Lenten assemblies awaken children’s missionary spirit through games

Pictured above: Fun and educational games enjoyed at this year’s Lenten mission assemblies included the Roller Ball Maze, which helped students in grades 3-7 envision the long distances children in many parts of the world must walk to get the basics of daily living. For additional images, please visit the Clarion Herald’s facebook page. (Photos by Beth Donze)

By BETH DONZE
Clarion Herald

A series of March gatherings coordinated by the archdiocese’s Missionary Childhood Association (MCA) immersed nearly 400 Catholic schoolchildren in grades 3-7 in the Lenten practices of prayer, sacrifice and almsgiving within a festive and educational environment of games and crafts.

To enable as many schools as possible to participate, these “Lenten mission assemblies” were held at four geographical hubs March 13-16.

On March 14, students from Catholic elementary schools in and near East Jefferson Parish convened in St. Christopher’s gym for their assembly.

“Jesus was our first missionary – he taught us how to love, how to care, how to pray, how to sacrifice,” said Lisa Miller, MCA coordinator for the Archdiocese of New Orleans, reminding the young attendees that every Christians is called to be a missionary through his or her baptism.

“People automatically think, ‘Missionaries are those people who travel to those faraway countries. I don’t want to do that,’” Miller said. “But guys, you, right here, sitting at St. Christopher School, are missionaries! You’re missionaries even when you’re hanging out in the food court at the mall. It is your calling to spread the message of Christ to all!”

‘Children Helping Children’

The Lenten assembly began with a prayer service and procession in which representatives from each school carried up mission-related objects such as a cross, globe and the World Mission Rosary, the five color-coded beads of the latter reminding the faithful to pray for children on each continent.

Miller told the students the MCA’s motto is simple– “Children Helping Children” – however, “Don’t stop being a missionary when you leave elementary school!” she urged them. “Encourage your high school teachers (to help you) continue your mission work!”

The bulk of each assembly had the children rotating across more than two dozen activity stations offering table games and crafts designed to foster the children’s solidarity with their peers living in every part of the world. Not an electronic device was in sight as the young participants lost themselves in the simple, hands-on fun. Activities included making paper hearts using the Japanese art of origami; composing an acrostic poem out of the word “MISSION”; and completing floor puzzles of a world map and “Children Around the World.”

Another group activity involved building a peace pole that displayed the word “Peace” in different languages – a reminder that all people long for peace, no matter where they live.

Yet another team activity – a table-sized maze that the youngsters had to tilt to get a marble to its intended destination – was a reminder of the many obstacles faced by children and families who must walk for miles to access clean water for drinking, cooking and bathing.

Harper Blackmon, a St. Christopher fourth grader, enjoyed the “Human Knot” challenge, in which students intertwined in each other’s arms had to untangle themselves without letting go of each other’s hands. The game was designed to teach children the importance of cooperation and communication, even with those they might have just met from another school.

“I like doing challenges and strategies, and this was a new strategy for me,” Harper said, adding that the assembly had inspired her “to teach my parents about how to pray for people who  have different needs than we do.” At the station asking Harper to list “Five Little Things” she would do during Lent on the outline of a hand, her promises included praying an extra Hail Mary on Mondays and giving up candy on Thursdays.

Richard Serio, a St. Dominic sixth grader, said he enjoyed learning continental trivia at the “Missionopoly” and “Mission Jeopardy” game stations. He learned that six European countries consumed more than half of the world’s chocolate, while two countries in West Africa produced more than half of the necessary cocoa beans: the Ivory Coast and Ghana.

Each lenten assembly concluded with a Stations of the Cross led by freshman volunteers from Cabrini High displaying scenes colored by students from Immaculate Conception School in Marrero.

For more information on future programming, classroom resources and how to bring a mission talk to your school or parish group, call the Mission Office at (504) 527-5774.

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