Need advice on this family matter

[Allegra]

I think the father was referring to Sunday Mass throughout the year, not specifically to Christmas. But in all honesty, I have never seen any Catholic church in the US packed. And we have been all over the country for Mass. The closest I have seen is First Communion, Confirmation, and sometimes a Baptism. Never for Christmas or Easter.

Yes, this is what I think as well.

I’ve never seen a Church NOT packed on Christmas and Easter. I’ve see parishes that end up having a second sinutaneous Mass in the parish school in order to accomadate all the people who show up. Our parish is always packed for Christmas and Easter and so are the previous parishes I’ve attended. One of the most highly coveted items at our parish picnic raffle was a reserved pew and parking space for midnight Mass. It often went for upwards of a grand!

 

[maryjk]

It seems like a lot of our churches are packed.

I know ours is. In fact, we are currently raising money to build an addition. We quite simply need more seats.

Oh, and more parking.

 

[yellowbird]

It seems like a lot of our churches are packed.

I know ours is. In fact, we are currently raising money to build an addition. We quite simply need more seats.

Oh, and more parking.

Wonderful problems to have!

 

[Xantippe]

7armyrugrats said:

“I think the father was referring to Sunday Mass throughout the year, not specifically to Christmas. But in all honesty, I have never seen any Catholic church in the US packed. And we have been all over the country for Mass. The closest I have seen is First Communion, Confirmation, and sometimes a Baptism. Never for Christmas or Easter.”

Actually, it was very specifically about Christmas. From the OP:

"Then my dad jumped in by saying, “Well I was reading this morning that Pentecostals and Baptists make their services more entertaining, and they don’t have any problems filling seats around Christmas. Maybe the Catholic Church should take a hint from them.”

 

[NSFrame]

I’m with you on all of the technical points you raise here, but overall - your attitude needs adjustment.

Was it a valid Mass? Were you and your family there participating? If so, then that’s the heart of it. The rest is gravy. There is no need to be a sourpuss about a nativity play.

Your father has a point that the Catholic Church does need to work on making things more family-friendly (though I would hesitate to say “entertaining”). I don’t know of a single church I’ve attended since the 90s that had child care during Mass, for example.

 

[Allegra]

I’m with you on all of the technical points you raise here, but overall - your attitude needs adjustment.

Was it a valid Mass? Were you and your family there participating? If so, then that’s the heart of it. The rest is gravy. There is no need to be a sourpuss about a nativity play.

Your father has a point that the Catholic Church does need to work on making things more family-friendly (though I would hesitate to say “entertaining”). I don’t know of a single church I’ve attended since the 90s that had child care during Mass, for example.

The “check your child” policy is family friendly? I think family friendly is the entire family sitting in the pew together, worshiping the Lord. I’ve never thought highly of banishing the children to the basement for baby-sitting during church. That being said, nearly every parish around here has a children’s liturgy of the Word for kids that are old enough to comprehend the scripture on a basic level, but not old enough to fully appreciate father’s riveting homilies.

 

[Xantippe]

NSFrame said:

“Your father has a point that the Catholic Church does need to work on making things more family-friendly (though I would hesitate to say “entertaining”). I don’t know of a single church I’ve attended since the 90s that had child care during Mass, for example.”

Yes. As we’ve discussed here a number of times, it’s HARD to go to church with the under-3s. Forget child care–so many churches don’t have even cry rooms.

 

[NSFrame]

The “check your child” policy is family friendly? I think family friendly is the entire family sitting in the pew together, worshiping the Lord. I’ve never thought highly of banishing the children to the basement for baby-sitting during church. That being said, nearly every parish around here has a children’s liturgy of the Word for kids that are old enough to comprehend the scripture on a basic level, but not old enough to fully appreciate father’s riveting homilies.

Anywhere from about 10 months to 3 years it is very, very, very difficult to bring children into the pew with you. I feel like if there were a nice nursery program with some basic prayers and Bible stories, the young families might actually get to know each other, and Mass would be much more pleasant for both parents and kids. Also, as it stands, you are too exhausted (emotionaly and physically) after an hour of wrangling a baby in Mass to meet and greet the other moms with kids.

None of the churches near me (in downtown Chicago) have childrens’ liturgies. If they did I would definitely take advantage once DD is old enough.

 

[Allegra]

Anywhere from about 10 months to 3 years it is very, very, very difficult to bring children into the pew with you. I feel like if there were a nice nursery program with some basic prayers and Bible stories, the young families might actually get to know each other, and Mass would be much more pleasant for both parents and kids. Also, as it stands, you are too exhausted (emotionaly and physically) after an hour of wrangling a baby in Mass to meet and greet the other moms with kids.

None of the churches near me (in downtown Chicago) have childrens’ liturgies. If they did I would definitely take advantage once DD is old enough.

Why is it more important for moms to get to know each other than for the children to be in Mass? And how would they get to know each other if they only see each other for a second when they pick up their kids? I don’t think I would feel comfortable leaving my daughter with people I hadn’t had the chance to check out. Especially while she is too young to tell anyone what went on. I’ve taken lots of young children to Mass and I’ve never found it three-very hard to do. Occasionally, it hasn’t gone as smoothly as I’d like, but not three-very hard.