We would love to be able to consistently offer childcare for our Sunday 11AM Mass, however per our commitment to safe environments for our children, we always need two adults in the childcare room at all times. We have tried to hire people for these positions with no luck, so we thought about trying a “co-op” style approach.
Many hands make for less work, so we are inviting the parents who use this service to sign up to volunteer for a few Sundays each year. Teen assistants are needed too. Thank you for your prayerful consideration of this service to our children and families.
If you would like to volunteer, please visit this Sign up Genius link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0B48AAAA2FA2F85-ctr11am
A background check and attending a Protecting God’s Children (PGC) Workshop are mandatory. PGC workshops are now available both on-line or in person. Register at this link: https://protect.aod.org/protecting-gods-children.
CHILDCARE for infants, toddlers and 3-year-olds is in the Matthew 1 room in the Education wing near the library. Teen and adult volunteers are always needed and welcome.
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To the Parents of our Young Children,
Please feel free to Relax! God put the wiggle in your children; don’t feel you have to suppress it in God’s house. All are welcome! Sit toward the front where it is easier for your little ones to see and hear what’s going on at the altar. They tire of seeing the backs of others’ heads. Quietly explain the parts of the Mass and actions of the priest, altar servers, choir, etc. Sing the hymns, pray and voice the responses. Children learn liturgical behavior by copying you.
If you have to leave Mass with your child, feel free to do so, the Gathering Space and the Reconciliation Room certainly can serve as cry spaces or places to nurse when needed, but we hope you won’t begin there or stay there throughout the whole Mass. We want the children to be with us when we pray, and among us in the main church is their rightful place as much as anyone else’s. As Jesus said, “Let the children come to me.” The way we welcome children in church directly affects the way they respond to the Church, to God, and to one another. Let them know that they are at home in this house of worship. The presence of children is a gift to the Church and they are a reminder that our parish is growing.
Coming to Mass every week (or as often as possible) getting dressed up, greeting friends, eating donuts after Mass, listening to live music with real instruments, and singing and praying together really help our children to consider this place ‘home.’ Our children’s presence is good for others too; for some members of our wider community who perhaps don’t get to see the energy and vitality of youth but once a week, your child’s presence may be a very deep and real experience of the sacred.
So, just because your kids are a little fussy or distracted, please don’t deprive us of their valued and important presence…or yours!