tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8994073177496022401.post6328889099388688653..comments2024-03-27T15:00:33.760+00:00Comments on Catholic Commentary: Children at MassJoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09339499088443959192noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8994073177496022401.post-55804556389737207462010-11-10T23:01:36.086+00:002010-11-10T23:01:36.086+00:00Valle Adurni makes a useful contribution to the di...<i>Valle Adurni</i> makes a useful contribution to the discussion about children in Church when he describes his own commitment, as a parish priest, to being involved in the catechesis of children rather than just leaving it to lay catechists alone.<br /><br />My own reflection was intended to address the question of participation rather than just that of behaviour, but <i>Valle Adurni</i>'s pastoral strategy is certainly one that contributes to growing genuine participation.<br /><br />His post can be found here: http://valleadurni.blogspot.com/2010/11/rowdy-children.htmlJoehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09339499088443959192noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8994073177496022401.post-60223110442123868492010-11-03T14:25:47.995+00:002010-11-03T14:25:47.995+00:00Anonymous:
Thank you for your observation.
The ...Anonymous:<br /><br />Thank you for your observation. <br /><br />The question of school admissions does in all likelihood encourage some families to attend Mass when they might otherwise not do so. <br /><br />However, even for these famiies, I think it is harsh to suggest that they have no level of belief at all. It might not be the deepest and strongest - but in most cases my experience suggests that there is some degree of genuine belief.<br /><br />My experience also suggests that what I describe reaches beyond such families, to families whose Mass attendance is not motivated by the question of school admissions.Joehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09339499088443959192noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8994073177496022401.post-86840798696675190362010-11-01T18:52:26.235+00:002010-11-01T18:52:26.235+00:00I wonder how much of this has to do with the fact ...I wonder how much of this has to do with the fact that some families are just attending church in order to win a place for their child in a Catholic school. They don't care about introducing the child to the religion because they don't believe in it themselves. <br /><br />To them, Mass attendence is just a household chore like putting the rubbish out for the dustmen.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8994073177496022401.post-36416521677110487282010-10-30T23:41:03.972+01:002010-10-30T23:41:03.972+01:00As the father of (now grown-up) children I agree w...As the father of (now grown-up) children I agree with you here absolutely. The way children generally behave at mass is largely reflective of the relationship the parents have with them. The comedienne Victoria Wood once expressed her puzzlement at why parents found it necessary to take their children to supermarkets in order to slap them! It never ceases to amaze me how the parents of children badly behaving in mass ignore them- and, judging by the glazed facial expressions, everyone and everything else as well. All young children can be fractious at times but part of the vocation of being a parent is the immense privilege of introducing one's children to what is truly important in life.Patriciushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08906131174326742939noreply@blogger.com