St. Anthony of padua
Children’s Liturgy of the Word:
Bringing Young Parishioners into Jesus’ Kingdom
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hildren hold a special place in Jesus’ kingdom. In the Gospel of Matthew, people bring their children to Jesus for healing — “Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these” (Matthew 19:14). This is why we are pleased to offer Children’s Liturgy of the Word during Sunday Mass. This program helps children hear the same message as the rest of the congregation in a simpler and more age-appropriate way. Children of preschool age and younger gather in the front before the readings, process out, and go for their own learning time until after the homily in the chapel. Teachers use a special lectionary that puts the readings and Gospel into simpler terms. “This gives the children an opportunity to talk about the readings and Gospel right away,” says Vicki Wittland, who coordinates Children’s Liturgy of Word along with Carrie Potter. “I think they can retain it better then.” “I appreciate our children having the opportunity to listen to the Gospel in a way that is fun and interactive,” Carrie adds. The children also have time to go through questions related to what they heard, as well as go over a coloring worksheet that includes a weekly message. Both Vicki and Carrie feel blessed to offer this opportunity to children at our parish. They know it’s important to offer the children an engaging lesson that speaks to them on their level. Vicki and Carrie say that they’ve learned to look at some Bible stories in a new way thanks to the perspectives of the children. “Teaching is so fun for me,” Vicki says. “Sometimes, the kids may say something that I never thought about, and it causes me to look at it
a different way. Sometimes, it’s a great way to look at it.” “My faith has been strengthened from teaching the kids because they’ll see a different perspective of the reading or they will find an example of how it relates to their lives,” Carrie says. “It warms my heart!” Overall, being with the children and teaching them the faith is a beautiful experience for Carrie and Vicki, and they appreciate the opportunity to help children navigate the Mass. Above all, they strive to help the children build a strong foundation in the faith, for life. “It’s great to teach and explain Scripture to the children, and then for them to share their understanding and knowledge with me,” Carrie says. “These kids are so smart and knowledgeable of the Church’s teachings!”
If you would like more information about Children’s Liturgy of the Word, or to get involved, please call Carrie Potter at 217-257-5278 or Vicki Wittland at 217-223-3610. Vicki and Carrie would like to have at least four teachers so each would only teach once per month.
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