PLEASE NOTE:
The new session of Children's Liturgy will commence on Sunday 3rd September 2023 at the 10am Mass.  Children in their pre-school years of nursery, up to and including children in Primary 4, are eligible to attend.

As always at the start of the new session, we are looking for volunteers to assist with this special Ministry. If you are interested or wish to find out more about what's involved, please contact Catherine Senior, the Children's Liturgy    Co-ordinator (Tel: 07555 094304 or by email: c.m.senior@talk21.com), for further information.

Please give serious consideration to this request as we are always searching for new leaders and it is a good way to be involved in our Parish community. It should be noted that anyone   working with children in the Parish, must be a PVG scheme member, and it is also mandatory, that volunteers attend child protection training - however, this process can be easily arranged through the Parish/Diocese.                                                                                                    
                      

Children in their pre-school year up to and including children in Primary 4 are eligible to attend. Children should be brought into the Parish Hall by their parents/grandparents/carers etc. before Mass begins. This is to ensure that all children are settled and we are ready to commence our Liturgy at the same time as Mass commences in Church.

In addition, it will also be necessary to register your child's details etc. when you bring your child into the Hall, so that we can build up a register of all children attending.  We look forward to welcoming the children each week and hope to see many new faces too...

Children’s Liturgy usually takes place at the 10am Mass and runs from the first Sunday in September until the end of June, except during school holiday periods. Children in their pre-school year  and children in Primary Classes 1-4, are eligible to attend. Children in Primary 4 usually attend liturgy until Easter. Thereafter they stay in the Church to participate fully in the Mass, in preparation for the Sacrament of First Holy Communion which usually takes place during the month of May.

What is Children’s Liturgy of the Word?

Children’s Liturgy of the Word is suitably adapted to make it relevant to the lives and experiences of young children.  One of the aims of celebrating The Liturgy of the Word is to help them to participate fully in the liturgy of the Parish through enabling them to come to an understanding of the way that liturgy works and introducing them to the significant signs and symbols used during Mass. It gives them the opportunity to understand the Gospel message and participate in the Eucharistic celebration at their own level.

Children’s Liturgy of the Word is not a creche nor is it a way of keeping children occupied while adults listen to Canon Cameron in peace!  The structure of the Liturgy of the Word is therefore the same as at the “adult” Liturgy of the Word, bearing in mind the children’s developmental levels and spiritual maturity. The children participate in the Rite of Penance and the Gospel they hear is the same as the one you will hear, albeit in suitably adapted language.

Following the Gospel, the Leader for that day engages the children in interactive discussion, sometimes with the aid of props, to help them understand the Gospel message.  Usually, the children will have an activity sheet to complete, which helps them further understand the Gospel message.  If there is insufficient time for the children to complete their activity, we ask the children to take their sheet away to finish off at home. 

We would encourage parents/carers to engage with their children after Mass, asking them what they learnt in Liturgy that day and what activity they were involved in.

Children’s Liturgy of the Word also involves a lot of singing and the children are always eager to learn new songs, preferably with actions!  The children also sing on the altar at Christmas and Easter.

Our Leaders & Child Protection:
We currently have a team of leaders supported by senior pupils from Saint Ninian’s High School.  All leaders have undergone level 1 PVG training, and are PVG Scheme members. These are mandatory requirements for all volunteers working with children and vulnerable groups in the Diocese of Paisley. The Leaders take it in turn to lead the liturgy every Sunday.  The role of the Leader is to:

• preside over the celebration
• welcome the children
• proclaim the Gospel
• lead the reflection on the Gospel
• conclude the celebration.

CHRISTMAS APPEAL 2022:
Children's Liturgy & Glasgow the Caring City Charity

Some of you may be aware that annually, during the season of Advent, the children who attend the Children's Liturgy bring Christmas gifts for distribution to this organisation. The charity which was set up in 1999, seeks to help children in crisis both at home and overseas. The gifts which the children bring are then distributed by the charity to needy families in the West of Scotland in time for Christmas.  For some children, this may be the only present that they receive and the charity are always extremely grateful for any gifts that are donated from our Parish.

If you require any further details, please do not hesitate to contact Catherine Senior
phone: 07555 094304 or by email:  c.m.senior@talk21.com.   Thank you for your support