Fr. Todd Bulletin Article 5/3/26

Dear St. Mary on the Lake and Sacred Heart,

                 This weekend I want to continue sharing some tips for our families bringing little ones to Mass.  If you didn’t happen to see last week’s bulletin a reminder- For all our families with young kids: You are welcome at Mass!  Not just welcome- you are wanted at Mass!  A few weeks ago, our parishioner Bea Cuthbertson stopped by and we were rejoicing at all the young families and kids we have been seeing at Mass.  She later shared some bits of wisdom that had been passed onto her by her own Mom.  I wanted to pass them along should they be of any help for you besides the encouragement to always come.  So, a continuation from last week:

1. Hold the little ones on your lap when they start to get wiggly. A little snuggle or touch can do wonders to calm a wiggler. The heartbeat of a parent is music to a baby.

2. Try not to leave until it’s absolutely necessary. If you take a child out of Mass when they first start acting up, you send the signal that you will take them out whenever they do so. Stick to it and keep looking forward as best you can. They will see your focus is up front and they will eventually catch on.

3. For older ones, try shifting places if needed so you can put your arm around them, hand on their knee, or some other sort of gentle, calming touch. This shows them your expectation is to be calm and still, and the touch of a hand held or something can do the trick. Moving them closer to mom or dad shows you noticed behavior that may not have been your family’s goal for Mass. [I laugh when I hear the parental finger snap.]

4. When wiggling continues, bring them close and whisper in their ear. Remind them you love them. Then point out things around the church they can look for. “Do you see any candles?” “I see red in a window, can you find it?” “Look at Father – his vestments are purple today!”

 When we went to different churches on vacation or were visiting family, we would remind our kids to pay attention and that we would be doing what I called “same and different” after Mass. When Mass was finished, we’d all sit back in the pew for others to leave. Then, we would go down the line and point out something we noticed during Mass or in the church that was the same as our home parish, and something that was different. This gave them something to watch for while teaching them the continuity of our Catholic faith, where Mass is celebrated the same – yet differently – every day.

  What can happen in all this is an encounter with the Lord.  I love this story Rich Budd shared about bringing his little kids to Mass. “Three weeks ago, as the consecration of the Mass was taking place, I heard my 5-year-old say something under his breath. I thought he was fooling with a nearby sibling, so I reminded him to pay attention to what was transpiring at the altar. Then the consecration of the Precious Blood took place, and I heard him muttering something again. This time, it occurred to me that he was speaking a prayer and so I asked him what he was saying. He matter-of-factly stated, “Dear God, come here, I love you.”

You may have other tips and tricks that you have found- please feel free to pass them on!

God Bless, Fr. Todd