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Children's Liturgy on Sundays...why and when

The Directory for Masses with Children states: 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. (n. 17)
Many parishes do just this and have what is called a “Children’s Liturgy of the Word” whereby the children leave the assembly after the opening prayer and gather elsewhere to celebrate a liturgy of the word that is more appropriate to their age level.

While this practice has been embraced with enthusiasm by some, others have expressed serious reservations. This is because two different principles come into play here. On the one hand, we need to heed the warning given in the Directory for Masses with Children that spiritual harm may be done “if over the years children repeatedly experience in the Church things that are scarcely comprehensible to them” (DMC 2).

However, children do not, and do not need to, understand everything going on around them. In fact they are often fascinated by adult conversation and activity that is beyond their comprehension. Growing-up is a gradual process of growing in understanding of the world around them.

In addition, it is essential to embody the unity of a church which includes children as well as adults and to lead children to an adult participation in the parish Sunday Mass.

Notice the first word of the paragraph quoted at the beginning – “sometimes”. A Children’s Liturgy of the Word should not be offered every week so that children can still regularly experience celebrating all of Mass with the entire community.

When it comes to Children’s Liturgy of the Word, one central principle must never be forgotten – it is liturgy, real liturgy, and not catechesis or child-minding. Its purpose is not to give the children colouring-in-type activities to keep them busy so the adults can listen to the homily in peace!
The children do what the rest of the community does. They hear the scriptures proclaimed and applied to contemporary life and respond in various ways. It is an experience of prayer, of dialogue with God.
The approved book of readings is the Lectionary for Masses with Children. Its simplified language does not talk down to children but places unfamiliar words and expressions in a context which helps them understand their meaning.

As far as possible the readings follow those in the Roman Lectionary for Mass. Where a reading was considered too difficult for children, it has been simplified or omitted completely. The responsorial psalms have been adapted to make them easier for the children to sing.
A liturgy of the word is never simply a verbal experience. The use of colour, light, gesture, movement and singing heightens the children’s experience of the transcendent. A beautifully bound book which is handled with respect, a special place for enthroning the word, gathering the children around to hear the scriptures proclaimed well, these all speak to the children of the sacredness of God’s word and influence how they accept and live by it.

...it is essential to embody the unity of a church which includes children as well as adults and to lead children to an adult participation in the parish Sunday Mass."
Picture
Picture
...A Children’s Liturgy of the Word should not be offered every week so that children can still regularly experience celebrating all of Mass with the entire community...."
From 'Children’s Liturgy of the Word' Liturgy Lines by Elizabeth Harrington
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  • Saint Joseph
    • Patris corde (With a Father's Heart)
    • Celebrating St Joseph in the Liturgy
    • St Joseph in Scripture
  • Archive
    • Christmas 2020 >
      • On the Meaning and Importance of the Nativity Scene
      • Botticelli - The Mystical Nativity
      • The Season of Christmas
    • Planning for Christmas 2020 >
      • Planning Christmas Masses 2020
      • Re-emerging With Purpose
      • Beyond Welcome: Show, Don't Tell
    • Signs and Symbols >
      • Sacramental Signs and Symbols
      • The cross reminds us of the sacrifices of the Christian life
      • Signs & Symbols: A Reflection
    • Looking Forward >
      • Solemnities on Saturdays
      • Our Family at Mass in the Age of Technology
      • Is your RCIA open all year-round? - Embracing 'Pyjama Catechesis'
    • Eucharist as Living Memory >
      • Memory is not Something Private
      • So what's wrong with a Virtual Mass?
      • The Middle of Nowhere
    • What have we learned from lockdown? >
      • Church After Coronavirus - New Understandings of Social MIssion
      • Virus and Vocation
      • Real Presence and Virtual Liturgies
    • Easter 2020 >
      • Coronavirus and the Eucharist
      • How to celebrate the liturgy when there is no Mass
      • Holy Week At Home
    • Solidarity and Unity >
      • Taking Communion to those who Self-Isolate
      • Peace and Solidarity
      • United to Christ We Are Never Alone
    • Preparing for Lent >
      • The Weeks of Lent in the Australian Imagination
      • How to Prepare for Lent
      • It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Lent
    • Liturgy with Children >
      • Using the Lectionary for Masses with Children
      • Praying Morning Prayer with Primary School Children
      • Directory for Masses with Children
    • Praying For Rain >
      • National Drought Prayer Campaign
      • Praying for Rain - Prayer Resources
      • A Ritual of Lament
    • Christian Initiation >
      • CATECHUMENATE - Rolling Year Round
      • Inculturating Christian Life in the Digital World
      • Tweens and Teens in the RCIA
    • Season of Creation >
      • Season of Creation September 1 - October 4
      • The Cosmic Song of 'Laudato Si'
    • Ordinary Time >
      • The Season of Ordinary Time
      • Sunday - The Original Feast
      • Luke's Gospel
    • Saints and Feasts >
      • Mary and the Saints
      • Saints and Martyrs
      • Who Are the Saints?
    • Eucharist >
      • The Centrality of the Eucharist
      • Space Matters
      • Can you drink the cup?
    • Altar Servers
    • Ministers of the Word
    • Children's Liturgy of the Word on Sundays
    • Advent Issues >
      • Advent Resources >
        • Advent
        • Music in Advent
        • Advent BOB
      • The Season of Advent
    • Liturgy Preparation
    • Communion
    • A pastoral map to baptism
    • The Role of the Deacon
    • Music Ministry
    • Reconciliation
    • Women Deacons, Music Choices and Lent
    • Data Projectors
    • The Christmas Season >
      • The Book of Blessings
      • Formation in Liturgy
    • The Year of Youth
    • Should we celebrate Australia Day?
    • Marriage
    • Easter Triduum
    • ANZAC Day
    • Funerals
    • The problem of translation
    • Advent resources for families
  • Subscribe