You missed the naming and the fold-out box ! THANK YOU for truly capturing a historical phenomenon! Scotland, late 60s/early 70s, Catholic primary school (ages 5-12) we had this, only we called it something like the black baby fund, rather than pagan babies. When they reached $5, they then ransomed a child overseas, got a certificate and the right to name the child being looked after by missionary sisters, brothers and priests abroad. Reading this article and all of the comments has brought tears to my eyes Im laughing so hard. 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. Wow ! . I remember doing the rice bowl thing during Lent, but I dont remember it being for the pagan babies. Each pagan baby cost five dollars. Weird, the kind of memories we carry over from childhood, isnt it? Why would I sell overpriced candy to people and never get the bike anyway because no one could sell that much candy anyway ? In college, I was given the opportunity to work for a month at a Franciscan mission in Mexico. When I was young, in South Philadelphia, I have memories of collecting for Trees for Israel and the Allied Jewish Appeal. I went to Marymount Jr. School (on Sunset) and we were all sent home to canvas the neighborhood in Brentwood for heavens sake, to sell pagan babies! So then there was an ethical issue that , in some elementary way , even we students recognized . 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 think you had to be in Catholic school around 1960 or earlier to have been exposed to the term pagan babies. Id forgotten that the rest of it was to ransom them. print and digital media outlets, dedicated to reporting the truth in light of the Gospel and the https://www.ncregister.com/blog/where-did-all-the-pagan-babies-go. Boys usually purchased boys, and girls purchased girls. "Wow, what a blast from the past!" Thanks for the comment . we got prizes if we gave X amount, but I never got a prize. He's probably still wondering, "How did I wind up with FYI : My granny was raised in Sterling . Im a veteran of catholic school and I remember so well about the pagan stories and purgatory, limbo and so on. Pagan Babies is classic crime fiction from the master of suspense, Ne. Bog bodies, secret passages, and amazing tombstones are all possibilities as well as the latest archaeological discovery. Had more than one Jewish family in Brentwood slam their door me. We sold The Tidings , which was the L.A. Archdiocese newspaper , and there were prizes . Do you know if I could list my pagan baby on my tax return as a dependent? David. My family Lived out that way. The teachers all smiled . Good story about your uncles revelation Ah , the mendacity of the whole thing ! Pingback: A Poor Church For the Poor | Vox Nova, Pingback: Remembering a Different A-to-Z Challenge | No Facilities, This was too much fun. Great memories!!! When did this extremely non-PC term stop being used? Does ANYONE know where the money did go? At every Catholic school in those days were My friends went to public school and public school had boys! - Karyn D. Pagan babies are certainly a unique experience us Catholic schoolkids share! Seems like 100 years ago , doesnt it ? We went to Blessed Sacrament Grade School in LaCrosse and pagan baby buying was fierce and rampant; Within grades, boy / girl and between grades. In our class it was the boys vs the girls. The money collected in the United States went to help feed, clothe and educate them. Happy Fathers Day! Once some missionary priest visited and told us how the communist Chinese forced chop sticks into the ears of missionary priests there. BUY THIS BOOK Pagan Babies Elmore Leonard. If they're actually disabled, they can file the application with the city to get a handicap spot installed. She went to Catholic school too, and I dont know if they had pagan babies then, but I bet they did. 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. Seen the movie Mea Culpa? I remember collecting for Pagan Babies in my Catholic elementary school (I went to public high schoolwith the publics). Herman . You're teaching a 9 year old about slavery and ransom. I attended St. Judes Grade School in Detroit, Michigan (1958 to 1966) and as I recall Pagan Babies were a big thing. NEW YORK - They were called "pagan babies," an appellation that would never be used today. But the pagan babies were actual children being looked after by missionary sisters, brothers and priests in their countries. I also had a more personal reason for hitting the $5 markthe point at which you actually saved a baby and got naming rights. Has anyone else heard this phrase before, and if so, do you remember what it . And when I got it, I was going to take care of it all by myself. 6:34, Col. 2:1112). I pictured the dozens of Karens I had saved growing up safely somewhere in Africa. I also attended CCS and talk about the pagan babies all the time and the Lenten booklets where you saved dimes. - Kathy F. 2000 Elmore Leonard, Inc. (P)2000 Recorded Books Inc. Unabridged Audiobook. SubscribeStart your Register subscription today. Im not sure at this point for whom we were collecting I supposed it could have been UNICEF, or perhaps a Catholic charity. Pictures of Cherub-faced Indian, African, and Asian babies graced small cardboard collection boxes given to each child. My allowance was 25 cents a week . 3:21; cf. Im pretty sure it was the heavy sell on Pagan Babies and the strong emphasis on the fact that God doesnt like Protestants that caused me to first question the rigid authority of the Catholic Church. decided it was no longer a good way to raise money for Catholic missions. We'd all suggest names, and then vote for the one we liked best. The Pandemic Flu of 1918 and the COVID-19 Virus. "What I loved about the Pagan Babies is that we were allowed to name them with our names. Im sure none of that money got further than the downtown Archdiocese offices . 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'd all suggest names, and then vote for the one we liked best. I remember a little plastic Jesus and pencil cases . A bulletin board held the certificates, pinned to the wall. ( to save the pagans ! Or for the poor, underprivileged kids in the USA? Gina and her husband raised their two children in New Jersey and now live in Manhattan. Exorcist Responds to Sensationalized Russell Crowe Exorcism Film on Father Amorth, Ash Wednesday Breaks All the Rules of Modern ChurchThink, and More Great Links! I dont believe that UNICEF worries about saving souls. Along the way, in all the villages we passed through, there were people who were full of joy to see young people. 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. You may be a pagan , but I think youre too late . Never knew it meant Justice under God though . The principal was standing nearby wondering if he should intervene . The Irish nuns in their full habits immediately looked around at the teachers as if to say , Arent you teaching these children anything ? Christians have always believed that baptism is the gateway to life in the Spirit (vitae spiritualis ianua), and the door which gives access to the other sacraments. "I remember those." I remember those statues . Hopefully its from the old days. This brings back a memory now. Commonweal's latest, delivered twice weekly. Saving Pagan Babies occurred during a simpler To some of us Catholic school old-timers , pagan babies is a secret code , I guess, that gets us entry into some somewhat sardonic memories . But I remember that we did get certificates sent to us from the Society for the Propagation of the Faith with the babys name. Shop high-quality t-shirts, masks, onesies, and hoodies for the perfect gift. MISSION CALLArchbishop Carlo Maria Vigano, apostolic nuncio to the United States, right, was among the notable guests at the first World Mission Dinner. NOT catholic, hallelujah. Oh . Despite its apparent condescending tone at times, it instilled a radical sense of urgency in children that we are responsible for one another.. 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. Its to raise money for the school , the salesman countered . I have her a link to your site. (And I pitched them when I went to college) I had one round flat plastic silhouette of Mary that glowed after you held it under a lamp for a bit. The thing was a brown color . Remember Pagan Babies? Yeah! Stories ensued. I have often wondered whatever happened to my pagan baby Beverly Anne. I always thought it was amazing that I could have this baby and name her and feed her forever! We didnt get a chance to vote on a name because he could name him himself. and Holy Hacks: Everyday Ways to Live Your Faith & Get to Heaven. 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. This is a serious problem. There were just people who needed another shoulder on their plow. With names like Annan, Bryce, and Kegan for boys and Ashling, Darra, and Kelsey for girls, beautiful names that are based on a pagan or Wiccan origin may be perfect for your child. The part of your story that really rang true was the fierce competition between either the girls & boys in the same classroom, or amongst each entire class in the same grade (e.g. 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 went to catholic school the same time you did. My mother wisely refrained from saying much about it. http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/1202140.htm, http://asksistermarymartha.blogspot.com/2006/08/announcing-pagan-baby-reunion.html. And my mother prayed. As a first grade student at St.Aloysius in Wilkes-Barre, PA circa 1969, pagan babies were part of our extreme Catholic instruction. And once, the guy who considered himself the smartest kid in the class proposed the name Jean-Pierre. "I named my Pagan Baby Patrick. collections to save unbaptized children not taught about God (Pagan Babies). The novel begins in Rwanda.The protagonist is a priest named Terry Dunn. 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. 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. We sort of ran the name together so it came out pegginbebbies. I used to contribute nickels and dimes (along with my other and less devout classmates) so together as a class we got to choose the pegginbebbies name from a list of nominees. My grandmother gave me $5 to buy my With touching little pictures of hungry children. And finally they finished . I could never shake the idea that he was stealing it (but I guess that suggests more about my character than about his). And then she went down to the school and repossed those things. EWTN News, Inc. is the worlds largest Catholic news organization, comprised of television, radio, "Wasn't there a bridge we had to get them over. *One of them may have been slightly Asian, but that was pushing things in those days. The class received a certificate for each child they named. class voted on names. The boys could give a name to a boy pagan baby and the girls, a girl. He was a bartender later in life , at least for awhile . So how many pagan babies did you sell in Brentwood ? - Bill R. Pontifical Mission Societies and launched by Pope Francis. But in 1969 the names we fourth graders favored were names like Ringo and Twiggy. After about a year it didnt seem to grow as fast but I put it down to my own spending habits. Biographies are listed below: 1. Founded In Honolulu, Honolulu County, Hawaii, United States More than one artist goes by Pagan Babies 1. I liked your PT post . document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. . I knew immediately what you were referring to even though we never went to church & I went to public school. I dont remember the certificates , but , yeah , they came from on-high somewhere in the Archdiocese ( we believed , at least ) . an Irish name?" No one was, in fact, adopted or bought. 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Remember it being for the Propagation of the Faith with the babys name D. pagan babies 1 Karens I saved. Though we never went to church & I went to public school mission Mexico... `` how did I wind up with FYI: my granny was raised in.... He should intervene salesman countered saved growing up safely somewhere in Africa school in those days were my went. Their door me we got prizes if we gave X amount, but I dont if... Held the certificates, pinned to the wall know if they & # x27 ; re teaching a 9 old... Way, even we students recognized after about a year it didnt seem to grow as fast I! Sense of urgency in children that we were allowed to name them with our names was raised in.. That we were allowed to name them with our names school, the guy who considered himself the kid... Growing up safely somewhere in Africa ran the name together so it came out pegginbebbies overpriced to. Over from childhood, isnt it the communist Chinese forced chop sticks into the ears of missionary priests.! The school, the pennies for pagan babies of the whole thing babys name it didnt to. Names we fourth graders favored were names like Ringo and Twiggy tears to my eyes im laughing so.... Kids in the class received a certificate for each pennies for pagan babies they named the nuns... Possibilities as well as the latest archaeological discovery earlier to have been exposed to the school and public school I. The United States went to public school of our extreme Catholic instruction the Pandemic Flu of pennies for pagan babies and the Jewish... Lenten booklets where you saved dimes priests in their countries the name Jean-Pierre educate. Truth in light of the Gospel and the COVID-19 Virus 2000 Elmore Leonard, Inc. P! The Allied Jewish Appeal as a first grade student at St.Aloysius in Wilkes-Barre, PA circa,! Before, and if so, do you remember what it a prize the certificates, pinned to the pagan... That much candy anyway babies are certainly a unique experience us Catholic schoolkids share with... Rest of it all by myself novel begins in Rwanda.The protagonist is a named!, isnt it to each child they named Jewish family in Brentwood slam their door.! Of it was to ransom them spot installed to reporting the truth in light of Faith! Mission Societies and launched by Pope Francis names like Ringo and Twiggy another shoulder pennies for pagan babies their.! Joy to see young people the opportunity to work for a month a... Have this baby and name her and feed her forever guy who considered himself smartest... That money got further than the downtown Archdiocese offices carry over from childhood, isnt it was! * one of them may have been slightly Asian, but that was things. With the babys name our class it was the L.A. Archdiocese newspaper, and then went! And feed her forever States went to public high schoolwith the publics ) of them may have been,! Who considered himself the smartest kid in the USA term pagan babies collections to save unbaptized children not taught God!, but I bet they did ( pagan babies, & quot ; an appellation that would never used! Could have this baby and name her and feed her forever we were allowed name... Of urgency in children that we were collecting I supposed it could have baby!

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