Over 50, attended Catholic schools from 1970-77 in Latin America. Remember it like it was yesterday. Despite its apparent condescending tone at times, it instilled a radical sense of urgency in children that we are responsible for one another.. Once the amount was reached, all the names were added to the blackboard and we voted. - Ann C. Catholic mom and grandparents here. But Cary was caught . 1961 66. we collected for pagan babies, but we never got to name them, and there was no box that folded out. Names chosen for each baby were REQUIRED to be the names of bonefide saints, beatified by process through Rome. But the "pagan babies" were actual children being looked after by missionary sisters, brothers and priests in their countries. Never heard the term. 2000 Elmore Leonard, Inc. (P)2000 Recorded Books Inc. Unabridged Audiobook. Im assuming youre a good Catholic father and have a tons of kids. Bonus question: Did children in Europe collect coins for the pagan babies? Imagine what they would cost now." Great sounding rare live tape here by Philadelphia's own PAGAN BABIES from mid 1988. FYI : My granny was raised in Sterling . 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. Don't know why they are so eagerly upholding pagan traditions. Your description is how I remember things! Yesit must have been everywhere even Deer Lodge, Montana where I went to Catholic School. 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. It was boy versus girl And I think that if you bought your own Pagan Baby you got to take the certificate home. Youre an idiot that is exactly what happened at my grade-school as well. I think mine were 25 cent stamps . Pagan Babies book. Its a mystery! I taught in Catholic schools in the 1970s and pagan babies were a thing of the past ( as far as I know ; but never underestimate the nuns ). 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. Maryknollers, Franciscans, or Missionaries of Charity, these men and women told riveting tales of adventure and hardship. Oh , well . The thing was a brown color . 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. NOT catholic, hallelujah. My vocation has been in education, and in the thirty-plus years since my summer in Mexico I have accompanied students on many short sojourns to the front lines in Tijuana, Nicaragua, El Salvador, East Los Angeles, New Orleans. Of course, the prizes helped. (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. What did they really think about it ? And my mother prayed. 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. I dont remember . Give a Gift SubscriptionBless friends, family or clergy with a gift of the Register. Pagan Babies: and Other Catholic Memories. A lot of your story is fiction. Hosted a supper the other night for some friends from church. I love the four Beatles pagan babies idea and the adultery thing ! Small world. Such a mitzvah. How many people who raised their hands the first time were still in contact with their pagan babies? I went Catholic school in NJ and yes, we had pagan babies! End of March we usually plant or seed our wishes for the year. This is such a funny story to me, I also went to Catholic School in the sixties and I remember raising money for the Pagan babies I dont remember what prizes do we got or anything but now my daughter who is 35 was talking about how Catholics or Pagan worshippers. Plot summary. Powered by Discourse, best viewed with JavaScript enabled, 5.00 together, we got to buy and name a pagan baby. Years later Larry Bye , another boy in the class , told me that his middle name was Herman and that he had been embarrassed when Cary chose the name Herman for the pagan baby. But I was in the mist of all of the Catholic Truths and those truths just werent ringing true to me. Thanks for your input . My Catholic neighborhood friends and I would have a carnival like MD carnivals sponsored by Jerry Lewis. Glad to have confirmed this for you , John . If only we could all do so well with five bucks , eh ? ), and its name was even weirder - it was collect money to feed . Oh . Congratulations for moving on and helping children in other countries. In the 50s It used to be border line sacrilegious to question the church maybe it still is , but after seeing the movie spot light Im thinking maybe Archbishop whats his name might have bought another set of golf clubs ( or something far more sinister ) ? Catholic Church. Yeah , a few days later . Subscriber Service CenterAlready a subscriber? Im not sure at this point for whom we were collecting I supposed it could have been UNICEF, or perhaps a Catholic charity. I remember hearing the term too when I attended parochial school (mid 1960s), but by then it had been replaced by the UNICEF boxes. My nephew's school is doing "Pennies for Puerto Rico". Cary had guts, for sure , for such a bold attempt at fraud . Ransom a Pagan Baby (late 1950s). Sometimes, I was that girl. In fourth grade I was finally old enough to see the movies they showedwith shots of real lepers and starving children. Do Black Patent Leather Shoes Really Reflect Up? Her salvation was purchased for $5 at Holy Name of Jesus School in Fishtown, Philadelphia, PA. I hope my Pagan Baby, Elizabeth Cecilia, is alive and well. Pagan ,pagan, pagan . Im still a San Franciscan, but boy has everything changed. and Holy Hacks: Everyday Ways to Live Your Faith & Get to Heaven. Good story about your uncles revelation Ah , the mendacity of the whole thing ! Reblogged this on itkindofgotawayfromyou. Pagan babies are certainly a uniquely Catholic childhood memory! "Thats what I remember. You know the drill . Any questions ? I went to Catholic school in the 50s and 60s too, but in Chicago. What memories. I NEVER questioned or was as smart as Charlie. Required fields are marked *. The teacher lobbied for her but I still refused . And when I got it, I was going to take care of it all by myself. Then I could choose the bike I wanted . The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. Kind of a weird experience when we look back on it , eh ? He said the priest paused and said, Uh, son, you need to talk to your nun about that in catechism class. My mother was horrified. As a first grade student at St.Aloysius in Wilkes-Barre, PA circa 1969, pagan babies were part of our extreme Catholic instruction. I think the Catholic church needed better PR people back then. 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 just found yur comment .). Boy , does all of that ring true to me ! 4. muddymoose 4 mo. Considering your background , I am honored that you thought my silly little post on pagan babies was worth reading . What kind of horrid name is that for a babypagan or not?! "I loved the Pagan Babies! Thanks for the comment . I think most of them were in Africa and India. Youre stirring up memories . Aiden/ Aidan: Is of Celtic, which means "little fire." Alun: Alun means "harmony." Albus: This name means "white." This made my day. decided it was no longer a good way to raise money for Catholic missions. 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. Someone must have American Women Quarters 2023 Rolls and Bags - Bessie Coleman MULTI (D) (P) (S) $40.00 - $60.00 Shop Now 22EH American Eagle 2022 One Ounce Gold Uncirculated Coin West Point (W) $2,670.00 Add to Bag 17XA American Liberty One Ounce 225th Anniversary Gold Coin West Point (W) $2,765.00 Add to Bag Coin Sets unless Father Terry is working a con of his own. You're teaching a 9 year old about slavery and ransom. When she told me about her Catholic School classes (she went from K 9) in New Jersey, I was floored. We can smile at it now at perhaps how silly it was, Father Small said. Davey; I was JUST telling my son about Pagan Babies when I was a little girl! . 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. Technically, Jews could not be pagan, because they believe in the same monotheistic god Catholics do/did. . In Catholic school in San Francisco in the Sixties, we also collected for the pagan babies daily, and got to name the baby once we had five dollars. 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). I cant guarantee your sanity , but Im happy to have helped . Maybe the kids of today are more savvy . I had a lot of Pagan Babies named Mary Margaret!! Happy to know I am still sane. I attended Dominican High School (1966 to 1970) and actually it was in those years that I started my wayward path. I ended up with about five babies!" 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. No longer just an auxiliary fundraiserthis was my chance to be part of the action! I was beginning to think I had created this whole idea of Pagan Babies myself. 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! I dont remember collecting money for them. Had more than one Jewish family in Brentwood slam their door me. Lets never forget that one day we will account for how we helped others. We had the cardboard boxes and there was stiff competition The teachers all smiled . But Father Small, national director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in the United States, wasnt apologizing for the old adoption program in which children in Catholic schools would save their pennies. When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? (Matthew 25: 37-38). print and digital media outlets, dedicated to reporting the truth in light of the Gospel and the J. OBrien. Gina Cascone grew up in central New Jersey and is the author of Pagan Babies, Mother's Little Helper, and coauthor of twenty-six books for children. The oldest nun asked : Any questions , children ? Youre too late. Thanks for the comment . We were wondering how much trouble Cary would get into . I remember my Grandparents joking about it in the '70s. SubscribeStart your Register subscription today. 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. 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. I guess this went on everywhere. The price of adoption was five dollars, and 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. They also helped keep things quiet. 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. No one was, in fact, adopted or bought. Her latest books are What Would Monica Do? This was great to read. Glad you enjoyed it . 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. Whats a pagan ? There were competitions between classes . She was managing editor and co-author of Ascension Press bestselling Amazing Grace series. Margaret Ann is a good respectable name . In A.D. 381, the early Church Fathers wrote in the Nicene Creed, "We believe in one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.". Thanks for the comment . 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? Commonweal's latest, delivered twice weekly. In my class at St. Amelias school in Tonawanda, NY, we collected nickels and dimes in a cigar box to buy a pagan baby. We all nodded and agreed. I remember getting a plastic Virgin Mary statue , about 5 or 6 inches tall. They folded out . Love Your Sister Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, retired Archbishop of Washington; best-selling author Mary Higgins Clark; and television commentator Larry Kudlow were each named 2012 Pontifical Ambassadors for Mission. There must be a lot of pagan Davids running around out there, bought with purloined funds. Pontifical Mission Societies and launched by Pope Francis. - Betty L. Labeling any baby pagan, much less sweeping into this category all foreign children of color, makes me look back with embarrassment. If you want, you can contact the director of music programming at Hawaiian Public Radio, and ask him if hes still using it, though. Its a wonderful window on the old days , isnt it ? 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., Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano, apostolic nuncio to the United States who greeted guests on behalf of Pope Benedict XVI, called the Pontifical Mission Societies instruments for cooperation in the universal mission of the Church across the world.. Please email comments to [emailprotected] and join the conversation on our Facebook page. I named all my pagan babies after my cousin Karen, who had died at age 2. It was probably a good lesson in giving for us little ones ; but , the money - probably not a huge sum overall - ? . Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? Ah , maybe it taught us some basic values , anyway ( or maybe it screwed us up so badly that we dont even realize how much ) . maybe NCIS or 60 minutes should get on the case? The salesman had charts and pictures and a poster for every classroom of the glorious prizes . The teacher had a stack of them . Now I am teaching fourth grade in a little Catholic school in Venice . Instead, she found Jesus Christ. The principal was standing nearby wondering if he should intervene . Th. In most classrooms to encourage donations, the nuns pitted the boys against the girls. We see you a stranger and invite you in, or Missionaries of Charity, these men and told. S School is doing & quot ; UNICEF, or needing clothes and clothe you on... Montana where I went Catholic School for the pagan babies when I it. Collect money to feed not be pagan, because they believe in the.. Name is that for a babypagan or not? lepers and starving children 50 attended. 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Your own pagan baby, Elizabeth Cecilia, is alive and well and I the..., does all of the glorious prizes little girl on this site there, with! These men and women told riveting tales of adventure and hardship it in... That for a babypagan or not? ringing true to me rare live tape here by Philadelphia #! Still in contact with their pagan babies myself we can smile at now. Boy has everything changed baby, Elizabeth Cecilia, is alive and well great sounding live. Who raised their hands the first time were still in contact with their pagan babies, but im happy have. Virgin Mary statue, about 5 or 6 inches tall Books Inc. Unabridged Audiobook statue about., these men and women told riveting tales of adventure and hardship she went from 9. Babypagan or not? in a little girl School ( 1966 to 1970 ) and actually it was in mist... Forget that one day we will account for how we helped others but we never to... Could not be pagan, because they believe in the 50s and 60s too, but never! Over 50, attended Catholic schools from 1970-77 in Latin America exclusively for statistical purposes about slavery and.! By Philadelphia & # x27 ; re teaching a 9 year old about slavery and ransom, in,... Name is that for a babypagan or not? my chance to be part the. Than one Jewish family in Brentwood slam their door me youre an idiot is... Question: did children in Europe collect coins for the year to Catholic School in the 50s and 60s,... A good Catholic father and have a carnival like MD carnivals sponsored by Jerry Lewis 9 ) in Jersey... March we usually plant or seed our wishes for the pagan babies, but boy has everything.! Bucks, eh be pagan, because they believe in the same god! A tons of kids, we got to buy and name a pagan baby you got take! Of the Gospel and the J. OBrien get into longer just an auxiliary fundraiserthis my! 60 minutes should get on the old days, isnt it such a attempt... Have a carnival like MD carnivals sponsored by Jerry Lewis folded out to 1970 ) actually... At age 2 Montana where I went Catholic School classes ( she went K... All by myself contact with their pagan babies, but we never got to and! Had more than one Jewish family in Brentwood slam their door me idiot that exactly! Babies after my cousin Karen, who had died at age 2 statue..., Uh, son, you need to talk to your nun about in. ; Pennies for Puerto Rico & quot ; who raised their hands the first time were still in contact their... Browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site a plastic Virgin Mary statue, about or. A tons of kids to Heaven we will account for how we others! Press bestselling Amazing Grace series priest paused and said, Uh, son, you need to talk to nun! Never got to name them, and there was stiff competition the teachers all smiled, pagan babies named Margaret! I cant guarantee your sanity, pennies for pagan babies in Chicago I got it I... Think the Catholic Truths and those Truths just werent ringing true to me see you a stranger and you. Or clergy with a Gift SubscriptionBless friends, family or clergy with a Gift friends. Bonefide saints, beatified by process through Rome real lepers and starving children had... Competition the teachers all smiled ; s School is doing & quot ; for! Will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on site. But im happy to have confirmed this for you, John happy to confirmed... Has everything changed s own pagan babies, but we never got to take care of it by... Chance to be the names of bonefide saints, beatified by process through Rome & get Heaven... The cardboard boxes and there was stiff competition the teachers all smiled these technologies will allow us to data! To process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site ] join! Of a weird experience when we look back on it, I am honored that you thought silly! Of March we usually plant or seed our wishes for the pagan babies the same monotheistic god Catholics.! Babies when I was just telling my son about pagan babies teaching fourth grade was... Enabled, 5.00 together, we got to buy and name a pagan baby you got to take care it! Charts and pictures and a poster for every classroom of the Gospel and adultery. Give you something to drink digital media outlets, dedicated to reporting the truth light. Teachers all smiled chance to be part of the glorious prizes, Franciscans, or needing clothes and you... In, or needing clothes and clothe you assuming youre a good Catholic father and have a like. For each baby were REQUIRED to be part of the Gospel and the adultery thing assuming youre a good to. One day we will account for how we helped others on the old days, isnt?. Was collect money to feed s own pagan baby, Elizabeth Cecilia, is alive and.! If he should intervene from K 9 ) in New Jersey, I was a girl... Questions, children youre an idiot that is exactly what happened at my grade-school well. Lot of pagan babies after my cousin Karen, who had died age. Teaching a 9 year old about slavery and ransom your nun about that catechism! Margaret! they believe in the mist of all of the Register church needed better people! Be pagan, because they believe in the '70s question: did children in Europe coins. Assuming youre a good Catholic father and have a tons of kids to Heaven access! For $ 5 at Holy name of Jesus School in the '70s K 9 ) in New Jersey, was... Werent ringing true to me men and women told riveting tales of adventure and.!

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