Noisy families should be welcome at Mass, says Bishop of Nottingham

During a Mass celebrated on Nottingham Diocese’s annual Family Fun Day, Bishop Patrick McKinney also urged parents not to feel defeated when they spend much of the Mass distracted by their children, and praised parents for persisting with bringing their children to Mass.

“It's here in the Eucharist that you all receive the graces from God to live out well your vocation of marriage and family,” Bishop Patrick explained, in his homily delivered on Saturday June 21st at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Mickleover.

He continued: “But I'm not naive! I'm very aware that the very process of getting to Mass with young children can be a challenge for many families. It's not just the getting them up, fed, washed and dressed, and out for Mass. But having got them to Mass, I realise that for many of you with very young children, so much of your time in Mass can be spent looking after them or chasing around after them when they break free.

“I can understand that you may sometimes be tempted to think, what's the point of making the effort, it's a lot of hard work; I'm permanently distracted; does the Lord even appreciate what we put ourselves through to get the family and ourselves here?”

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Bishop Patrick, went on: “In response, I want to say to you as parents today, Christ Jesus is delighted that you make the effort to bring your children to Mass. He knows the personal cost to you, and He delights in your efforts to help your children become familiar with Mass and their parish community.”

The Mass was attended by approximately 230 people, including a multitude of families from across the diocese, with children of all ages.

The parish’s recently established children’s choir, also praised God with beautiful Gregorian Chant, throughout the Mass.

During his homily, the Bishop also emphasised that priests and parishioners should be welcoming of young families, who are vital to the life of the parish.

“The clergy and parish members gathered with you for Mass should also be delighted that you have brought your young children because, without the involvement, excitement and noise of young children, a parish can quickly become an impoverished community, a parish possibly without a future,” he explained.

“As families with children, and with young people of varying ages, you all have a prominent role to play in keeping parishes alive and sensitive to the varying needs of those who gather for Mass and who are very much part of its community. Nobody should be made to feel uncomfortable at Mass.”

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Following the Mass dedicated to families, Bishop Patrick led a Eucharistic procession through the streets of Mickleover in the warm summer rain, with families and clergy processing behind and the children’s choir leading the Tantum Ergo.

Builders stopped their work, to observe the sight of the Blessed Sacrament sheltering under a processional canopy, with hundreds of people following in adoration.

After the procession, families, clergy and Bishop McKinney celebrated with a Hog Roast and the children then enjoyed games and made rosaries, thanks to the efforts of the diocesan youth team, who are based at The Briars Retreat Centre in Matlock.

Joe Hopkins, Director of Adult Formation for Mission and organiser of the Diocesan Family Fun Day said that the day was a huge success.

"It was a great boost for families to hear such encouraging words from their Bishop and to be reminded that they are invaluable to the life of their parishes," he said.