for help in gathering toothbrushes for the people in this third-world country. In his petition letter, Sam recalled that both Mother Teresa and the late Pope John Paul II gave the world the message to "help the poor."
"Both of these amazing people helped millions of poor souls during their lifetimes. [The children of Haiti] are without anything. They scrape their teeth with leaves. No toothbrush, no floss, no orthodontist, no dentist. I am seeking 300 toothbrushes and 300 tubes of toothpaste," he said. Along with his family and with the generosity of his orthodontist, Sam was able to gather more than he requested.
Sam's missionary zeal is bringing peace into the hearts of the people of Haiti through his acts of love, prayers and sacrifices. If you would like to learn more about the work and mission of the Holy Childhood Association please contact our office in the Archdiocese of Washington at 301-853-5388 or visit www.holychildhoodusa.org.
(Sister Maria de la Revelacion is the Mission Education Coordinator for the Holy Childhood Association in the Archdiocese of Washington. She is a sister in the Sisters of the Institute of the Servant of the Lord and the Virgin of Matara.)
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