Children at Mass

Many mothers will sympathise with Mrs Halligan's difficulty in taking her young family to Mass. (January 19). I he basis tor the solution, I suggest, lies in the CTS pamphlet "The Directory on Children's Masses". Here possibilities are laid Out by Rome.
At adult Masses where children
are present the directory says: "... if the necessary facilities are available it would be appropriate to have a special Liturgy of the Word and homely for the children in a separate place ..." The Directory also has many
other ideas for helping children at Mass. Some parishes have already begun; here in Sevenoaks we have a team of mothers and others who
conduct the Liturgy of the Word for children aged four to nine. On big feasts such as Palm Sunday we have a procession with home-made banners. Sometimes children's•work is displayed or used in an offertory procession. Sometimes young children gather round the altar for the Consecration. Hymns suitable for children are gradually being introduced, the "Our Father" is sung. The possibilities are far-reaching. We do not aim at novelty but at "a deeper communion with the mystery of salvation". With the encouragement and advice of the priests; the enthusiasm and imagination of the helpers, the patience of the congregation and the responsiveness of the children the Mass can become a joy shared by friends.
We do not pretend to have all the answers or to get everything "right", but we try to trust that the Holy Spirit will till in the gaps. At least we are trying to give Him room to move. Patricia M. Harman Sevenoaks, Kent
Mrs Halligan's letter ("Children at Mass". Jan 18) has raised two important issues which affect the lives of all Catholic families.
I. How can a family with young children worship regularly as a family without incoveniencing other members of the congregation? 2. How can young children be involved in the liturgy of the Mass?
Perhaps a children's room, preferably near the altar, in every church would enable far more young families to go the Mass and play a more active part in parish life.
With two children under the age of three we travel past two Catholic churches each Sunday to go to a third, four miles from our home, which has a children's room, thanks to which we can attend Mass as a family.
Being commuter Catholics denies us any sense of belonging to a parish, and for our children means that they will start school — the local parieh school — in a completely strange environment.
Could we appeal on behalf of all parents of young children that more attention be paid to this problem. Ought not every parish to make sows provision for children under school age with a view to encouraging their participation in the liturgy? Could we not also encourage the positive signs of recognition of young children at Mass, eg, the blessing when they accompany parents to Communion?
Barbara McGowan Paul McGowan Coventry