Description: Taking children under 5 to Mass can be stressful for young families. This event provides a relaxed atmosphere to gather families with young children for Mass at an alternate site followed by a potluck dinner. Volunteers lead children in a Lenten craft activity and games. Families can worship together and have an opportunity to meet and create community with others.
Get Ready
- Prep Time: Begin planning this event two-three months in advance and reserve a space for the Mass, ask a priest to preside and secure music ministers.
- Volunteers Needed: Recruit four-eight volunteers for this program. Ask volunteers to commit to specific tasks as you begin planning. Depending on the size of the group, you might ask a lead volunteer in each category to recruit assistance. Or if you have a small group, volunteers might play more than one role:
- Mass volunteers — to set up chairs for Mass and prepare the altar.
- Dinner volunteers –– to set up tables and chairs for dinner and set up buffet for potluck meal.
- Welcome volunteers — to greet people and distribute nametags.
- Craft volunteers –– to play games and help with crafts after dinner.
- Clean-up volunteers — to help with clean up and rearranging the room.
- Supplies: Nametags, markers, signage (if entry to event or restrooms aren’t clearly marked), plates, cups, napkins, utensils, tablecloths, serving utensils, beverages, paper towels (for spills), Mass supplies, crayons, placemats for coloring (see Ideas section), craft supplies (see Ideas section), a variety of games for young children (e.g., bean bag toss, Candy Land or other board games, toy cars, blocks, rubber balls, puzzles), table tents (see Recommends section)
- Reserve the Space: You should reserve a gym or cafeteria with space for Mass and the potluck dinner.
- Ideal Group Size: Anywhere from 10-40 families.
- Who is this for? Young adults with young children under 5, but all young adults are welcome to volunteer.
- When is a good time for this? Saturday after 4 p.m.
- Publicize the Program:
- As soon as you have the space reserved, prepare flyers, bulletin announcements and e-mail initiations to the event. Hang flyers on bulletin boards and in the parish hall (see Recommends section for a sample flyer).
- Send flyers to the parish school for pre-K or kindergarten parents.
- Advertise in baptismal classes and the nursery at your parish.
- Ask a few key young adult parents to share invitations to this event with other young families they know — via school, mommy-and-me groups, or other young family networks they have.
Prayer for Program Planner: Gracious and loving God, help me to be open to the needs of young families in our parish. May this event draw each person closer to you and may our families grow in community with one another. Amen.
Community Building: This event provides young families with a chance to worship with other young families in a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere. Families are able to meet each other at Mass and over dinner.
