Ministers of theLiturgy of the Word for

ChildrenWelcome

Please help yourselfto a cup of tea or coffee,

and take some time to chatand catch up with people

before we begin.

Prayer for A Year of GraceGracious God,

You have blessed this ancient land with many gifts, especially its people.We thank you for the Year of Grace,a time to start afresh from Christ.

You invite us to contemplate the face of Jesus your Son,that we may experience a new wave of grace,and that the light of Christ may burn more brightly in our lives. Attune our hearts and mindsto the presence of your Holy Spirit,

that our Church may be transformed,our relationships be healed, and our nation grow in compassion and justice.

With the intercession of St Mary MacKillop,who showed us new ways of living the Gospel,

we make our prayerthrough Christ our Lord. Amen.Mary, Help of Christians, pray for us.

Ministers of theLiturgy of the Word for

ChildrenFormation Workshop

Liturgy CommitteeOur Lady of Mount CarmelWentworthville

For Discussion• What is your experience of the

Liturgy of the Word for Children?

The Second Vatican Council

The Second Vatican Council

Provisions shall also be made, when revising the liturgical books, for legitimate variations and adaptations to different groups, regions, and peoples, especially in mission lands, provided that the substantial unity of the Roman rite is preserved; and this should be borne in mind when drawing up the rites and devising rubrics.Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, 38

The Directory for Masses With Children

• Congregation for Divine Worship, 1973

• Masses with Adults at Which Children Also Participate

• Masses with Children in Which Only a Few Adults Participate

The Directory for Masses With Children

• Two general principles

o Full, conscious and active participation

o Liturgy cannot be completely beyond level of understanding

Masses With Adults

Masses With AdultsSometimes, moreover, 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.Directory for Masses With Children, 17

Liturgy of the

Word for

Children

LiturgyWordChildren

• The public, communal worship of the Church

• A prayerful encounter with Christ

• Mirroring the ritual structure of the ‘adult’ liturgy

LiturgyWordChildren

• Listen to, break open, respond to the scriptures

• The word of God is living and active

• Christ speaks to us in the proclamation of the gospel

LiturgyWordChildren

• Adaptations to their level of understanding

• Explanations and involvement

• Directed towards children of primary school age

Liturgy of the

Word for

Children

For Discussion• Has what we have just considered

changed your understanding of the Liturgy of the Word for Children?

• How is it similar or different to our current practice here in Wentworthville?

Leading the Liturgy of the Word for Children at Mass

Preparation

• Resources in cupboard and online

• Biblical commentary can be downloaded from website

• Take time to reflect• Read all three

readings• Let God speak to

you through the Scripture

Before Mass• Make sure the roster is followed

−Organise a swap/replacement if you cannot make it

• Arrive in plenty of time to check-in, prepare and familiarise yourself

• Make sure the space is neat, tidy and prepared with anything you need on the day

• Place the Lectionary and candles in the church

Introductory Rites

• All children remain with their families and celebrate the entire Introductory Rites of the Mass with the assembly

• Priest calls children forward after Collect prayer

Liturgy of the Word• Gathering of children at the front of

the church• Sending forth by the priest• Procession to the room, led by the

candle bearers and a child carrying the Lectionary for Masses with Children− An acclamation may be sung by

the assembly as the children depart

Liturgy of the Word• Children sit and settle themselves in

room− Welcome and introduction may be

given

Liturgy of the Word• Readings

Optional

• Gospel AcclamationNot Alleluia in Lent

• Gospel• Homily/Reflection

Dialogue/Q&A can be used

Physical engagement can be used

Liturgy of the Word• Profession of Faith

− Options available, but must be official texts

• Prayer of the Faithful− There isn’t a set text, but should

end with similar toLord, hear us… Lord, hear our prayer.

• Concluding Remarks• Prepare to return to church

Liturgy of the Eucharist• All children return to the front of the

church− Priest addresses them− Invites them to return to their

families• Some of the children may participate

in offertory procession• All participate in the rest of Mass as

part of the liturgical assembly