Comments on: Should we do children’s liturgy of the word?

By: Betsy

Betsy — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 13:20:43 +0000

We have had Liturgy of the Word with Children for several years. I recently bought the newer edition you posted for the curriculum and I am very pleased with it. Our volunteers have had background checks and recieve trianings as well as the lesson plan. We have a small table set with a candle (real!), a crucifix, and often a bowl of holy water. We follow the liturgical practices, but we do take time to point out that there is a Gospel procession and why it’s important and that the same thing is going on in the church. We have a recording of our choir singing the Alleluia so that we are singing the same one as the grown-ups.
The chance to make the readings apply to their lives is very valuable, and, I believe, it trains the children to find a message in the readings when we don’t have CLW. We offer it at all Mass times, except for Holidays. When we don’t have enough volunteers, we might miss a week in the month, but for the most part it’s a very positive ministry for us.

By: Dione Grillo

Dione Grillo — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 03:07:04 +0000

Sorry, Nick, I disagree, and you know I love you! When done correctly, CLOW is an excellent way for ongoing liturgical formation that is ON THE CHILD’S LEVEL. Again, when executed properly, CLOW is a beautiful expression of our faith for the children whom we mostly ignore when planning our liturgies. While I do not advocate “entertaining” them, I do feel we have a responsibility to form them and that is not exclusive to the RE or Catholic School setting.

By: Michele

Michele — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 16:51:45 +0000

There was a big uproar when I became director of religious education and objected to the ‘Children’s Dismissal’ during Mass for the very reasons you mentioned above. it was glorified babysitting with everyone from babies to teens being dumped into the day chapel with one adult.
I decided to re-vamp it since I couldn’t get rid of it. We now only dismiss children ages 4-9 with two adult catechists who have had training and background checks. We use the above listed “The Liturgy of the Word with Children” and make sure we use the music. The children are called forward by the Priest after the Opening prayer and before the First Reading, and return to the congregation immediately following the Homily. We only offer CLOW from Oct-May, and not on holidays. So far this year, I don’t have sufficient volunteers to offer CLOW…darn It’s too limiting, it’s too structured, it’s too orderly…and I refuse to let it turn into babysitting. No food, no drinks, no toys, no coloring. The kids are fine with it- it’s the parents who apparently want 20 minutes of a break from their kids during Mass instead of taking the opportunity to train them HOW to appreciate Mass! I have been critized for the same things in Religious Education- I don’t offer a ‘nursery’ program. I begin at age 4 and classes have structure, readings and actual faith formation . We pray as a community, with the parents, at the end of every RE session, in the Church. Last year, parents were amazed that the 4 and 5 year olds who could not yet read could easily recite the Liturgy of the Hours psalms and responses. They are now learning the Angelus; and they are learning to appreciate silence, attentive listening, participating in the singing and praying together. What a concept.

By: Reggie Dirnberger

Reggie Dirnberger — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 19:51:06 +0000

NO! We should not do CLW. Children find this a time to play and want to talk about everything but Liturgy. They lose the meaning of “church”. Church is not the building – it is coming together of people to praise God. Nick is right there are too many distractions and classrooms are not a proper setting. I use the book he suggests and find that the children do participate pretty well. I’m all for fixing boring liturgy. And I won’t even go there regarding the music we use. The leaving and returning of the children is also a distraction to the “church”.

By: Sharon Essner

Sharon Essner — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 17:55:45 +0000

Amen!!