Children’s Liturgy

ThankyouforacceptingtheinvitationfromyourChurchfamilytobecomeaMinister“AroundtheTable.”ServinginthisspecialwayhasaprofoundimpactonthewayourSt.PaulMissionStatement,“ToLiveAsTheBodyOfChrist,”comestolife.

ThepurposeoftheEucharisticLiturgy,aswellasallSacraments,istomakeusholy,tobuilduptheBodyofChristandtoworshipGod.TheLiturgy“nourishes,strengthensandexpressesfaith.”(CCC1123)Bysaying,“Yes”tothiscalling,Iagreetothefollowing:

ü IcommittoserveinthisoneLiturgicalMinistryforatwo-yearperiod.ü IunderstandtheimportanceofmyministryintheoverallmissionofourParish“ToLiveAsTheBodyOfChrist.”

ü IwillapproachtheCelebrationoftheEucharistwithaspiritoftheJoyofChrist.ü IwillpreparemyselfduringtheweekbeingreflectiveoftheupcomingReadingssothatIwillbepreparedspiritually,physicallyandemotionally.

ü IwillarriveontimeanddressappropriatelywhenIamscheduledtoserve.ü IwillfindareplacementintheeventIcannotserveatmyscheduledtime.ü WhenIamnotscheduledtoserve,Iwillbeabetterparticipantinthepewbybeingattentive,listening,andrespondingenthusiastically.

Bysigningbelow,Iagreetoalloftheabovestatements:Ministry:___________________________________________________________________Masspreference: 10:30onlyPrintedName: _____________________EmailAddress:____________________Signature: ____________________________________________________________Date: ____________________________________________________________

MINISTRYCOMMITMENT

PURPOSE

ThisMinistryManualisbeingprovidedtoallMinisters"AroundtheTable"tocreateabetterunderstandingandzealforauthenticworshipatSt.PaulParish.Thisinformationisnotonlyinstructionofhowtocarryouttheministry,buttobetterunderstandwhyweworshipthewaywedo.Wewanttorejuvenatethedeep,spiritualmeaningofbeingaparticipantinMass.AsSt.Augustinesaid,"Beholdwhatyouare.Becomewhoyoureceive."EverytimewecelebratetheSacredBanquettogether,wearefulfillingJesus'commandto"DothisinmemoryofMe."WebelievethattheRisenChrististrulypresentintheLiturgyinthePresider;intheHolyEucharistasHisrealpresenceofBodyandBlood;intheWordproclaimedfromtheSacredScriptures;andintheCommunitygatheredinHisName.Wewanttorediscovertheimportanceofcelebratingwithjoy,reverence,andessenceofthePaschalMystery.Fromthetimeoftheapostles,Christianshavecontinuallycometogethertocelebrate,tolistentoScripture,andtoofferThanksgiving.TheLiturgyisacommunalencounterofChristthatbringsusalltogetherasaSt.PaulFamily.Ourmaingoalistofosterfull,activeandconsciousparticipationintheLiturgicalCelebrationinordertoencountertheLivingGodintheWordandEucharist,thenreturntotheworldfulfillingourbaptismalcalltodiscipleship.Astrained,prayerfulLiturgicalMinisters,wewillhelpplantthatwhichGodwillgrow.Wedonotneedtoreinventanything.WedonotneedtodecidewhatLiturgywillbe.TheChurchhasalreadyplannedtheLiturgy.Itisnotashoworperformancethatpeoplecometoobserve.TheLiturgyisaSacredCelebrationofthePaschalMysterythroughwhichtheMysteryofChristamonguscomesaliveinallthepeoplepresent.Therefore,wewanttomakeourpreparationandattainmentoftheexperienceofLiturgyatSt.Paulapriority,notalast-minuteexecutionofdutiesandtasks.CCC1070states,"…everyLiturgicalCelebrationisanactionofChristthepriestandofthisBodywhichistheChurch,isasacredactionsurpassingallothers."WewanttorecognizeeverypersonwhojoinsourCelebrationasequal,necessarymembersoftheBodyofChrist.WewanteachandeverypersontobereceivedwithJoy.We,asMinisters,willservethemwithJoy.WewanttoalwaysbeawarethatJesusChrist,ourRisenLord,isindeedpresidingateachMass,proclaimingHisWord,sharingHisBodyandBlood,andsittingnexttousextendingHisHandinthesignofpeace.First,weaskyoutopersonallyprayregularlyforthesuccess,graceandinsighttomoveintheDivineFlowofmeetingChristinareal,personalwayasaMinisterofourParish.PrayerwillalwaysbetheheartofMinistry.Prayerservestocontinuallyrenewandstrengthenustoserveourbrothersandsisters.

AnawarenessofthesacrednessofyourMinistrywillnaturallyfollow.Weareprivilegedtohavebeencalledandinvitedtoserveinthisspecialway.ThegreatresultwillbeacontinualrenewalofourlovefortheEucharistandtheSacraments,andafruitfulweeklyexperienceofLiturgy.

THEMINISTRYOFCHILDREN'SLITURGYThisMinistryprovidesachild'sversionofLiturgyoftheWord,aprayerfulserviceforchildrenages2-5,thattakesplaceduring10:30Mass,atthesametimetheCommunityiscelebratingtheLiturgyoftheWord.ThisallowsthechildrentohavetheSacredWordofGodpresentedtotheminawaytheycanmoreeasilyunderstandandinawaytheycanparticipate.ItisnotclassroominstructionorcatechesisbasedontheWord.HistoryInsomeparishes,aseparateMasswastraditionallyheldforchildrenonSunday.ChildrenattendedMassthatwasconnectedwiththeircatechesiswhiletheirparentsattendedMassatadifferenttimeand/orlocation.IntheearlytwentiethcenturyaLiturgyoftheWordforchildrenbegantakingshape.ThefirstLectionaryforMasseswithChildrenwasdevelopedin1992.WhyChildren'sLiturgyisacelebrationoftheLiturgyoftheWordinafocused,age-appropriatemannerandenvironment.Thus,thechildrenwillbemoreactivelistenersandresponderstoGod'sWord.ThisopenstheseyoungpeopletohearandrespondtoGod'sWord,andtoexperiencetheGraceofbeingbetterabletoparticipateinthecelebrationoftheMass.TheywillgrowintheirrelationshipwithGodandbebetterabletoapplyHisWordintheiryounglives.ItalsohelpspreparethechildrenforparticipatingintheCatechesisoftheGoodShepherdReligiousEdprogram,beginningatage3.HowSincethisMinistryinvolvesyoungchildren,youwillneedtobeprepared,patientandattentivetothem.ReadthroughtheReadings(foundatwww.usccb.org)overthecourseoftheweekseveraltimes,prayaboutit,andasktheLordtorevealHisWordtoyousothatHemayuseyoutoreachthechildren.YouwilltakehomeacopyoftheChildren’sLiturgyWorkbooktheSundaybeforeyouarescheduled.StudythesuggestionsintheWorkbookwhichgivesyouwhatyouneedtoprepare.ReturntheWorkbooktotheSacristybeforeMassonyourdaytoProclaimsothatnextweek’sProclaimercanreceiveit.Itisimportanttofollowthewordsusedinthemainassembly,becausethiswillteachthechildrentoparticipatefullyintheMassastheygrowolder.Oneadult,theProclaimer,willleadtheChildren'sLiturgywiththeReadings,PsalmandtheGospel.Twoassistants(teens&adults)willhelpthechildrenremainfocusedandreverent.BeforeMass(ProclaimersandAssistants)

1. DressappropriatelysinceyouareservingattheTableoftheLord.Pleasedonotwearbluejeans,shorts,orcasualfootwear.Pleaseremembereventhoughyouarenotinthemainassembly,youarestillservingaroundthetableoftheLord.

2. Disposeofanygumorcandy.

3. Arriveatleast15minutesbeforeMasstime.a. PlaceachecknexttoyournameontheschedulesotheSacristanknowsyouhavearrived.

b. IfyouaretheProclaimer,leavetheworkbookintheSacristysoFatherhasitattheendofmasstogivetonextweek'sProclaimer.

c. CheckwiththeSacristanifthereisabaptismduringMass.d. GettheredChildren’sLiturgybinder*fromtheSacristyandtakeitwithyoutoMass.(*theredbinderthatlooksliketheredbookoftheGospels)

4. TakeamomenttoquietlypraytobethewelcomingpresenceofChrist.DuringMass1. WhenthecongregationisseatedaftertheprayingoftheCollect,Fatherwillinvitethechildrentogatherbeforehim.ThethreescheduledMinisterswillapproachwiththechildren.TheProclaimerwillcarrytheChildren'sLiturgybinder.Fatherwillofferaprayerandwordsofdismissal.Beforeturningawayfromthealtar,alltheadultswillsaytothechildren,"Bowtothealtar."Allwillbow,foldtheirhandsinto"prayerhands"andthenturntoprocessoutofthechurch.

2. TheProclaimerwillleadthechildreninaprocessiondownthecenteraisletothespacedesignatedforChildren'sLiturgy,holdinguptheChildren'sLiturgybinder.TheAssistantswillfollowbehindthechildrenhelpingthemstayinline.

3. AllChildren'sLiturgyMinistersshouldmaintain"prayerhands"whenprocessingoutandquietlyencouragechildrentodothesame.ProceedtotheAtriumintheFamilyLifeCenter.IfReligiousEducationisonabreak,theFamilyLifeCenterandtheAtriumwillbelocked.Thereare2keysintheredbinder.Onceyougetin,usethered

4. keytooltounlockthedoor,orkeepthedoorproppedopensotheusherscancomeintogetyouwhenitistimetoreturntomass.Makesurebothdoorsarelockedwhenyouleave.Thisisveryimportant!!!

5. Makethisaprayerful,reverentexperiencesothechildrenwillunderstandthatGodisspeakingthroughHisWordthatisbeingread.ThisisastructuredcelebrationmimickingandhappeningsimultaneouslywiththeCommunityLiturgyoftheWord.

CharacteristicsoftheCatechesisoftheGoodShepherd-importantinformationtounderstandtheatmosphereoftheAtrium.

• ThecatechistembracesMariaMontessori'svisionofthehumanbeingandthustheattitudeoftheadultregardingthechild;andpreparesanenvironmentcalledtheatrium,whichaidsthedevelopmentofthereligiouslife.

• Inharmonywiththeuniversalchurch,thelifeintheatriumfollowstheliturgicalyear.

• Theatriumisaplaceofprayer,inwhichchildrenandadultsjointogetherformeditation,contemplation,andprayer.Allshoesmustberemovedbeforeentering.

• Thechildrenandadultsshouldenterthespacequietlyandreverentlyastheyarepreparingtoenterasacredspace.

• TheatriumisaplaceinwhichtheonlyTeacherisChrist;bothchildrenandadultsplacethemselvesinalisteningstancebeforehisWordandseektopenetratethemysteryoftheliturgicalcelebration.

Assistants:

• ThemainjoboftheAssistantsistohelpmaintainaprayerfulatmospherebysettingagoodexamplewithprayerfulhandsandattentivenesstotheProclaimer,andbygentlyandquietlyhelpingthechildrenremainattentiveandsitting/standingasappropriate.

AssistantsandProclaimers:• HelpthechildrenpreparethemselvestoentertheAtriumbyhelpingthemremovetheirshoesandgettingthemsettledtoenterthespace.

• HavechildrenentertheAtriumandassisttheminwalkingonthetapedlinesandguidethemtotheprayerspace.

• InstructthechildrentoquietlytaketheirseatsastheyareinthepresenceofGod.• Proclaimer:setthetimerfor15min.(20minifthereisabaptism)Assistants:helptheProclaimerstayontimeandmonitorchildren

Proclaimer:• TurnonthecandleandtakeyourplaceattheAmbo.• Leadthechildreninsingingasimplehymntosetthetone.(JesusLovesMe)• Lookoutatthechildrentoletthemknowyouarebeginning.IntroducetheFirstReadingbysaying,"AReadingfromtheBookof_____________."

• Speakslowlyandclearly.MakeeyecontactwiththechildrenthroughouttheReading.Youwillknowitwellenoughtoconfidentlydothissinceyouhavepreparedallweek.

• WhenyoureachtheendoftheSacredText,holduptheBook,andsay,"TheWordoftheLord."AssistantsandProclaimerleadthechildreninresponding,"ThanksbetoGod."

• ThechildrenshouldremainseatedfortheResponsorialPsalm.Readtheversesandleadthechildreninrecitingtheresponse.

• ReadtheSecondReadinginthesamefashionastheFirstReading.• Instructthechildrentostandquietly.TheyshouldremainstandingfortheGospelReading.IntroducetheGospelbysaying,"AreadingfromtheHolyGospelaccordingto_______________."Allshouldleadthechildreninresponding,"GlorytoYou,OLord,"whilesigningthemselveswithacrossontheirforehead,lipsandheart.

• AttheconclusionoftheGospelReadingsay,"TheGospeloftheLord."Allshouldleadthechildreninresponding,"PraisetoYou,LordJesusChrist."Instructthechildrentoquietlybeseated.

• RemainattheAmboandspeaktothechildrenreflectingonandexplainingthereadings.GuidethechildrenindiscoveringthemeaningoftheSacredTextaswrittenintheworkbook.

• Next,instructthechildrentoquietlystand,andleadtheminrecitingtheProfessionofFaithusingtheNiceneCreed,sameasthemainassembly,andbowingattheappropriatepointintheprayer.

• Now,leadthechildreninsomePrayersoftheFaithfulprayingfortheneedsofourbrothersandsistersaroundtheworld.Allwillremainstanding.Endeachpetitionwith,"WepraytotheLord,"andleadthechildreninresponding,"Lord,hearourprayer."(Theresponseisdifferentintheworkbook,butwewantthechildrentosaythesamewordsthatwesayinMass.)ThisconcludestheChildren'sLiturgyoftheWord.Ifyoudohavetimeleft,youcanaskthechildreniftheyhavepersonalprayerrequests,summarizethelessonfromtoday,orsingsongswiththegroup.AnusherwillcometogetyouwhenitistimetoreturnbacktoMass.(Pleaseturnthecandleoff-placeitbackinitsplace,turnoffthelightsintheroom,andclosethedoor.Ifanythingwasusedfromtheatrium,makesureitgoesbackinthecorrectplace)

• GuidethechildreninwalkingquietlyoutoftheAtrium,justastheycamein.Assistanychildrenwithgettingtheirshoesonandremindingthemtoremainasquietaspossible.Makesurethechildrenwalkbacktothechurchinastraightline.Forsafetyreasons,oneassistantneedstoleadthemtothechurchwhiletheothervolunteerswalkwiththelineandbehindthechildren.Thechildrenshouldneverbetoldtogoaheadwithoutanadultleadingthem.

• ThechildrenshouldremainneartheEarlyLearningCentercafeteriauntilanushermotionsforyoutocomecloser.ThechildrenwillenterthemainassemblyafterthePrayersoftheFaithfularefinishedinthemainassembly.Keepthechildrenlineduptoquietlyprocessbacktobeseatedwiththeirfamilies.Tellthemtouseprayerfulhandsastheygobacktotheirseats.Bewatchfulforanyhavingdifficultyspottingtheirparents.

• ReturntheredChildren’sLiturgybindertotheSacristyaftermass.

Sacramentary-theBookthePriestusesduringMass

Chalicewithpatenandhost

Paten-platefortheHost

LargeHost-Tobeplaced

onFather'spaten

Ciborium–holdsthe

BodyofChrist

Cup–holdstheBloodofChrist

WineDecanter

Cruetforwater

Corporal–PlacedontheAltar

Purificators–usedtowipetheCupwhen

servingtheBloodofChrist

TabernacleandRedSacristyLight

Monstrance–HoldstheBlessedSacramentfor

ExpositionoftheEucharist