Diocese of San Diego
Office for Liturgy and Spirituality
Guidelines for Separate Liturgies of the Word with Children During
Sunday Mass
The
Introduction to the Lectionary for Masses with Children explains that the fullest
reality of the Sunday liturgical assembly is adults and children together. It
is important that adequate attention be given to the children's presence.
Separate celebrations can lead to a diminished sense of participation for
children in the liturgical assembly.1
The Church
recognizes however, that sometimes because of children's inability to
participate or to understand what
happens and what is proclaimed, it will be appropriate to celebrate liturgies
of the word with them in a place apart from the main Sunday assembly.2
These
guidelines are offered to assist parishes on such occasions. They are primarily
for parish leaders who minister to children enrolled in the primary and
intermediate grade levels, the age level intended for use of the Lectionary for
Masses with Children.
These
separate liturgies of the word do not take the place of regular catechetical
classes. They are a counterpart to the
main assembly's liturgy of the word. As ritual prayer the liturgy celebrates
the Word of God in narrative and song, makes it visible in gesture and symbol
and culminates in the celebration of the eucharist.3
It is
advisable that those responsible for developing separate liturgies of the word
with children read and reflect on both the Directory for Masses with Children
and the Introduction to the Lectionary for Masses with Children.
Outline
1. Dismissal
from the Assembly
2. Welcome
3.
Proclamation of the Word
4.
Reflection on the Word
5.
Celebration of the Word
6. Creed
7. General
Intercessions
8. Return to
the Assembly
1. Dismissal From The
Assembly
The children
participate in the introductory rites of the Mass
with the entire assembly.
After the
opening prayer the dismissal of the children from the assembly takes place. The
presiding priest may call the children and their leaders to come forward and
invite them to celebrate the word. He may then present the Lectionary to the
one who will preside over the liturgy of the word with the children and
formally dismiss them with the following or similar words:
A. Receive this book of readings
and proclaim God's word faithfully
to the children entrusted to your
care.
B. My dear children,
you will now go to hear God's word,
to praise God in song,
and to reflect on the wonderful
things God has done for us.
We will await your return
so that together we may celebrate
the eucharist.4
The leaders
and children then process to the place of celebration carrying the
Lectionary. A cross bearer and candle
bearers may lead them.
It is
important to carefully choose a designated place for celebration. Even if it is necessary to select a space
outside of the usual place of worship such as a classroom or other
non-liturgical space, the environ-ment is to be made suitable for worship.5
The children
should be welcomed by their adult leaders with words or gestures which help
them to feel at ease. A sung acclamation, sign of the cross or short prayer may
be said at this time to focus the children's attention. The essential goal of
this brief re-gathering is to enable them to listen to the Word of God which is
about to be proclaimed.
Mindful of
our belief in Christ's presence the children should welcome the proclamation of
the word in some ritual manner, such as:
* with a prayerful silence;
* with a procession of the Lectionary to the place of
proclamation;
* by lighting candles placed beside the Lectionary.
The actions
should be simple and appropriate to the age and development of the children.
As far as is
possible, the readings assigned from the Lectionary for Masses with Children
should be used. No other English lectionary for Masses with children has been
approved for dioceses in the United States.
The
Directory for Masses with Children, indicates, If three or even two readings on
Sundays or weekdays can be understood by children only with difficulty, it is
permissible to read two or only one of them, but the reading of the gospel
should never be omitted.6
Scripture
readings should be proclaimed in a slow, clear, expressive manner. Visuals may be used to enrich the listening
experience, but the Mass is not an historical reenactment of the events of
salvation history and care should be taken not to give the impression that the
liturgy of the word is a play.
This is not
to say that dramatic elements may not be used, e.g., the readings may at times
be divided into parts distributed among the children; however, the use of
costumes, etc. is more appropriate in the context of other celebrations or
services.7
Readers
should be selected based on their competence.
It should not be presumed that children proclaim the Word of God in
these celebrations. Some younger children are able to read the Scriptures
competently, but the witness of older children, teenagers, or adults,
ministering graciously and reverently to young children engaged in liturgical
prayer, is more conducive to the children's growing reverence for the Word of
God, than the peer ministry of embarrassed or ill-prepared children.8
The
responsorial psalm and gospel acclamation are integral to the celebration of
the liturgy of the word. The
responsorial psalms of the Lectionary for Masses with Children have been
adapted to encourage the singing of these texts. Normally the psalm is sung by
a cantor with the children singing the refrain. Responsorial psalm settings and
gospel acclamations composed specifically for children's liturgies of the word
may be used, or it may be preferable to use the same musical settings as the
assembly. The objective in choosing music is that it enable the children to
express their faith.
The gospel
acclamation, the Alleluia, (or other appropriate acclamation during the Lenten
Season), is always sung. If the
Alleluia cannot be sung it is omitted.
Before the gospel is proclaimed it is appropriate for the children to
gesture the sign of the cross on their forehead, lips, and heart. They may accompany this by the words, May
the Word of God be in our minds, on our lips, and in our hearts.
Following
the proclamation of the Word of God, the adult leader guides the children in
applying the Scripture's message to their own lives. Although some underscoring
of the passage's main elements may be appropriate, this reflection should not
take the form of repeating the Scripture in the leader's own words.
The age
level, attention span, and cognitive development of the children should be
considered in preparing the reflection.
The use of visuals will keep the
children's attention.
Questions which
draw out the children's own responses
and suggestions for the application of the Scripture to daily living will open
the children to new insights and prayerful reflection on the Christian life. If the group is small a dialogue format may
be used.
Separate
liturgies of the word provide an opportunity for active participation of
children growing in the faith of their parents.
Activities
which engage children to celebrate the word should appeal to their sensory abilities
and acquaint them with the symbols common to worship when the Church
gathers. Integrating the following is
encouraged:
* music and song to highlight the Scripture texts and messages;
* incense to appeal to their sense of smell;
* candles to appeal to their sense of sight;
* gestures and postures of reverence to appeal to their sense of
touch;
* processions, dance, or silence to help them interpret the mood
of the Scripture passages.
It is
fitting that the Profession of Faith be included in these liturgies of the word
with children. The Apostle's Creed may
be recited in place of the Nicene Creed.
A musical setting may be sung or if it is more in keeping with the
children's level of understanding, the leader could recite the creed, stopping
at the end of each of the three main tenets for the children to respond, We
believe.
The general
intercessions, often called prayers of
the faithful, are to be included in separate liturgies of the word with
children to acquaint them with the custom and obligation of the baptized to
pray for the needs of others. The
sequence of intentions should be:
* for the needs of the Church;
* for public officials and the salvation of the world;
* for those oppressed by any need;
* for the local community.
The general
intercessions may be prepared in advance or with the guidance of the adult
leaders the children may make their own spontaneous intentions. A sung response can foster participation.
As the
liturgy of the word with children comes to a close, one of the adult leaders
should observe the assembly to assess where they have progressed in their order
of worship. If the adults are still engaged in their celebration of the liturgy
of the word, the children should be guided in song or another prayer
activity. When the assembly has completed the general
inter-cessions the children should return in procession by way of the center
aisle to the places where their parents are seated.
1 Lectionary
for Masses with Children: Introduction,
n. 54.
2 Directory
for Masses with Children, n. 17.
3 LMCIn, n.
24.
4 LMCIn, n.
8.
5 LMCIn, n.
49.
6 DMC, n.
42.
7 LMCIn, n.
52.
8 LMCIn, n.
23.
Revised,
3/99.