Worship Weblog

St. Augustine Book Group – First Meeting

Posted by cicw

Wednesday, September 30th, 2009

Book Groups

We invited 34 book groups across the U.S. and Canada to meet and discuss The Church of All Ages and its implications for their worship, and to share their notes here.
Learn more

“The Value of Separating Age Groups for Worship”

There was general consensus that, in Catholic worship, there is a preference for keeping children with adults in Sunday worship. Our conversation based itself on a concern that there could be the perception that it could be an “our Mass” and “their Mass” issue. Since in the longer Catholic tradition there is an emphasis that the Mass is one action at which all are to participate, there was a preference among those present to hold on to this model. Since one of the biblical foundations of the Christian faith is “unity,” it was thought that this mark of the Church should guide any congregation in preparing worship for its members. There were examples given, particularly of such groups as “LifeTeen” Masses which, in turn, make children’s and young adult’s transition to “adult worship” very difficult.

Acknowledging that the Catholic Church’s Directory for Masses with Children does permit a separate Liturgy of the Word for younger children, there was a consensus that those who lead such worship must have appropriate formation. Such formation must include the theological, liturgical, and scriptural aspects of worship, but also needs to include child development and psychology. Ultimately, since this is worship, it cannot be turned over to the well-intentioned volunteer.

Finally, as we reflected on chapter 3’s “Faith Development Stages,” it was thought that there needs to be a recognition that generally persons move in more of a “spiral” through the different stages. In the book, the stages seem to be explained as if they are more “static.”

Tags: bgstaugustine, Book Groups 2009, intergenerational