What Happened to Families Going to Mass on Sunday?

Teri Sinnott explains the importance of establishing Mass as a priority in your family.

I know that going to church is not always easy. Getting three kids dressed and out the door on time on Sunday morning has its challenges. I would be lying if I said that there were not some Sundays that I really wished I could just sleep in. Stay in bed for another hour.

But, every week, all five of us are at Mass. I often hear parents say that it is just “too hard” at this stage and they will start going again when their kids are older. But those easier days turn into becoming complacent in not attending mass. Frankly, kids learn about how to behave and worship by being in mass. There is not a magic age where everything just “clicks.”

This really became apparent to me over the course of the past few months. First, I noticed how I have 20 middle schoolers on my roster for Religious Education class, but I never have 20 kids in class. The first few weeks I had about 15. Once we hit December, it is a great day if I have 10. Of those 10, four are consistent week to week.

We only have class twice a month.

Then, a few weeks ago I noticed how many students come in for my class and Confirmation class through the outside doors. They are not coming from Mass. So, I assumed they were going to Mass after. Nope, right back out those same doors as soon as class is over.

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If we don’t make Mass a priority, if we are not attending, how will our children see the importance of going to Mass? How will it become a part of their lives?

As each new generation gets further and further away from regular attendance, away from seeing Mass as a priority, as seeing God as a priority, what happens next?

Look at the world around us. You can see so many aspects of today’s world that are a little scarier each day. What do we expect when we turn away from God? When we can’t be bothered to go to Mass once a week. When it is too hard to go.

I get it. Sometimes it is hard. But, persistence is key. There were many Sundays that I wanted to cry taking three small children to church. Going by myself with all three kids was terrifying. But here we are now with my kids being 4, 6, and 8 and most weeks it is an enjoyable experience.

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My kids LOVE going to church.

They have their favorite hymns. They know the prayers. They love getting their blessing. My 4-year-old used to be carried out screaming multiple times a mass, now most days now she sits, smiles, and looks through the hymnal. She is great.

They now know people at church. They look forward to talking to them after Mass. They love to look at the statues of the saints around church. They ask questions and we talk about them. My 6-year-old joins the choir some weeks. There is an amazing woman who noticed how much she loves singing and allows her to come sit with them. She is teaching her about the music.

Church is becoming their home. Their home. Our home. Just as it should be. It is our Father’s House.

It is not a question of if we are going to church. The kids expect it. Kids learn how to behave in church by being in church. But more important than learning how to behave is learning the importance of going to church and of worshiping their God in the way He wants us to.

When my three daughters are singing with giant smiles on their faces, I often picture Jesus just looking down on them with joy in his eyes. Jesus wants us to bring the children to Him.

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Click to tweet:
Church is becoming their home. Their home. Our home. Just as it should be. #catholicmom

This is the future. When you look at the world around you, what do you want that world to look like? We are raising the future. We are responsible for these beautiful souls God has entrusted us with. It is up to us, even on the hardest of days, to get them to church, to their Father’s house.

My prayer is one day within my lifetime I will sit in Mass with every seat filled on a random Sunday. The church will be alive with children of all ages. Hearing their little voices singing hymns and worshiping their God. If we do not establish Mass as a priority now, then when? It is up to us.

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