--- title: An Open Letter to the Young Parents at Mass description: Christine Johnson offers encouragement to parents who bring their families to Mass even while the Sunday obligation is lifted due to the pandemic. image: https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/20210506%20CJohnson%201.png --- [![catholic-mom-logo-v2](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/images/catholic-mom-logo-v2.svg "catholic-mom-logo-v2")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) [![search-icon](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/search-icon.svg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/an-open-letter-to-the-young-parents-at-mass#) [PARENTING](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/tag/parenting) # An Open Letter to the Young Parents at Mass May 6, 2021 1:00:00 PM  |  by [Christine Johnson](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/christine-johnson) ![featured image](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/20210506%20CJohnson%201.png) *Christine Johnson offers encouragement to parents who bring their families to Mass even while the Sunday obligation is lifted due to the pandemic.* Hi, there, moms and dads. I can hear your family at the back of the half-empty church, and I want you to know something.  I’m not annoyed by your fussy babies and toddlers. In fact, at a time when you have the option of taking the dispensation and watching at home where the kids can play, I’m grateful for you. I’m so glad you’re at Mass on Sunday morning, masked up and socially distanced from non-family members. I know you’re probably even more hyper-aware of every little squawk or squeal your little ones let out.  But I’m happy to hear it.  ![20210506 CJohnson 1](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/20210506%20CJohnson%201.jpg?width=1280&name=20210506%20CJohnson%201.jpg)   I’m overjoyed with families who are making this effort to get to Mass every week when it’s easier to watch the livestream. I’m happy to hear little ones who are at Mass, even if they don’t understand and even if they are fussy sometimes. What you’re doing is building a strong foundation to your children’s spiritual lives, even if it doesn’t feel like much.  You’re showing your children that coming to Mass in person is important. You’re teaching them that faith has value. They’re learning that it’s worth the extra effort to worship together and receive Christ in the Eucharist.   ![20210506 CJohnson 2](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/20210506%20CJohnson%202.jpg?width=1280&name=20210506%20CJohnson%202.jpg) > [Click to tweet: > You’re showing your children that coming to Mass in person is important. You’re teaching them that faith has value. #catholicmom](https://ctt.ac/elArf)   I wish I could talk with you after Mass and tell you this, but it’s so hard when we’re trying to space out and we’re being dismissed row by row after Mass. So that’s why I wanted to write to you today and tell you this:  ***Hang in there. Keep up the good work. And I hope we’ll be able to hang out at the parish picnic in The After.*** ![20210506 CJohnson 4](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/20210506%20CJohnson%204.jpg?width=960&name=20210506%20CJohnson%204.jpg)  If you are looking for some resources for your young children at Mass, please check out [Catholic Mom’s Sunday Gospel activities.](https://www.catholicmom.com/sunday-mass-activities) (Family tested for decades! My own children used to color and fill in the Q&A when they were little.) --- Copyright 2021 Christine Johnson Images (from top): Header image, Canva Pro. All other images copyright 2021 Christine Johnson, all rights reserved. ### Share this article [![Share on Facebook](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/facebook-24x24.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2Fan-open-letter-to-the-young-parents-at-mass%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on Twitter](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/twitter-24x24.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2Fan-open-letter-to-the-young-parents-at-mass%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2Fan-open-letter-to-the-young-parents-at-mass%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=An%20Open%20Letter%20to%20the%20Young%20Parents%20at%20Mass) [![Share on Email](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/email-24x24.png)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2Fan-open-letter-to-the-young-parents-at-mass%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2Fan-open-letter-to-the-young-parents-at-mass%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) ** #### About the Author ![Christine Johnson](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/Contriubutors/CHRISTINE%20JOHNSON.png) ### [Christine Johnson](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/christine-johnson) Christine Johnson has been married to Nathan since 1993 and is the mother of two homeschool graduates. She and Nathan live in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Southwest Virginia, where she tries to fit in as a transplanted Yank. She blogs at [Domestic Vocation](http://domesticvocation.wordpress.com) about her life as a wife, mother, and Lay Dominican. ## Related Blog Articles [ Safety While Running: Be a RoadID Warrior Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2016/04/05/safety-running-roadid-warrior) [ When Your Parish Struggles Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2016/05/03/when-your-parish-struggles) [ On Being in Need … and Invisible Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2016/03/01/on-being-in-need-and-invisible) ## Comments ## Donate now [![Support Catholic Mom](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545) [![CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png?width=1806&height=731&name=CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png "CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) ##### Subscribe to Catholic Momcast on iTunes or Spotify [![itunes-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/itunes-logo-black.svg)](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catholic-momcast/id1362352357)[![spotify-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/spotify-logo-black.svg)](https://open.spotify.com/show/15CoipHL7z61IDcYErV0b8?si=hqaQJSxDQgq7S1hxCwsoxQ) ##### CatholicMom on Social Networks [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) ##### About Catholic Mom [Who We Are](https://www.catholicmom.com/about-us) [Contact Us](https://www.catholicmom.com/contact) [Support CatholicMom.com](https://www.catholicmom.com/support-us)   ##### Associated Links [Holy Cross Family Ministries](https://www.hcfm.org/) [Family Rosary](https://www.familyrosary.org/) [Family Theater Productions](https://www.familytheater.org/) [Congregation of the Holy Cross](https://www.holycrossusa.org/) [Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C.](https://www.fatherpeyton.org/) [The Peyton Institute for Domestic Church Life](https://www.peytonfamilyinstitute.org/) ### **Stay connected!** Don’t miss a thing! Sign up to receive our free daily digest email. Copyright © 2026 CatholicMom.com. All Rights Reserved.