Liturgy of the Word with Children (LWC)
LWC is the regular Sunday Liturgy of the Word adapted to make it easier for children to understand. LWC consists of 2 readings from the children's Lectionary, a sung Psalm response, sung acclamations, a homily, a profession of faith, and general intercessions. LWC is led by trained adults and teens of the parish who function as presiders, lectors, music persons, and helpers. LWC is geared to children ages 4 to about 12. Parents or older siblings may accompany young children, if they wish.
Our celebrations of Liturgy of the Word with Children (LWC) were suspended last March, 2020, as churches were closed to try and slow the spread of COVID-19. Re-opening churches is proceeding with caution.
We are offering something new for LWC - video taping and posting our celebrations online using the St. Paul Facebook page. The celebrations are designed so children at home can “participate” too! We hope to post our first online celebration on September 27th, for the 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time.
LWC is celebrated with children from 4 to about 12 years old and lasts about 15-20 minutes. For in-person celebrations during Mass, we usually have 3-4 adults helping the children with parts of the liturgy. So, children participating at home may need some help from parents, grandparents, and/or older siblings. Please consider celebrating with your child(ren) in order to enhance their experience. We look forward to “seeing” you on Facebook!
Let Us Pray
For more information, contact LWC coordinator, Marian Bermudez at mbermudez@neo.rr.com or 419-663-5036. If no answer, leave a message and she will return your call.
About This Ministry
~ Frequently-Asked Questions ~
~ Frequently-Asked Questions ~
What?
• The Liturgy of the Word portion of Sunday Mass celebrated with children at their level of
understanding.
• Children ages 4 to about 12 are invited to participate.
When?
• Two Sundays per month: 2nd Sunday during the 9:00 am Mass and the 4th Sunday during the
11:00 am Mass.
Where?
• Children gather for Sunday Mass with their families in Church. Then, after the Opening
Prayer, the children are led by their prayer leaders to the Parish Center Gathering Space.
They return to their families after the General Intercessions.
Who Leads Liturgy of the Word with Children (LWC)?
• PARISHIONERS JUST LIKE YOU! Please consider volunteering to help!
• Adults and teens of the parish.
What are the Leader Roles?
• There are 5 roles for each Liturgy of The Word with Children (LWC).
1. Presiders: Lead the LWC that day; read the Gospel; lead the children's homily.
2. Lectors: Proclaim the 1st reading at LWC.
3. Music Persons: Start the CD player for the Responsorial Psalm music and the Alleluia
before the Gospel.
4. Environment Persons: Help with set-up and take-down for LWC in the Gathering
Space.
5. Helpers: Help children enter and leave the Gathering Space; pass out and collect music
booklets and other materials.
• Leaders fill roles they are comfortable with.
What is the time commitment for LWC Leaders?
• Initial 2-hour training and planning session.
• Attend a one-hour meeting every 4 months to evaluate LWC sessions and plan the
schedule for the next 4 months. LWC team members choose dates and times for
these meetings.
• Help with one or two LWC celebrations during each 4-month period.
How can I get more information or volunteer for this ministry?
• Contact: Marian Bermudez at mbermudez@neo.rr.com or 419-663-5036. If no answer,
leave a message, and she will return your call.
• The Liturgy of the Word portion of Sunday Mass celebrated with children at their level of
understanding.
• Children ages 4 to about 12 are invited to participate.
When?
• Two Sundays per month: 2nd Sunday during the 9:00 am Mass and the 4th Sunday during the
11:00 am Mass.
Where?
• Children gather for Sunday Mass with their families in Church. Then, after the Opening
Prayer, the children are led by their prayer leaders to the Parish Center Gathering Space.
They return to their families after the General Intercessions.
Who Leads Liturgy of the Word with Children (LWC)?
• PARISHIONERS JUST LIKE YOU! Please consider volunteering to help!
• Adults and teens of the parish.
What are the Leader Roles?
• There are 5 roles for each Liturgy of The Word with Children (LWC).
1. Presiders: Lead the LWC that day; read the Gospel; lead the children's homily.
2. Lectors: Proclaim the 1st reading at LWC.
3. Music Persons: Start the CD player for the Responsorial Psalm music and the Alleluia
before the Gospel.
4. Environment Persons: Help with set-up and take-down for LWC in the Gathering
Space.
5. Helpers: Help children enter and leave the Gathering Space; pass out and collect music
booklets and other materials.
• Leaders fill roles they are comfortable with.
What is the time commitment for LWC Leaders?
• Initial 2-hour training and planning session.
• Attend a one-hour meeting every 4 months to evaluate LWC sessions and plan the
schedule for the next 4 months. LWC team members choose dates and times for
these meetings.
• Help with one or two LWC celebrations during each 4-month period.
How can I get more information or volunteer for this ministry?
• Contact: Marian Bermudez at mbermudez@neo.rr.com or 419-663-5036. If no answer,
leave a message, and she will return your call.
Background of This Ministry
The vision for this ministry with our children comes from two main sources: 1) The Directory for Masses with Children, which was approved by Pope Paul VI in 1973, and 2) Introduction: Lectionary for Masses with Children, which was approved by Pope John Paul II in 1992.
One key point mentioned in The Directory for Masses with Children is that, particularly at Sunday Masses, “it is necessary to take great care that the children present do not feel neglected because of their inability to participate or to understand what happens and what is proclaimed in the celebration. . . Sometimes, it will be appropriate to celebrate the liturgy of the word, including a homily, with the children in a separate, but not too distant, room.” (#17)
Another point – “The Directory is concerned with children who have not yet entered the period of pre-adolescence.” (#6) Because of this point, our LWC program will invite children from the ages of about 4 to about 12 years.
One key point mentioned in The Directory for Masses with Children is that, particularly at Sunday Masses, “it is necessary to take great care that the children present do not feel neglected because of their inability to participate or to understand what happens and what is proclaimed in the celebration. . . Sometimes, it will be appropriate to celebrate the liturgy of the word, including a homily, with the children in a separate, but not too distant, room.” (#17)
Another point – “The Directory is concerned with children who have not yet entered the period of pre-adolescence.” (#6) Because of this point, our LWC program will invite children from the ages of about 4 to about 12 years.
"Liturgy of the Word with Children is first and foremost a worship experience...it is not a new or different type of religious education. Nor is it a new rite. It is a concerned and sensitive way to enable children to participate in the formal worship experience of the community. The celebrations of these liturgies are intended to form children in the liturgical language of the Church, to nourish and guide their spiritual growth, and to immerse them in the Word in ways that are understandable to them.”
(from: Celebrate the Good News by Maureen Kelly, p. 4)
(from: Celebrate the Good News by Maureen Kelly, p. 4)
