Planting Seeds of Mission

 MCA and LMH Partner for the Msgr. Anthony Brouwers Essay Scholarship Contest

At the heart of every missionary calling is a spark—an awareness that God’s love is meant for all people, everywhere. Each fall, the Lay Mission-Helpers Association (LMH) partners with the Missionary Childhood Association (MCA) of Los Angeles to nurture that spark through the Msgr. Anthony Brouwers Essay Scholarship Contest. Catholic school students in grades 6–8 reflect on a missionary theme, growing in faith and global Christian responsibility.

This year’s topic: “Why is it important that we share God’s love with people from every country, language, and culture?”

The top writers were honored at the MCA Youth Appreciation Mass at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels on October 16, 2025.

2025 Scholarship Winners:
• Noah Diaz, 6th Grade – St. Matthias School, Huntington Park
• Sophia Ramirez, 7th Grade – St. John of God School, Norwalk
• Gabriel Juarez, 8th Grade – Our Lady of the Assumption School, Claremont

Each student received a $500 scholarship for their thoughtful, faith-filled reflections.

Noah Diaz (6th Grade) reminded us that sharing God’s love begins with small acts of witness:
“Imagine a world where everybody would live how God wants us to. This would be an amazing world, but sadly that is not reality. There are people who lack faith, love and respect. All things that God wants everyone to have. This is why it is important that we share God's love with people from every country, language, and culture because God wants his message and love shared with all people, so that the world could be the best place possible. This can begin with people sharing the gospel and God's message of love for all people.”

For Sophia Ramirez (7th Grade), missionary love knows no limits:  “When we reach across countries and cultures, we show that God’s love has no boundaries. Missionaries are a great example of this. They leave their homes and travel far away to bring comfort, kindness, and hope to people who may not know about Jesus yet. Their work reminds others that God is real and that His Love stretches across borders. In the parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus showed us the same lesson: Love should never be limited by race, country, or background. Our neighbor is anyone in need, no matter who they are.”

And Gabriel Juarez (8th Grade) captured the transforming power of mission in both giver and receiver:  “There’s also something deeply satisfying about sharing God’s love. It changes not only those who receive it but those who give it. When we engage with people different from us, we’re stretched. We learn to listen more, to be patient, and to see others through God’s eyes. It humbles us and deepens our faith.”

At LMH, we see this truth lived daily by missionaries in Sierra Leone, Peru, and Ghana, where faith becomes a universal language and cultural differences become bridges