Children's Liturgy of the Word
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Allowing children to participate fully in the liturgical life of the parish is an important goal which we strive to attain here at Our Lady of Perpetual Help. Children should have every opportunity to understand what worship is all about and to be formed by the rites of the Church, especially the celebration of the Eucharist.
In order to achieve this goal, we are happy to have the Children’s Liturgy of the Word as a part of the 10:00AM Mass each Sunday throughout the year except during the summer. |
Where does the idea of the Children’s Liturgy of the Word come from?
It comes out of the Directory for Masses with Children which tells us in paragraph 17, “Sometimes, if the place itself and the nature of the community permit, it will be appropriate to celebrate the Liturgy of the Word, including a homily, with the children in a separate, but not too distant, room. Then, before the Eucharistic liturgy begins, the children are led to the place where the adults have meanwhile celebrated their own Liturgy of the Word.”
How does the Children’s Liturgy of the Word work?
After the Collect (the Opening Prayer of the Mass), children first-grade and older are invited to come forward to the sanctuary to receive a special dismissal. They are then escorted to a separate chapel set up in the north sacristy of the church, where they listen to that Sunday’s readings as proclaimed from the Lectionary for Masses with Children. These are the same readings everyone else is hearing in the church, but in a slightly different translation that is easier for children to understand. A special homily is then given to the children to help them understand the readings. This Liturgy of the Word concludes with the Prayer of the Faithful, as the children pray intercessions together. Meanwhile, the Liturgy of the Word has continued as usual in the church. The children return to the church at the beginning of the collection/presentation of the gifts, and participate in the Liturgy of the Eucharist as usual.
What is the purpose of the Children’s Liturgy of the Word?
The purpose of this is not to offer a babysitting service, nor is it to isolate the children or to make them feel unwelcome. Rather, it is actually an act of hospitality to them: they will be given the chance to listen to the Sunday readings and participate in a homily that will be on their level, and yet still be a part of the worshiping assembly, since they participate in all other parts of the Mass. It does require a certain maturity level and ability to focus, so it is intended for first-grade children and older, not kindergartners, pre-schoolers or toddlers.
Participating in the Children’s Liturgy of the Word continues to teach children how to participate in Mass, since they do the same things as are being done in the main body of the church.
Ideally, parents and children then talk to each other on the ride home or later in the day about what they heard in their respective homilies. In this way, God’s Word continues to be alive and active in the family’s faith life.
Suppose I want my child to stay with me in the main body of the church?
That’s fine; parents are in no way required to send their children to the Children’s Liturgy of the Word, and no child is forced to participate. Children are welcome to stay in the main body of the church and to participate in the Liturgy of the Word there, where the usual readings and homily will take place. Since we think this is a great opportunity for children, though, we do hope you will encourage your child to participate.
It comes out of the Directory for Masses with Children which tells us in paragraph 17, “Sometimes, if the place itself and the nature of the community permit, it will be appropriate to celebrate the Liturgy of the Word, including a homily, with the children in a separate, but not too distant, room. Then, before the Eucharistic liturgy begins, the children are led to the place where the adults have meanwhile celebrated their own Liturgy of the Word.”
How does the Children’s Liturgy of the Word work?
After the Collect (the Opening Prayer of the Mass), children first-grade and older are invited to come forward to the sanctuary to receive a special dismissal. They are then escorted to a separate chapel set up in the north sacristy of the church, where they listen to that Sunday’s readings as proclaimed from the Lectionary for Masses with Children. These are the same readings everyone else is hearing in the church, but in a slightly different translation that is easier for children to understand. A special homily is then given to the children to help them understand the readings. This Liturgy of the Word concludes with the Prayer of the Faithful, as the children pray intercessions together. Meanwhile, the Liturgy of the Word has continued as usual in the church. The children return to the church at the beginning of the collection/presentation of the gifts, and participate in the Liturgy of the Eucharist as usual.
What is the purpose of the Children’s Liturgy of the Word?
The purpose of this is not to offer a babysitting service, nor is it to isolate the children or to make them feel unwelcome. Rather, it is actually an act of hospitality to them: they will be given the chance to listen to the Sunday readings and participate in a homily that will be on their level, and yet still be a part of the worshiping assembly, since they participate in all other parts of the Mass. It does require a certain maturity level and ability to focus, so it is intended for first-grade children and older, not kindergartners, pre-schoolers or toddlers.
Participating in the Children’s Liturgy of the Word continues to teach children how to participate in Mass, since they do the same things as are being done in the main body of the church.
Ideally, parents and children then talk to each other on the ride home or later in the day about what they heard in their respective homilies. In this way, God’s Word continues to be alive and active in the family’s faith life.
Suppose I want my child to stay with me in the main body of the church?
That’s fine; parents are in no way required to send their children to the Children’s Liturgy of the Word, and no child is forced to participate. Children are welcome to stay in the main body of the church and to participate in the Liturgy of the Word there, where the usual readings and homily will take place. Since we think this is a great opportunity for children, though, we do hope you will encourage your child to participate.
