Catholic Life Ministries

By Robert Fontana

No, there is no such thing as “Present the Children to God Day.”  BUT I THINK THERE SHOULD BE!  … celebrated on February 2^nd or on the first Sunday in February.

February 2^nd is the Feast of the Presentation, a day when Catholics and other Christians remember the Biblical story of how Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the Temple in Jerusalem to present the newborn child to God:

When the days were completed for their purification – according to the law of Moses, they took him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord… Luke 2:22

Let’s do this with our kids and grandkids.  Let’s have a grand procession into the church with all the children of the Church.  Let them march in with balloons, streamers, and banners while playing horns, beating drums, and banging tambourines to make a joyful noise unto the Lord as did King David who entered Jerusalem in festive dance!  Let the entire Mass be filled with exuberant joy as we present our children to God, the children who are not simply the future Church, but the Church now as young ones discovering how much they are loved by God and how much God wants to use them to bring God’s love to the world of their daily lives.

It’s a simple message, but it needs to be done in an over-the-top fashion oriented towards children who are usually ignored by the adult way of doing things at Sunday Mass.  I read a study that by the time the average Catholic child is 11 or 12, he or she has checked out of Church, and Church / faith has very little or no meaning in her / his life.  Part of the problem is the dominant American culture, so alluring in its offerings for pleasure and material success.  These enticements can easily distract children and youth away from a life in the Spirit that can be far less tangible and, frankly, less fun.

But we Catholics and other Christians also make it hard for children and youth to find faith relevant to their lives because Sunday worship is something they must endure, and because the daily purpose of being a follower of Jesus is poorly understood.

We cannot change all this at one Sunday Mass and parish event.  But we can invite our parishioners, those families who are regular participants and those who come just at Christmas and Easter, to bring the children to church on the Feast of the Presentation (or the first Sunday of February) and join with the parish community in presenting the children to Godin imitation of Joseph and Mary.

What would such a presentation look like?

1. Let the presiding priest skip his processional entrance so that the focus is all on the children who are welcomed by Father and invited to process around the church as they make a joyful noise of song and praise. Banners, streamers, balloons can be prepared ahead of time, and children could be invited to bring from home any horn, drum and/or tambourine to carry with them up and down the aisles while the cantor leads the community in singing a joyous hymn such as Ode to Joy.
2. The ministries of lector, cantor, and choir could be filled by children who have been trained to do the readings and lead singing for the psalm response and songs.
3. Father could invite a few children who have prepared to help with the homily, to share stories of how they know that God loves them and how each tries to show that love in daily life.
4. During the preparation of gifts all the children could be invited to come forth and place canned goods in front of the altar to be given to the local food bank or St. Vincent de Paul Society.
5. Children could be invited to join Father around the altar and to repeat his gestures as he leads the community through the Eucharist prayer.
6. Children would then return to their seats after the Our Father to give their parents the sign of peace.
7. After communion the children would be invited to gather around the baptismal pool/font. The entire assembly then would extend hands over them as Father invites the Holy Spirit to come upon the children and invites the children to open their hearts to the Holy Spirit.  After concluding with “Amen,” the children bless themselves with the baptismal water and return to their parents.

Conclusion: Father would remind the children that they are the Church of today. God needs them and so does the community of faith. “Grab your instruments, children, and process with me out of the church to the parish hall to continue our celebration!”  After Mass, there would be cake and ice cream and fruit for all in the parish center, along with face painters to offer the emblems of an angel or a butterfly.

“Present your Child to God” Day is not an event on the Church calendar, but I think it should be!