Kids mass and RE

[Mqstack]

I have no clue if this is in the correct thread and this is may be a ridiculous question/topic: it seems the typical RE classes offered at church are pretty bleak. Like the problem with our public schools, the education is not interactive or hands on in any way. I like the Montassori method of getting children involved and active with their learning. Is there a way to create a respectful children’s mass that also prepares kids and families with a good RE program? The mass could have heavy involvement with kids and teens and a homily that is geared more towards the youth but not patronizing as adults will be at the mass too. There could even be worksheets or some kind of “homework” for the week at the end of mass for the families to work on before the next mass. This could also include memorizing prayers, etc. There’s too much sitting around in classrooms as it is, it’s seems mass is the perfect place to combine RE. Also, young kids adore teens so if they see teen ushers, readers, choir leaders, etc…the joy and involvement would be through the roof for the elementary group! There are probably many reasons why this can’t happen or wouldn’t work so I wanted to post here and get a education…before I look too foolish if I brought it up to an actual human face. ha!

 

[TheLittleLady]

There are parishes where “children’s Mass” and “teen Mass” are offered.

Check with your Diocese.

Our RE program is robust.

 

[TC3033]

Agreed^^

Where my wife and kids are members the 10am Sunday is a “family Mass”

There could even be worksheets or some kind of “homework” for the week at the end of mass for the families to work on before the next mass. This could also include memorizing prayers, etc.

^^This would be one reason your specific idea may struggle or not work. My wife’s parish switched from a classroom based RE to family based (where the parents do all the teaching work) 2 years ago and the program has virtually tanked. The parish lost a lot of families. There used to be 100+ kids enrolled in the classroom based RE, if I had to take an educated guess…it was closer to 25-30 this year.

EDIT: I think at their parish the 7-12 graders need to bring “Mass Notes” to their Sunday night classes every week. I don’t look forward to our oldest starting that. He’ll see Mass more like going to school than going to church.

 

[babochka]

I have no clue if this is in the correct thread and this is may be a ridiculous question/topic: it seems the typical RE classes offered at church are pretty bleak. Like the problem with our public schools, the education is not interactive or hands on in any way. I like the Montassori method of getting children involved and active with their learning. Is there a way to create a respectful children’s mass that also prepares kids and families with a good RE program? The mass could have heavy involvement with kids and teens and a homily that is geared more towards the youth but not patronizing as adults will be at the mass too. There could even be worksheets or some kind of “homework” for the week at the end of mass for the families to work on before the next mass. This could also include memorizing prayers, etc. There’s too much sitting around in classrooms as it is, it’s seems mass is the perfect place to combine RE. Also, young kids adore teens so if they see teen ushers, readers, choir leaders, etc…the joy and involvement would be through the roof for the elementary group! There are probably many reasons why this can’t happen or wouldn’t work so I wanted to post here and get a education…before I look too foolish if I brought it up to an actual human face. ha!

If you are attracted to the Montessori method look into the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. It is a Montessori based method of catechesis for children from 3 to 12 that has been in use since the 1950s in Rome and spread to many countries from there. It is solidly orthodox and pedagoligically sound. Fair warning, though: it takes and intensive commitment of time and money to get the program off the ground and keep it running. Having been involved in the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd with my children for 15 years now, it has been completely worth it.

 

[Joe_5859]

I would discourage the idea of turning a children’s Mass into a parish’s religious ed program. The Mass can definitely be catechetical, but there is no way to turn the Mass into a systematic presentation of the faith without doing violence to the liturgy, to catechesis, or (most likely) both.

As Babochka mentioned, Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is a Montessori approach to religious education. I would definitely recommend looking into that.

 

[Genesis315]

I would discourage the idea of turning a children’s Mass into a parish’s religious ed program. The Mass can definitely be catechetical, but there is no way to turn the Mass into a systematic presentation of the faith without doing violence to the liturgy, to catechesis, or (most likely) both.

Very good point. But just to add, there may be value in doing a walk through of a “dry Mass” (no actual consecration) where the different parts are explained and the priest shows the kids exactly what he does on the altar and what each part means. I remember doing something like that for training as an altar boy and learned a lot (and I would have learned even more if the explanations had been a little better quality).

 

[JanetF]

Once month during the school year, my parish offers a “Children’s Mass” Father invites the children to participate full with readings assigned to them, the children’s choir performs, AND, all children are invited up to the alter for the Liturgy of the Eucharist, and Father gives them prompts on when to bow and what responses to give at the appropriate times. It’s wonderful to see them interacting! It’s even better when you see the taller ones making sure the little ones can see (and they aren’t siblings) what’s going on.

Our Noon mass is known as the youth mass, with a contemporary choir, teens as ushers, and readers, etc.

Our Youth ministry is very active at both the middle school and high school levels. They go to Steubenville every summer, they go to Washington DC in January, and they have at least 1 retreat in the Fall and one in the Spring (as well as Luke 18 after the Christmas break. They have regular “Theology on Tap” sessions where one of the priest comes as talks about different topics and takes Q&A.

So, it just depends on the parish

 

[Joe_5859]

But just to add, there may be value in doing a walk through of a “dry Mass” (no actual consecration) where the different parts are explained and the priest shows the kids exactly what he does on the altar and what each part means.

Oh, absolutely. The priests do these at my parish periodically, and they are always well received. The OP sounded like they wanted to construct an entire religious ed program around the Mass, though (unless I misunderstood). I don’t think that would work well.

 

[PJH_74]

The parish my parents go to turns over everything lay people can do during the mass to children once a month. Everything from the music, reading, etc. The priest often also invites children up to the altar during consecration.

Good church offers an experience and a stake in it to everyone. Addressing how to bring children into this is critical to a vibrant church. I’m sorry to say, but this ultimately is the main reason why families come and the faith is potentially passed down. You can have all the solemn Latin masses you want, but I believe the above spreads the faith better.

Before you jump all over me (and any who know me here knows I’m pretty liberal theologically and socially), I’ve been looking to go to a high Latin mass or two for the spiritual experience. I’m product a of a fairly liberal Catholic upbringing and spouse of a Lutheran pastor. I knew I could not be a Priest, but the connection to ministry through my spouse (our vows included spreading God’s word) was irresistible to me. Yet I still feel the most conservative and traditional form of Catholicism has something to offer me. I don’t think this would have been true through any other route. So there you go.