Children’s Liturgy of the Word: Accompanying Our Young Parishioners on the Journey to Christ

As Isaiah 54:13 says, “All your children shall be taught by the LORD; great shall be the peace of your children.”

Children’s Liturgy of the Word provides a wonderful way for our children to learn about the Lord. Held during 10:30 Sunday Mass, the ministry exists in order to give children in preschool through first grade the chance to encounter the Word of God in a way that speaks to them. It’s part of the parish’s commitment to serving our children by helping them grow in their relationship with the Lord.

“We are helping children to learn the Liturgy of the Word, giving them a chance to engage with one another, to grow in friendship, to learn to pray, and are preparing them to listen to God’s Word when they attend Mass,” says Joy Timmons, who has been involved in this ministry since 2018. “We want the program to be both fun and helpful, and through it to let them know that the Church will always be there for them, offering them grace and wisdom to help them along the way.”

During the program, the Liturgy of the Word is broken down into a simplified form for the children.

“It’s easier for them to learn in that way, and I enjoy experiencing it through their eyes and seeing how they respond,” Joy says.

Each week at Sunday Mass, children are called forward before the Gospel reading and then gather into two age groups in the parish office. They say a prayer and then go through an activity booklet that has the reading for the day, a coloring activity, and a homily. They return to their parents before Communion.

Volunteers rotate through a schedule for leading the activities.

“When you sign up, you are placed on a bi-monthly schedule where you are assigned to help every other month,” Joy says. “It’s good for children to hear the Word of the Lord from other people. Depending on where they go to school, perhaps they’ve heard it from a teacher, or once a week from a priest, but when they hear it from another adult it helps them to see that it’s the whole community of parishioners that care about them and their growth in the Church. It’s good for them to experience multiple people, not just the same people, sharing about the Word of God.”

Additionally, each teacher brings unique personal gifts to the ministry.

In Matthew 19:14, Jesus says, “Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” Seeing how the children come to the Lord in prayer has brought Joy closer to the Lord herself.

“Being around younger hearts and minds is beautiful,” Joy says. “They’re closer to God. It’s beautiful to see kids talk about God and how they perceive God in their life. They are so truthful in their prayers — they are not trying to sway with their words.

“It’s affirming to see through younger eyes,” she adds. “They are grateful for little things — the things that are present every day, such as the flowers outside or their siblings and parents. They’re not thinking of tomorrow, but they’re fresh out of the day and are talking about their morning being so great.”

Joy has witnessed the lasting effect of teaching kids how to pray early and routinely in their lives. As Proverbs 22:6 says, “Train the young in the way they should go; even when old, they will not swerve from it.” A mother of three, Joy is grateful to see that prayer has remained a bedrock for her eldest daughter, even though, at 20, she’s now out of the house.

“She prays in the morning, and when she gets in her car, and when she goes to bed,” Joy says. “We text each other prayer intentions and Scripture verses.”

Having encountered prayer so much at her school and church while growing up, Joy’s daughter has stayed close to God.

In addition to helping little ones understand what’s happening at Mass, Children’s Liturgy of the Word also allows the adults they come with to be able to hear the Word of God and the homily uninterrupted.

This ministry is always looking for more volunteers, including young adults.

“Everybody has a fun take on the Word of God, and a different personality,” Joy says. “Kids have a fun time being led by different adults. There’s not a lot of preparation required. You’ll receive the booklet with the readings to use and activities for the kids to work on.”

If you would like to help out or find out more information about this ministry, please contact Joy Timmons at joylitatimmons@yahoo.com or 812-204-0718.

Joy Timmons with her family