Children Excused From Mass?

[1holycatholic]

In my parish the children are called to the foot of the altar just prior to the first reading and led out of the Church to have the readings read to them by a layperson and presumably some sort of instruction. They return before the presentation of the gifts. I find this practice rather strange since it segregates families by age. What’s next Mass for seniors, or teens? I think it also sends a strange message to kids by substituting laypersons for clergy.

Is this a common practice? It seems like the kids are missing Mass for services in the absence of a priest.

 

[Kielbasi]

This isn’t anything really novel.

Back when I was a kid- I’m 52- at the 10 a.m. mass the school children in attendance were sent to the school chapel for a separate mass away from the adults.

Of course that was a full mass, not just part of one as the situation that you described.

 

[jeanne71350]

In my parish the children are called to the foot of the altar just prior to the first reading and led out of the Church to have the readings read to them by a layperson and presumably some sort of instruction. They return before the presentation of the gifts. I find this practice rather strange since it segregates families by age. What’s next Mass for seniors, or teens? I think it also sends a strange message to kids by substituting laypersons for clergy.

Is this a common practice? It seems like the kids are missing Mass for services in the absence of a priest.

I know in my church, before the readings, the young children leave. We take them and we read them the scriptures from a kids bible and they have activities related to the day’s readings. It really is a good thing. After they make their first communion they can’t go anymore. It’s sort of like Sunday school.

 

[Phemie]

In my parish the children are called to the foot of the altar just prior to the first reading and led out of the Church to have the readings read to them by a layperson and presumably some sort of instruction. They return before the presentation of the gifts. I find this practice rather strange since it segregates families by age. What’s next Mass for seniors, or teens? I think it also sends a strange message to kids by substituting laypersons for clergy.

Is this a common practice? It seems like the kids are missing Mass for services in the absence of a priest.

It’s called “Liturgy of the Word” for children and it’s given the nod in the document “Masses with Children”.

If it’s done properly they are not missing anything, they are getting the readings, the psalm, the Creed and the Intercession in language that is simplified for them and they are coming back for the Liturgy of the Eucharist.

Masses with Children says that it can “occasionally” be beneficial to do that. That’s why I have a real problem when it’s done week in and week out. It should be based more on the contents of the specific readings than on anything else.

The Canadian bishops have recently put out a document on this practice, laying out the guidelines for it:
1 – For kids aged 4 to 8 (or until they’ve made their First Communion)
2 – No child is forced to participate, no matter what.
3 – No paper/pencil/craft is to be involved.
4 – It is to follow the same format as the Liturgy of the Word within Mass and they are to use the official Children’s Lectionary.
5 – It is to be less often than once every two weeks and it shouldn’t happen if there is another liturgy going on – for example our kids don’t go out if there is a baptism being celebrated during Mass. That teaching moment is more important than having them hear the readings in a simplified form.

 

[benedictgal]

This is what is commonly referred to as a Children’s Liturgy of the Word. About 11 years ago, I used to help out with these. The readings come from the Children’s Lectionary (the first reading, the responsorial psalm and the Gospel). Whatever is told to the children is done in conjunction with the homily that the adults will hear from the priest or the deacon with the hope that, some time after Mass, maybe at home, the family will discuss and share their faith.

This is from the Directory for Masses with Children:

1. Nevertheless, in Masses of this kind it is necessary to take great care that the children present do not feel neglected because of their inability to participate or to understand what happens and what is proclaimed in the celebration. Some account should be taken of their presence: for example, by speaking to them directly in the introductory comments (as at the beginning and the end of Mass) and at some point in the homily.

Sometimes, moreover, if the place itself and the nature of the community permit, it will be appropriate to celebrate the Liturgy of the Word, including a homily, with the children in a separate, but not too distant, room. Then, before the Eucharistic Liturgy begins, the children are led to the place where the adults have meanwhile celebrated their own Liturgy of the Word.

1. It may also be very helpful to give some task to the children. They may, for example, bring forward the gifts or perform one or other of the songs of the Mass.

You can find the whole document at:

adoremus.org/DMC-73.html#anchor4421011

One word of caution: the folks undertaking this task must be well-versed in the Faith and always be in synch with the Church, lest the children will be confused.

I hope this helps.

 

[1holycatholic]

I know in my church, before the readings, the young children leave. We take them and we read them the scriptures from a kids bible and they have activities related to the day’s readings. It really is a good thing. After they make their first communion they can’t go anymore. It’s sort of like Sunday school.

Isn’t Sunday school a Protestant thing? I’m a Protestant convert to the Church. When I was growing up we had Sunday school. My Catholic friends didn’t have “Sunday school”, they had CCD.

 

[jeanne71350]

Isn’t Sunday school a Protestant thing? I’m a Protestant convert to the Church. When I was growing up we had Sunday school. My Catholic friends didn’t have “Sunday school”, they had CCD.

It’s not like Sunday school. I attend religion classes at church in prepreation for my confirmation every Sunday evening, I guess that would be Sunday school. This is different. It’s called Children’s Liturgy, and we read to them from the kid’s Bible, talk to them about it, and there is usually an activity. It’s for the younger kids who can’t understand the aspect of the mass yet. It’s a really good thing. I went when I was a kid, and I thank that for making me religious like I am today.

 

[1holycatholic]

This is what is commonly referred to as a Children’s Liturgy of the Word. About 11 years ago, I used to help out with these. The readings come from the Children’s Lectionary (the first reading, the responsorial psalm and the Gospel). Whatever is told to the children is done in conjunction with the homily that the adults will hear from the priest or the deacon with the hope that, some time after Mass, maybe at home, the family will discuss and share their faith.

This is from the Directory for Masses with Children:

You can find the whole document at:

adoremus.org/DMC-73.html#anchor4421011

One word of caution: the folks undertaking this task must be well-versed in the Faith and always be in synch with the Church, lest the children will be confused.

I hope this helps.

Sometimes, moreover, if the place itself and the nature of the community permit, it will be appropriate to celebrate the Liturgy of the Word, including a homily, with the children in a separate, but not too distant, room.

That’s the odd part. Laity can’t give a homily and the deacon is never part of the activity, except to call them out.

 

[benedictgal]

That’s the odd part. Laity can’t give a homily and the deacon is never part of the activity, except to call them out.

What has been done is to have the celebrant write the remarks and then have the person leading the activity read them to the children. It really isn’t even a homily, per se, even though that is what the Director (bear in mind that this was written in the early 1970s) calls it. The term really should be a reflection.

 

[1holycatholic]

It’s not like Sunday school. I attend religion classes at church in prepreation for my confirmation every Sunday evening, I guess that would be Sunday school. This is different. It’s called Children’s Liturgy, and we read to them from the kid’s Bible, talk to them about it, and there is usually an activity. It’s for the younger kids who can’t understand the aspect of the mass yet. It’s a really good thing. I went when I was a kid, and I thank that for making me religious like I am today.

I got a subscription to Magnifikid as a gift for our sponsor’s children. It explains the difficult words in the readings and helps kids learn what’s happening at Mass.

I’m in a fairly large Parish > 10,000 parishoners, two priests and two permanent deacons and two sisters. Masses are very large. I have seen kids come back panic stricken because they were unable to find their parents. All old people look alike you know.

I don’t know a lot about how the Church educates children in the faith. I would expect that everyone who went through the system would know the ten commandments, the seven sacraments and the five precepts of the Church. I’m always surprised how little people know about their faith (Catholics and Protestants.)

 

[Phemie]

That’s the odd part. Laity can’t give a homily and the deacon is never part of the activity, except to call them out.

Well, the leader of prayer can read a homily written by the priest/pastor. Or they can do a simple “What did you hear” exercise – children usually respond well to that and will surprise you by what they did hear.

As I said, I have no problem with this once in a while but I know from having had 3 kids with me at Mass that kids learn more than we give them credit for. They notice things at Mass that you don’t think they do.

My friend had her 14 mo. old daughter at Mass one Christmas morning. This kid had been at Mass since she was a few weeks old and she noticed everything. Christmas Day Mass is always depressing at our parish: few people, no music, no singing unless some brave soul decides to lead the congregation. When it came time for the gospel procession this little voice behind me said “Alleluia?? Alleluia??” She knew, at 14 months, that there was supposed to be an alleluia at that point. How much more will a 4 or 5 year old get from being in the pew with her parents? Particularly if they sit far enough forward so that she can see what’s going on.

 

[1holycatholic]

What has been done is to have the celebrant write the remarks and then have the person leading the activity read them to the children. It really isn’t even a homily, per se, even though that is what the Director (bear in mind that this was written in the early 1970s) calls it. The term really should be a reflection.

I occasionally do services in the absence of a priest at a prison. I wish the priest (or deacon) would give us a copy of his homily. We can’t give homilies, so we usually mention what was said at the homily and read Breaking the Bread, a newsletter from Scott Hahn which has a brief summary of the readings.

 

[SenorSalsa]

Well technically speaking, children under the age of reason(I generally see this described as First Communion age) do not have to attend Mass, and secondly, I have seen things saying that to fulfill your Obligation you only have to be there from the Offertory to the Priest’s communion, so they aren’t technically missing Mass, although this would be quite a stretch.

 

[jeanne71350]

I got a subscription to Magnifikid as a gift for our sponsor’s children. It explains the difficult words in the readings and helps kids learn what’s happening at Mass.

I’m in a fairly large Parish > 10,000 parishoners, two priests and two permanent deacons and two sisters. Masses are very large. I have seen kids come back panic stricken because they were unable to find their parents. All old people look alike you know.

I don’t know a lot about how the Church educates children in the faith. I would expect that everyone who went through the system would know the ten commandments, the seven sacraments and the five precepts of the Church. I’m always surprised how little people know about their faith (Catholics and Protestants.)

I’ve attended Catholic school all my life, and we learned things from day one. My mom said I could recite the Our Father when I was three. Through the years, we learned the faith inside and out: the sacraments, ten commandments, beatitudes, mysteries of the rosary, prayers, stations of the cross…

 

[psr13]

It’s not like Sunday school. I attend religion classes at church in prepreation for my confirmation every Sunday evening, I guess that would be Sunday school. This is different. It’s called Children’s Liturgy, and we read to them from the kid’s Bible, talk to them about it, and there is usually an activity. It’s for the younger kids who can’t understand the aspect of the mass yet. It’s a really good thing. I went when I was a kid, and I thank that for making me religious like I am today.

That’s what is done at Sunday school last time I was a Protestant. I always hated having to go to Sunday school. I found it degrading that they thought we couldn’t understand what was being said in church.

 

[kage_ar]

I don’t know a lot about how the Church educates children in the faith. I would expect that everyone who went through the system would know the ten commandments, the seven sacraments and the five precepts of the Church. I’m always surprised how little people know about their faith (Catholics and Protestants.)

Those who know this either

Went to a very "old fashioned’ Catholic school, taught by nuns and Priests.

Were taught by faithful parents.

 

[FrDavid96]

The whole overall concept of “Children’s Liturgies” as described in the Directory for Masses with Children is a bit of an “experiment” on the part of the Church. It’s realy a novel concept without any historic basis or development. That doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a bad thing, or we shouldn’t be doing it, but it does mean that the Church appears to be in a state of “we want to do something, but we aren’t quite sure what” mode.

The language employed in the directory is quite strange for a binding liturgical document. It contains a lot of vague phrases like “sometimes” or “it may be helpful” “they may, for example” Those phrases are in sharp contrast to the usual liturgical directives which state quite clearly “this is how it’s done” (even if it’s choose A or B or C).

I think perhaps the Church is giving so many options, and being so vague specifically for the purpose of giving it some time to see what works and what doesn’t. Which is another way of saying that for the moment at least, the Church realy isn’t sure about what to do, but at least they’re trying.

 

[CB_Catholic]

Isn’t Sunday school a Protestant thing? I’m a Protestant convert to the Church. When I was growing up we had Sunday school. My Catholic friends didn’t have “Sunday school”, they had CCD.

Not a Protestant thing. I am sitting here looking at my Grandfather’s Baltimore Catechism, and under the Examination of Conscience, the question is “Have I missed Sunday school through my own fault?” This is from the 1902 edition of Catechism. I don’t think the term CCD came into use until much later.

 

[1holycatholic]

Not a Protestant thing. I am sitting here looking at my Grandfather’s Baltimore Catechism, and under the Examination of Conscience, the question is “Have I missed Sunday school through my own fault?” This is from the 1902 edition of Catechism. I don’t think the term CCD came into use until much later.

Is it still called CCD?

 

[SMHW]

Is it still called CCD?

Some places it is.

The latest terminology seems to be “Faith Formation”. I believe the idea is that it covers ALL ages, including adults.

Before that it was “Religious Education” which was usually shortened to just RE.