Do you remember going to church as a child? Did you "get" the liturgy? The readings and homily may have been confusing and seemed to go on forever. At Our Lady of the Sioux Church in Oglala, South Dakota, they are making Mass more memorable for the children with a Children's Liturgy.
Thanks to volunteers, such as Sr. Ann Marie Levangie and Erin Anderson, children are able to attend their own Liturgical Service that is geared to their level of understanding. They begin with a blessing in front of the entire congregation, and then split into two age appropriate groups. Once in their individual rooms, they begin with a prayer, work their way through the readings and follow up with an activity.
Children as young as two years old sit quietly through the readings and are engaged in the follow up activity, ranging from coloring sheets to connect-the-dots , based on that day's readings. While children work on these activities, they sing songs, answer questions and discuss the readings, and basically enjoy a fellowship with other young Christians.
The response to this program has been phenomenal, with the congregation noticing an increase in attendance by families Shannon Grooms is a member of Our Lady of the Sioux Church. She taught Religion at Red Cloud Elementary School for four years until the birth of ther daughter. Shannon, her husband, and her daughter live on a ranch nine miles north of Oglala, SD. Join us in our mission of educating the mind and spirit of the Lakota people, now and for future generations. Please consider an online gift. |
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Parish News: Bringing the Liturgy to Children