Has this happened to you?
Sunday morning. Your mission: to get the family to Mass. Just as you reach the car, the baby has a spill. Your eldest child grazes her knee and her younger brother has to go to the toilet. Now! After two changes of clothes, a toilet stop, bandaids and tears, you arrive at the church. By now you are late and parking spots are hard to find. You walk into church, your eldest whining 'I don't wanna go to church!' Mass continues, but the kids are restless and you are dead tired after being up all night with the baby. You are anxious about disturbing the parishioner next to you (perhaps you were imagining that disapproving look?). Your spouse is not a Catholic and spends most of the Mass taking the toddler in and out and questioning the whole point of the 'church' exercise, an opinion verbalised on the journey home. Which starts a fight. At some point you are tempted to say, 'Mass is just too hard!'
Does any of this sound familiar? If so, please read on this is for you...
Here at Holy Cross Kincumber we are trying to make it a little easier and more joy-filled for young families to fulfil their Sunday Mass Commitment. So here is our offering to you.
A sincere welcome
When it comes to Sunday Mass we want you there! Whether or not the kids are grumpy or restless we honour and regard your family's presence on Sundays as a gift, never a burden. You belong. Thank you for making the effort to be there.
A child-friendly liturgy
People like to worship in different ways. At Holy Cross, we have three weekend Masses, each with its own special character. The 5.00 pm Vigil Mass on Saturday evenings and the 9.00 am Mass on Sunday mornings are traditional style liturgies with singing. The 5.00 pm Mass on Sunday evenings attract a younger crowd and is our family Mass it is especially suitable for families with young children.
Children's liturgy of the word
At the Sunday 5.00 pm Family Mass the children have their own liturgy of the Word. It is for children of primary school age and is held every Sunday of the school term. They listen to, reflect on, and have activities based on Sunday readings at their level. The children re-join the congregation after the Creed.
Facilities- church seating
Some families with young children find it helpful to sit towards the front of the church so that they have a bird's eye view of what is happening in the Ritual of the Mass. Others prefer to sit towards the back so that they have easy access to exit the church to tend to the many needs that may arise during the Mass. The choice is yours, please sit where you will be most comfortable with your family, whether it be towards the front, the back or even sitting on the carpet please make yourself at home. We have a box of folders with colouring in and textas to help with little ones during Mass, please help yourself to this resource, we have found this useful with children.
Learning about the Mass
We encourage you to teach your children about the meaning of the Mass. Not only is this important for their faith journey, it will help them to enjoy and engage better with the ritual of the Mass. There are children's mass books available in the Piety store (located in the narthex of the church, open after all weekend Masses) and the MacKillop bookshop (located next to the post office in Kincumber, open 10.00 am-3.00 pm Monday to Friday. If you have questions or need some help with this we encourage you to talk with or contact Fr Jose, Dionne Soares or Mayo Tripolone who can assist you on your faith journey with your child.
See you at Church!
As Catholics, the Mass is our greatest act of worship and most sacred celebration of community, of what it means to be the Body of Christ. Don't let your children miss out on this central aspect of their faith formation. Come to Mass, get involved, set an example by the practice of your own faith. Do your best as a Catholic parent. Parents' experience is that children behave better at Mass when they are used to attending Mass every week and remember, even the 'trying' in a hectic and complex world is a precious gift. See you at church!