Nun taking over homily

[whichwaytogo47]

I am curious if it’s okay for a nun to have Sunday school at the front of church during the children’s mass instead of having a homily. When I was a child 30 years ago, my mom did not like that mass.

I’m not sure if we truly didn’t have a homily, but as I remember it when I was 5-7 years old that it was a substitute for the homily. She definitely was a nun who “took over” the mass.

 

[whichwaytogo47]

In all fairness, she definitely did that in the questions she asked us kids.

 

[UpUpAndAway]

But she’s not an ordained minister.

 

[1ke]

You are going on a fuzzy 30 year old memory of a 5-7 year old kid. I don’t really see anything here we can comment on.

a) 30 years ago, that was in the 80s. There have been additional guidelines that have come out in the interim. We can’t know exactly what was or was not going on that you are remembering, and we also can’t comment on what guidelines there may or may not have been at the time. We cannot comment on guideline or law changes or clarifications that have occurred in that time.

b) You may be confusing children’s liturgy of the word-- a legitimate option from the 1973 Directory for Masses With Children promulgated by the Congregation for Divine Worship-- with a “nun taking over the mass”. You were 5. In all honesty, you may not be properly recalling the events.

What we can comment on is that Children’s Liturgy of the Word remains a legitimate tool in adapting the mass for children. It has guidelines as outlined in the Director for Masses with Children and it is also spoken of in the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy.

 

[1ke]

I don’t believe this is a case of the laity preaching, but rather of Children’s Liturgy of the Word which is something else entirely.

 

[whichwaytogo47]

What we can comment on is that Children’s Liturgy of the Word remains a legitimate tool in adapting the mass for children. It has guidelines as outlined in the Director for Masses with Children and it is also spoken of in the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy.

Thanks. That’s what I do think it was. But instead of taking the children to a separate location, they simply had a children’s mass where they did children’s liturgy instead of the homily.

 

[pianistclare]

I agree with 1ke’ posts.
Although I really really don’t’ like Children’s LIturgy of the Word, some places still persist in thinking it’s “good” for little kids. I’ve almost never seen it done well.

 

[buffalo]

An issue with removing children during Mass is parents have no idea what they are telling them.

Parents are the “first teachers”. Believe it or not children are smart enough to understand Jesus’ words in the Gospel. We do not need to dumb it down. Often parent discuss with their children the readings. These are very teachable moments.

I am against children’s Masses.

 

[Kathleen18]

Unfortunately not all parents are teaching the Faith properly, if at all. Which is why I have a good number of “Cradle Catholics” in my RCIA class. They don’t know their Faith very well.

 

[brian_custer]

i’ve seen childrens’ liturgies done well; eg when they coax all the 4, 5 & 6 year olds into a separate room & they receive a “homily” from allegedly some lay person who may be a parochial school teacher who has at least some qualifications to lecture to children

the “childrens’ liturgies” that are “bad” (imho) are the ones where the priest brings the little children to the altar and he gives them (and the rest of the congregation) a juvenile, pandering homily

 

[mVitus]

If I recall from another thread, permission can be given for a non-ordained ministers to give the homily on special occasions. In my parish for examole the deacons’ wives gave the Mother’s Day homily and a sister gave a lot of information on the fund for retired religious. (There might have also been a homily from the priest/deacon but I do not recall.)

Separate from the matter of a children’s liturgy but just something to note.

 

[1ke]

If I recall from another thread, permission can be given for a non-ordained ministers to give the homily on special occasions

No this isn’t accurate. Only clergy may give the homily.

Non-ordained people may give a reflection, but not in place of a homily, or make an appeal such as sisters or brothers on a mission appeal.

 

[signit]

If I recall from another thread, permission can be given for a non-ordained ministers to give the homily on special occasions. In my parish for examole the deacons’ wives gave the Mother’s Day homily and a sister gave a lot of information on the fund for retired religious. (There might have also been a homily from the priest/deacon but I do not recall.)

Separate from the matter of a children’s liturgy but just something to note.

I seem to remember, from another thread as well, that as long as the priest says something like, “Today we’re going to hear from Sister Mary telling about her mission . . . ,” that qualifies as a homily.

 

[Xanthippe_Voorhees]

mVitus:

If I recall from another thread, permission can be given for a non-ordained ministers to give the homily on special occasions. In my parish for examole the deacons’ wives gave the Mother’s Day homily and a sister gave a lot of information on the fund for retired religious. (There might have also been a homily from the priest/deacon but I do not recall.)

Separate from the matter of a children’s liturgy but just something to note.

I seem to remember, from another thread as well, that as long as the priest says something like, “Today we’re going to hear from Sister Mary telling about her mission . . . ,” that qualifies as a homily.

This. It takes suprizingly little to “qualify” as a homily.

 

[mVitus]

That would make sense then as one of the priests or deacons always did a brief introduction first.

 

[whichwaytogo47]

the “childrens’ liturgies” that are “bad” (imho) are the ones where the priest brings the little children to the altar and he gives them (and the rest of the congregation) a juvenile, pandering homily

This is definitely why my mom did not like the children’s mass. Though instead of the priest providing a pandering homily, there may have been a small homily followed by a nun inviting all the children up to the altar to talk about some type of religious story or lesson that was dumbed down to a 1st grade level.

I seem to remember, from another thread as well, that as long as the priest says something like, “Today we’re going to hear from Sister Mary telling about her mission . . . ,” that qualifies as a homily.

For us, it was Sister Charlene.

Non-ordained people may give a reflection, but not in place of a homily, or make an appeal such as sisters or brothers on a mission appeal.

Now those are very interesting. Even if they’re asking for money for their mission, I appreciate the work they do. I appreciate people that are there for years on end instead of just a couple of weeks.

I agree with 1ke’ posts.

Although I really really don’t’ like Children’s LIturgy of the Word, some places still persist in thinking it’s “good” for little kids. I’ve almost never seen it done well.

I haven’t seen a children’s liturgy or volunteered for it so I wouldn’t know how they are done. I’d be interested when I have kids in how it is done so I might volunteer. It’s especially important as our kids would be receiving religious instruction at both a Catholic and evangelical church and must be able to parse the differences and lack of knowledge that goes both ways so I’d definitely be interested in what they’re taught so that I can show them how to be a follower of Christ.

An issue with removing children during Mass is parents have no idea what they are telling them.

Parents are the “first teachers”. Believe it or not children are smart enough to understand Jesus’ words in the Gospel. We do not need to dumb it down. Often parent discuss with their children the readings. These are very teachable moments.

I am against children’s Masses.

Parents are indeed the first teachers. Those who teach can have an agenda even those who have a parochial experience. Parents may not want their kids exposed to human rights issues because the way it’s interpreted is from one political side and not from each side.

 

[pianistclare]

Hi whichway!

First let me make clear, Children’s Liturgy of the Word happens during the Mass in various parishes. Sometimes it just means the Priest or Deacon gears the homily toward the children, sometimes they are actually led out of the Mass after the Gospel to another location where someone explains the Mass readings in easily understandable words/language.
It DOES NOT replace Faith Formation (Sunday schools) for children. And it should not. But I’ve known families who forego Religious Ed because they feel like that kiddie homily was enough. No bueno.
Every Sunday school class should include a discussion of the readings they just heard, or will hear the upcoming Sunday. That is part of the curriculum. Most of the big religious ed publishers have the Liturgical calendar and readings built into the lessons. Fi they are NOT, that is a conversation to be had with your DRE.
Personally (and this is just my opinion and preference) I don’t think ti’s right to single out a particular group during the homily. Fast forward and we have a bunch of kids who believe that a LifeTeen Mass (no such thing, but parishes sometimes call it that) is different from any other Mass. It’s not. Mass is Mass. It’s for everyone. When they move to another city or parish and there is not youth themed Mass they can fall away quicker. I just don’t believe it is necessary if your Religious Ed dept is doing their JOB.
And lastly, frankly, it’s lame. Either the homilist talks down to the children or uses the same verbiage but just has them sitting at his feet. It ends up rather confusing everyone.
Not a fan, LOL

But yeah. Enroll your kids in Formation and volunteer THERE.
Mass is for the entire parish community. Nothing prevents parents from discussing the homily or the readings over Sunday breakfast! Children will remember what their parents said long after what they heard for 7 minutes on the floor.

Peace.

 

[buffalo]

after Holy Communion.