Little angels? In your dreams!
The Liturgy of the Word, particularly at Sunday Mass is often a challenging thing for us all to pray and draw nourishment from. It is too easy to find the word of God indigestible rather than a guide and aid to authentic life.
To assist children participate in the encounter with Jesus, really present in the word, a simplified liturgical form may be used, for children before they have made their first Holy Communion, and once they are of an age to participate in it.
The liturgical form makes use of the same elements
However the homily is more interactive than is usual at Mass. It is also often best that there are two proclamations of the Gospel, the first followed by a 'de-bugging' of the text (for understanding of the factual elements in the reading - for example in the parable of the Good Samaritan: what is a scribe; what a Temple priest?, what a Samaritan) and then a second reading which allows the children to better able for the deeper spiritual understanding and response that is their right and responsibility.
This Liturgy is presently offered only at the 9am Sunday Mass. Over the coming months it is scheduled to be offered on the following Sundays:
Oct 8; Oct 15;
Nov 5; Nov 12;
Dec 3; Dec 10.
A resource is now regularly distributed to children at these sessions to promote family preparation and participation in Mass and for prayer at home. They can be downloaded here.
To assist children participate in the encounter with Jesus, really present in the word, a simplified liturgical form may be used, for children before they have made their first Holy Communion, and once they are of an age to participate in it.
The liturgical form makes use of the same elements
- Standing to greet the Gospel
- Singing the Gospel Acclamation
- Listening to the Gospel proclaimed (in the same translation, the Jerusalem Bible, used in Mass.)
- Reflecting on it and making a response in prayer
However the homily is more interactive than is usual at Mass. It is also often best that there are two proclamations of the Gospel, the first followed by a 'de-bugging' of the text (for understanding of the factual elements in the reading - for example in the parable of the Good Samaritan: what is a scribe; what a Temple priest?, what a Samaritan) and then a second reading which allows the children to better able for the deeper spiritual understanding and response that is their right and responsibility.
This Liturgy is presently offered only at the 9am Sunday Mass. Over the coming months it is scheduled to be offered on the following Sundays:
Oct 8; Oct 15;
Nov 5; Nov 12;
Dec 3; Dec 10.
A resource is now regularly distributed to children at these sessions to promote family preparation and participation in Mass and for prayer at home. They can be downloaded here.
