Children's Liturgy of the Word

The Children's Liturgy of the Word Group meets each Sunday (except during school holidays) at the 11.00am Mass.  It welcomes children between the ages of 3 and 10 years old.

Our aim is to bring the children together in a happy and comfortable environment to celebrate the Liturgy of the Word in a way which is easier for them to understand, in order to pass on our faith to them.

How do we do this? At the beginning of Mass, the priest invites children to come to the altar where we gather to sing our opening hymn. The children then go into the sacristy, where they are divided into infant and junior groups.

Do the children follow the Mass? Yes, both groups follow a format which mirrors that of the adult Mass, but using language and illustrations that are more suited to the ages of each group. The junior group offer further support to those children who are preparing to receive the sacraments of Reconciliation and Holy Eucharist, or who have recently received them.

We begin with the Penitential Rite (saying sorry), taking the form of a simple prayer.

This is followed by the introduction to the Gospel, drawing upon the children’s own experiences in relation to the Gospel for the day. The Gospel reading is the same one that the adults will hear. Unlike the adults, the children will have the opportunity to question and to talk about the Gospel story. Then we have a practical activity – drawing, colouring, word searches or puzzles – related to the theme of the Mass and also pointing towards the following week. The children return to church at the Offertory, taking part in the procession before going back to the benches again.

We are always very happy for new children to come along and join in!

If you would like to know more about the children's Liturgy of the Word, either as a parent or volunteer, please click here and choose "Children's Liturgy of the Word” from the list of options.