Priest Chatting With Kids During Mass..?

[Sunbreak]

No, it’s not appropriate to “chat” during Mass. If he is instructing them, it’s fine. But if he’s just socializing, no, Mass is not the time for it.

 

[7_Sorrows]

No, it’s not appropriate to “chat” during Mass. If he is instructing them, it’s fine. But if he’s just socializing, no, Mass is not the time for it.

Yes. Our priest will briefly say something to them in regards to that Sunday’s reading of the Gospel.

 

[robwar]

No, it’s not appropriate to “chat” during Mass. If he is instructing them, it’s fine. But if he’s just socializing, no, Mass is not the time for it.

Is that written in GIRM or in the Bible? I wonder what Pope Francis would say about this sort of attitude and the same with Jesus?

 

[Tantum_ergo]

Is that written in GIRM or in the Bible? I wonder what Pope Francis would say about this sort of attitude and the same with Jesus?

Let’s not limit this to Pope Francis. How about Pope Benedict, or Saint John Paul, or St Pius X?

As for Our Blessed Lord, He certainly loved and interacted with little children during his ministry. . .but NOT, I believe, in his Passion and Death. Which, if I’m not mistaken, is a rather large part of the sacrifice of the Mass.

I wonder how for centuries and centuries children went to church and ‘endured’ everything from Mass in Latin (or Greek, or Aramaic) when that was not their ‘main language’, when they were expected to listen attentively even when the words used were ‘complex’ (just of course as they learned language in every other venue in life), and how many people, not just saints but ‘regular’ average people, from childhood on, not only ‘enjoyed’ Mass but indeed ‘loved it’. It wasn’t ‘geared’ to them. They should have simply ‘tuned out’ and as soon as they were old enough, headed out to some kind of more enjoyable service or simply opted out of church entirely. But they didn’t. Were they more stupid than we? More ‘sheep like’? Or were they (gasp) maybe more humble, more willing to listen, less determined to have things ‘their way’?

 

[dailey]

Let’s not limit this to Pope Francis. How about Pope Benedict, or Saint John Paul, or St Pius X?

As for Our Blessed Lord, He certainly loved and interacted with little children during his ministry. . .but NOT, I believe, in his Passion and Death. Which, if I’m not mistaken, is a rather large part of the sacrifice of the Mass.

I wonder how for centuries and centuries children went to church and ‘endured’ everything from Mass in Latin (or Greek, or Aramaic) when that was not their ‘main language’, when they were expected to listen attentively even when the words used were ‘complex’ (just of course as they learned language in every other venue in life), and how many people, not just saints but ‘regular’ average people, from childhood on, not only ‘enjoyed’ Mass but indeed ‘loved it’. It wasn’t ‘geared’ to them. They should have simply ‘tuned out’ and as soon as they were old enough, headed out to some kind of more enjoyable service or simply opted out of church entirely. But they didn’t. Were they more stupid than we? More ‘sheep like’? Or were they (gasp) maybe more humble, more willing to listen, less determined to have things ‘their way’?

EXACTLY!

There is a place and time for everything…

 

[robwar]

Let’s not limit this to Pope Francis. How about Pope Benedict, or Saint John Paul, or St Pius X?

As for Our Blessed Lord, He certainly loved and interacted with little children during his ministry. . .but NOT, I believe, in his Passion and Death. Which, if I’m not mistaken, is a rather large part of the sacrifice of the Mass.

I wonder how for centuries and centuries children went to church and ‘endured’ everything from Mass in Latin (or Greek, or Aramaic) when that was not their ‘main language’, when they were expected to listen attentively even when the words used were ‘complex’ (just of course as they learned language in every other venue in life), and how many people, not just saints but ‘regular’ average people, from childhood on, not only ‘enjoyed’ Mass but indeed ‘loved it’. It wasn’t ‘geared’ to them. They should have simply ‘tuned out’ and as soon as they were old enough, headed out to some kind of more enjoyable service or simply opted out of church entirely. But they didn’t. Were they more stupid than we? More ‘sheep like’? Or were they (gasp) maybe more humble, more willing to listen, less determined to have things ‘their way’?

first of all, Masses that have a CLOW always call up children before the Liturgy of the Word (first part of the Mass) begins. Usually the priest or deacon will say a prayer, bless them and the children that have come forward along with their volunteer helpers leave. This is done not as a babysitting service or a chance to color but happens concurrent with the liturgy of the word. The children return during the collection and everyone is together. It is voluntary and the ages is usually 5 to 11 years. Based on the personality of the priest or deacon, a few words or comments or even simple questions might be asked which was the complaint of Op. It is totally subjective to say the priest was too “chatty” when most likely the priest probably took a minute to interact with the children. This isn’t during the Eucharistic prayer part of the Mass. As another poster pointed out, there are guidelines for CLOW and they are usually done at one Mass in a parish. Unless Op recorded what the priest actually says or does, there is no way for anyone here to judge whether or not he is over the line etc. I would wager the problem isn’t the priest but Op’s view and understanding of the whole thing. Maybe the better thing for Op to do is actually talk to the priest, not to others on the internet on whether the priest is wrong or not. Usually in most of these types of complaints about happenings at Mass is to go to the priest and ask about it and be willing to learn and change one’s attitude. I doubt Op has any children and understanding but is stuck on his views on what should or should happen at Mass which seems to be misguided.

 

[SMHW]

first of all, Masses that have a CLOW always call up children before the Liturgy of the Word (first part of the Mass) begins. Usually the priest or deacon will say a prayer, bless them and the children that have come forward along with their volunteer helpers leave. This is done not as a babysitting service or a chance to color but happens concurrent with the liturgy of the word. The children return during the collection and everyone is together.

I will just add that sometimes there are miscommunications at Mass.

At least at our parish we have an usher or other person notify the CLoW leaders when the homily is ending so they can wrap things up and come back about the time when the collection is being. That is usually a good time for the children to return since there is already some minor chaos as the collection baskets are being passed; people are fishing around in pockets and purses for checkbooks, envelopes, and cash; and other people are fumbling with their hymnals and worship aids.

Occasionally, for whatever reason, no one fetches the children. That means that when the CLoW leaders realize they are late, they have to figure out when and how the children should now be returned. If they don’t return the children immediately (and interrupt the Eucharistic Prayer) then they have to figure out how to keep them occupied until such time as it would be least distracting to return them. Since people are typically shifting positions prior to the Lord’s Prayer that is possibly considered the least distracting time for children to return.

That doesn’t seem to be what is happening at the OP’s parish and I realize that some people think the potential for problems such as I’ve described are reason enough to eliminate CLoW.

 

[robwar]

I will just add that sometimes there are miscommunications at Mass.

At least at our parish we have an usher or other person notify the CLoW leaders when the homily is ending so they can wrap things up and come back about the time when the collection is being. That is usually a good time for the children to return since there is already some minor chaos as the collection baskets are being passed; people are fishing around in pockets and purses for checkbooks, envelopes, and cash; and other people are fumbling with their hymnals and worship aids.

Occasionally, for whatever reason, no one fetches the children. That means that when the CLoW leaders realize they are late, they have to figure out when and how the children should now be returned. If they don’t return the children immediately (and interrupt the Eucharistic Prayer) then they have to figure out how to keep them occupied until such time as it would be least distracting to return them. Since people are typically shifting positions prior to the Lord’s Prayer that is possibly considered the least distracting time for children to return.

That doesn’t seem to be what is happening at the OP’s parish and I realize that some people think the potential for problems such as I’ve described are reason enough to eliminate CLoW.

Yes, I understand this. At a previous parish, the volunteer parent decided to let their older teenage kids run it and the kids were returned to Church right during the Eucharistic prayer. The face of the priest was priceless and I think he chewed out the mother of the teenage kids. Needless to say, it didn’t happen again. Mistakes do happen and we are all human. It wasn’t intentional. At my current parish, children return during the collection which like you said is the ideal time, there is music playing, ushers are up passing baskets, people are up and about. I think what Op’s complaint was about is that he felt the priest was too chatty in the beginning and felt that was wrong or sent the wrong message. Again, speaking to children in front of the Church, before they are dismissed shouldn’t be the issue at all. It should be viewed as an outreach to children and hopefully they will see the priest as approachable and friendly and not some distant cold figure.

 

[dailey]

Yes, I understand this. At a previous parish, the volunteer parent decided to let their older teenage kids run it and the kids were returned to Church right during the Eucharistic prayer. The face of the priest was priceless and I think he chewed out the mother of the teenage kids. Needless to say, it didn’t happen again. Mistakes do happen and we are all human. It wasn’t intentional. At my current parish, children return during the collection which like you said is the ideal time, there is music playing, ushers are up passing baskets, people are up and about. I think what Op’s complaint was about is that he felt the priest was too chatty in the beginning and felt that was wrong or sent the wrong message. Again, speaking to children in front of the Church, before they are dismissed shouldn’t be the issue at all. It should be viewed as an outreach to children and hopefully they will see the priest as approachable and friendly and not some distant cold figure.

Chatting while the blessed sacrament is exposed, having the kids sing us songs (usually once a month) and having us clap and view their craft (every single Sunday) is inappropriate, imo. I came here to see if I was out of line. From the responses I recieved from members here, I can I see my complaint was valid. Really no need to discuss it further. Oh, and I am a “her”, not a he. And I DO have children, several actually…with the youngest being 6yo. And yes, she sits with us the entire mass and does not participate in children’s liturgy.