Children's Offertory/Collection

[SisterSnowflake]

Well stagger or perhaps lurch would be an appropriate word for what used to happen in our previous parish. I distinctly remember a pair of 7 or 8 year old boys that would do their best zombie or mummy impression when returning from the children’s offertory collection.

I think beyond the chaos it also makes me wonder if this type of thing (i.e. going forward before the congregation) inspires humility in children. Matthew 6:1-4 says that almsdeeds should be done anonymously and only hypocrites draw attention to themselves with fanfares. I’m all for children learning to give to the Church and to the poor, but I think having them go forward to make them feel special is more likely to inspire the pride of the hypocrite rather than humility. We try to teach our children that the Mass is about awe, humility and contrition rather than trying to get them excited.

Amen, my friend!

 

[SisterSnowflake]

I am amazed at how many people have forgotten what they were like when they were kids
(I’m sure everyone sat perfectly still, and didn’t goof off a bit…), **We did in my family…it is how are parents taught us to behave in public.**Kids have alot of energy, and they use it any way they can. I think the children’s offering can be good in letting them release some of that energy so they can then focus
Do we really think that Jesus wasn’t around noisy kids?

Of course Jesus was around noisy children and loved them. But do you believe that children were allowed to misbehave during worship in the Temple? I highly doubt it!

 

[SisterSnowflake]

The problem with a children’s collection is that having a rush of a group of kids to the front can get very chaotic and irreverent. It is better than what I’ve seen at some parishes, though. In one place, the priest invited all the children up around the altar for the Consecration. Although I understood his good intention, obviously this shouldn’t be done.

Here, too!

Thanks for your comments!

 

[SisterSnowflake]

THANKS, everyone, for your comments!

God bless!

 

[anp1215]

We don’t do this at our parish, we just pass the baskets around.

We have envelopes designed for children. They put them in the regular basket along with their parents. The great thing is they don’t have to put money in if they don’t have it (most do put in money), but there is a place for them to write in their good works for the week, how they used their time and talents for the Lord.

I absolutely LOVE this!

 

[twopekinguys]

Of course Jesus was around noisy children and loved them. But do you believe that children were allowed to misbehave during worship in the Temple? I highly doubt it!

Putting money in some sort of collection plate is hardly misbehaving.

You also appear to have edited out some key points in my original post.

Such as “what it was like as a parent trying to teach your kids how to behave at church”. Not all kids are as perfect as you evidently were. Some need to have things reinforced more than one time. Remember, parents today can’t be as strict as parents of my, and possibly your generation.

And,

“Their parents are taking their responsibility seriously, and bringing them to Mass, as opposed to giving up, and letting them have their way by staying home.”

As far as children in the temple during Jesus’ time. For the most part, they weren’t allowed into the temple except for circumcision, and a few other things. Most women and children were in the outer areas listening to those preach there. It would be similar to sitting on the steps outside of a building.

Be thankful the kids are there. Fidgeting and all.

 

[PatriceA]

Putting money in some sort of collection plate is hardly misbehaving.

You also appear to have edited out some key points in my original post.

Such as “what it was like as a parent trying to teach your kids how to behave at church”. Not all kids are as perfect as you evidently were. Some need to have things reinforced more than one time. Remember, parents today can’t be as strict as parents of my, and possibly your generation.

And,

“Their parents are taking their responsibility seriously, and bringing them to Mass, as opposed to giving up, and letting them have their way by staying home.”

As far as children in the temple during Jesus’ time. For the most part, they weren’t allowed into the temple except for circumcision, and a few other things. Most women and children were in the outer areas listening to those preach there. It would be similar to sitting on the steps outside of a building.

Be thankful the kids are there. Fidgeting and all.

I for one love that fidgeting, crying, noisy, etc, etc children are at mass. There have been a few threads here on CAF that would love to go on and on about the annoyances of crying babies and why don’t parents have the courtesy to keep the babies at home, etc. BUT, there is a time to teach proper behavior as well and allowing kids to put money in a collection plate up near the altar without giving proper instruction is swinging the pendelem too far in the other direction. It shouldn’t be a free for all or the way the OP described the behavior of the children at their particular parish. Most parishes pass the plate or basket around the pews. If a parish wants to allow the children to come up and put their donation in a basket, then they also should use the occasion to be a teaching moment for proper mass behavior, especially if these children are of school age. They have control over their actions and its time to be less childish and more mature in their conduct and know where and when its time to behave and when its appropriate to be more child like.

 

[twopekinguys]

I for one love that fidgeting, crying, noisy, etc, etc children are at mass. There have been a few threads here on CAF that would love to go on and on about the annoyances of crying babies and why don’t parents have the courtesy to keep the babies at home, etc. BUT, there is a time to teach proper behavior as well and allowing kids to put money in a collection plate up near the altar without giving proper instruction is swinging the pendelem too far in the other direction. It shouldn’t be a free for all or the way the OP described the behavior of the children at their particular parish. Most parishes pass the plate or basket around the pews. If a parish wants to allow the children to come up and put their donation in a basket, then they also should use the occasion to be a teaching moment for proper mass behavior, especially if these children are of school age. They have control over their actions and its time to be less childish and more mature in their conduct and know where and when its time to behave and when its appropriate to be more child like.

I agree that it shouldn’t be a “free for all”, but we have to keep in mind, that this is just one person’s observation at the Mass.

If you ask 3 different people, you’d get 3 different answers as to what a free for all, or proper behavior should be.

The main point I was trying to make is that “Kids will be kids”, no matter how well you try. Once they are out of your grip, you can only pray that they do what you’ve told/taught them.

Can the children’s collection be done differently? Absolutely!! Will it make everyone happy? Absolutely Not.