Children's participation at Mass

[hilde_the_dog]

You know there are some adults you wish would not volunteer to do either or that some one would correct them. If you are comptetent to receive communion, you are participating in the Liturgy (work of the people); now are you capable to perform a specific role that’s a different question.

 

[puzzleannie]

Are there any guidelines for children serving as lectors and/or cantors during Mass?

they are usually set by the diocese but in general school age children who have already made first communion may serve as readers (not lectors) and in the choir if they have been properly prepared for those duties and can carry them out properly. Cantor is another matter and requires a bit more preparation and knowledge, so the answer is, it depends. forgot to add they may do this in the appropiate context, such as Mass for the Catholic school students, not generally at parish Sunday Mass where there adults who can serve.

my question is: Would I be truly fullfilling my weekly obligation of Mass, if I continued to ‘miss’ the beginning of Mass including readings and Homily, every week?

adults who assist with Childrens Liturgy of the Word, or who leave with the RCIA groups as catechists or sponsors after the homily, should also attend another Mass where they participate in the whole Mass. The former should take turns leading the CLOW group so they do not miss the Liturgy of the Word at Mass regularly.

Get the involved. Did not Jesus say, “let the children come to me”. Yes he did.
I have my son help me Usher with me. He is eight. And I think it is awsome how much he enjoys helping in Mass. Every Sunday he helps me was the Chalices and Patens and he is proud of helping.

children should not be handling the sacred vessels that is reserved for the sacristan and communion ministers.

 

[MissRose73]

I would say any child assisting with doing a reading, cantoring, etc should be baptized, 1st Communion and confirmed. The child should have received proper training, practice, and have enough self confidence to stand up in the front of the congregation too plus have an trained adult nearby if they have issues. I think a good age to encourage participation in that type of ministry should be 11/12 years old at the earliest if they show the inclination & want to help.

I’ve seen children assisting parents with ushering/hospitality at various parishes including my parents’ parish they attend, and doing things like handing out bulletins or assisting with passing the collection baskets can be done with a parent supervising easily.

My 12 year nephew sometimes walks with his grandmother (my mother) carrying a candle in the procession that starts Mass and ends it with the priest, a lector and the cross bearer. His sister isn’t brave enough to do that yet (age 10).

I’ve seen boys serving as altar servers that appear to be no older than 9/10 years old at an EF Mass one time but they were serving alongside several teen boys/adult men as there is so much more involved with that compared to altar serving at OF Masses.

 

[Mrs_Sally]

Altar servers usually start fairly young 3rd grade or so. Of course, they are trained, are doing the same thing every time, don’t have to read or sing, and can receive direction from the priest on the spot if necessary.

A child serving as an usher with a parent, should still probably be 10 or older to be effective. Our parish stopped allowing children to serve as ushers after part of a collection was stolen during Mass. It was stolen by an adult, but the baskets were taken from the children ushers who didn’t realize he wasn’t also an usher.

Readers and cantors should receive lots of training (adults also) and practice the specific readings/music for the Mass. Young children should just read at children’s Masses. Older teens can be at regular Masses. We had a teen reader (lector) at Mass today who was an excellent reader, but was obviously nervous and unsure of where to be during the psalm or when to come back up for the prayers of the faithful. That is why kids should go through the same training adults do.

As for cantors, I am less inclined for this role to go to a child/teen because so much preparation in necessary and most kids just won’t put in the time needed.