(LifeSiteNews) — A free gift to give this Christmas season and throughout the year is helping parents with young kids at church.
This post is a bit self-serving, I suppose, since I have two young kids. But I’ve never had trouble at my own church with having help. In fact, my positive experiences informed a few pieces of advice I offer to you, the reader, on ways you can give gifts to parents.
First, see if, with your priest’s permission, there is a way to record the homilies for distribution after Mass to the church community. Simple audio recorders are inexpensive and easy to operate. Computers typically have easy-to-use editing equipment and, in any case, someone at the parish is likely tech-savvy enough to do this. The parents who have to take kids in and out of church (partially for your benefit to keep the noise down) will appreciate it.
Second, offer to keep an eye on kids while the parents go to confession before, during, or after Mass. (Or don’t offer – I told a male friend during Mass recently to hold my youngest while I went to confession. It all worked out.)
This requires a level of trust and understandably parents are wary to let just anyone watch their kids. Part B to this suggestion is to introduce yourself to other people at church, invite them over, and get to know each other. Even parishioners without young kids want to know other people at their church.
Third, if it is not possible to watch the kids while their parents go to confession, be open to letting the parents go ahead of you in the confession line. A kind Catholic, seeing my wife and I had two small kids, let me go ahead of him during confession after daily Mass at a nearby church. I am not offended if people don’t do this – other people have responsibilities, too, particularly on a weekday, and may need to go to work or get back home. But if it is possible to let a parent go ahead of you, they will appreciate it.
Also, just look for ways to help out, even if they may seem small. Maybe as an older male you wouldn’t feel comfortable offering to watch a two-year-old. But you can offer to carry a diaper bag, open the door for a mom, or offer some religious books for them to give their kids.
Another idea is to organize a meal train for new moms. And I don’t just mean first-time moms – I mean anytime someone has a baby. This is a great opportunity anyone can participate in – even if you do not know how to cook, you can buy a frozen meal from the grocery store or from a restaurant.
Small gestures show the parents you are glad they bring their kids to Mass. I know of at least one Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter (FSSP) church that has free diapers and wipes in the bathroom. It doesn’t really matter if parents even need them for their babies – that simple display is enough to show families that someone is thinking of them.
Also, anyone can not turn around when a kid screams. The parents hear the kid screaming, they don’t like it any more than you do, and staring at them does not help. Offer up a Hail Mary for them instead.
Which leads to a final point: Remember that the young kids today in church are literally the future. They may be the priest who administers last rites, or the nun who prays for your soul while you are in purgatory. They are the future Catholic apologists, catechists, and guardians of the faith. They may be the pope one day (the person who will be pope in 2080 is now likely about five years old).
But their parents need your help first.
