Deepening Faith
Helping children deepen their relationship with Jesus and understand their identity as children of God.
Pontifical Mission Society · 1843
Missionary
Childhood
Children helping children — growing in faith, prayer, generosity and missionary friendship.
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Founder
Bishop Charles de Forbin-Janson
The Beginning
Children helping children
The Pontifical Society of Missionary Childhood was founded in 1843 by Bishop Charles de Forbin-Janson in Nancy, France.
Concerned about children suffering in mission territories, he invited children themselves to participate in mission — praying for other children and making small sacrifices to help those in need.
Its missionary spirit became expressed through the simple motto: “Children helping children.”
Our Mission
Forming children as young missionaries
Living in Faith
Encouraging children to live as witnesses of Christ through their everyday lives.
Sharing in Faith
Helping children share the love of Jesus with others through prayer, service and missionary solidarity.
Our Story in Sri Lanka
Holy Childhood Society in Sri Lanka
1986
A renewed missionary vision
A Seminar for Missionary Children of Asia was held in Bangkok, Thailand. Sri Lankan PMS representatives participated, including the then National Director, Rev. Fr. Malcolm Ranjith.
1987
The first Holy Childhood Cell
A training seminar was held at Hingurakgoda in the Diocese of Anuradhapura on 12, 13 and 14 September 1987 for the establishment of the first Holy Childhood Society Cell.
1992
Across Sri Lanka
With the authorization of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Sri Lanka, the Holy Childhood Society had commenced throughout the dioceses.
Today
Children in mission
Holy Childhood continues through dioceses, deaneries, parishes and communities, bringing missionary formation to children across language communities.
Missionary Formation
The Holy Childhood Cell
A Missionary Childhood Cell is a smaller community of children accompanied by one or two Animators.
Through prayer, Scripture, formation, activities, sharing and service, children gradually develop love and loyalty towards Jesus and the Church and learn to participate actively in the missionary life of the Church.
Cells may be organized in parishes, schools, villages and local communities.
Worldwide Mission