Feedback.Q: I choose/chose to make my children attend Mass because ... It was the duty I undertook at their Baptism. Irene Bacak Burton, Texas Burton is the name of two places in the State of Texas in the United States of America:
Most young people will resist the things in life that parents require them to do--dentist, school, chores, church. However, a parent's role is to make sure those important habits are formed. Nick Hilger Overland Park Overland Park, city (1990 pop. 111,790), Johnson co., NE Kans., a residential suburb of Kansas City; inc. 1960. There is printing and publishing, and the manufacture of apparel, aircraft parts, cement, prepared foods, salt, chemicals, marine accessories, and signs. , Kan. The church at the time taught that it was a mortal sin mortal sin n. Christianity A sin, such as murder or blasphemy, that is so heinous it deprives the soul of sanctifying grace and causes damnation if unpardoned at the time of death. to miss Mass on Sunday. Adele Behlmann Florissant, Mo. I want them to be educated in faith and be surrounded by the spirit and energy of the church at least once a week. Blair A. Dolinger Burke, Va. They need to be taught that honoring God one hour a week is not unreasonable. Dick Holzberger Hamilton, Ohio Hamilton is a city in Butler County, Ohio, United States. The population was 60,690 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Butler CountyGR6. 2005 estimates indicate a slight population increase to approximately 61,943. It gave them the basis from which they could decide for themselves. Patrick Whitcomb Green Bay, Wis. It was something we did as a family. Darlene B. Whichard Blacksburg, Va. Q: I choose/chose not to make my children attend Mass because ... It has to be their decision--at least after age 16. Name withheld Arlington, Va. With our youngest at age 17 we wore down with the weekly fighting to get her there. I wish we hadn't given in. Name withheld Lansing, Mich. When my children were older I realized God gave them free will and I had to allow them to exercise it in the hope they would then freely choose to accept his blessings. It is very difficult to let go. Name withheld Fort Wayne Fort Wayne, city (1990 pop. 173,072), seat of Allen co., NE Ind., where the St. Joseph and St. Marys rivers join to form the Maumee River; inc. 1840. It is the second largest city in the state, a major railroad and shipping point, a wholesale and distribution hub, , Ind. There were too many other things to take a stand on. I chose my battles, and morality won out over religion. Today they are all church members. Pat Milligan Harwood, Md. My children did not always attend the same Mass I did. They left for church. Whether they went to Mass, I'm not sure. Name withheld Brooklyn Park Brooklyn Park, city (1990 pop. 56,381), Hennepin co., SE Minn., a suburb of Minneapolis; chartered as a city 1969. Manufacturing includes machinery, wood and metal products, tools, feeders, and medical and pharmaceutical supplies. , Minn. Q: It's harder today to get teens to go to church because ... The church rarely speaks to youth experience. Father Craig Fornel San Francisco San Francisco (săn frănsĭs`kō), city (1990 pop. 723,959), coextensive with San Francisco co., W Calif., on the tip of a peninsula between the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay, which are connected by the strait known as the Golden , Calif. Teens are more sophisticated. I think they see through hypocrisy and tune out. Name withheld Philadelphia, Pa. Peer pressure. The key is to encourage friendships with godly god·ly adj. god·li·er, god·li·est 1. Having great reverence for God; pious. 2. Divine. god children before they become teenagers. Carrie Odendahl Riverdale, Ga. Parents do not give evidence that the Mass brings life to them. Too often the parents themselves do not go regularly. Ed Zarger Corry, Pa. Teens working weekend jobs. Ron Thorne Peoria, Ill. The parents don't think it's important enough to miss the ball game. Robert Schreiber Glendive, Mont. The priest scandal has really made it difficult to endorse organized religion. Name withheld Spring Valley, Ill. I think it has always been hard to get teens to Mass. Kathy Lizana Katy, Texas Katy is a city located in the U.S. state of Texas within the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area. The city is located partially in the counties of Fort Bend, Waller, and Harris. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, Katy's population was 11,775. Q: The church should do a better job of making Mass compelling for teens by ... Having better preaching. It would make Mass more compelling for all of us. Rosemary Halter halter the simplest form of restraint for the head of farm animals. Comprises a poll strap, a nose band and a halter shank that brings the ends of the nose band together under the mandible. Made of leather or cotton or manila rope. Delaware, Ohio Delaware is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Delaware CountyGR6. The municipality is located near the center of the state of Ohio, about 20 miles (32 km) north of Columbus, Ohio. Delaware was founded in 1808, incorporated in 1816. Reserving the first eight rows of pews for them so they can see, understand, and participate in the liturgy. Veronica Kreter (age 12) Conshohocken, Pa. Inviting them to help plan the liturgy and being less judgmental judg·men·tal adj. 1. Of, relating to, or dependent on judgment: a judgmental error. 2. Inclined to make judgments, especially moral or personal ones: when the teens' ideas seem unconventional. Ann Zech Wallingford, Pa. Parishes need to have strong youth groups. Mollie mollie or molly, New World fish of the genus Mollienesia, in the same family as the guppy (see killifish). Mollies are found from the E and central United States to Argentina. Lannigan Kansas City Kansas City, two adjacent cities of the same name, one (1990 pop. 149,767), seat of Wyandotte co., NE Kansas (inc. 1859), the other (1990 pop. 435,146), Clay, Jackson, and Platte counties, NW Mo. (inc. 1850). , Mo. We need to get back to the basics, not try to make Mass more "entertaining." Debbie Maloni Rochester, N.Y. Music is key. If the music is attractive, teens get into the Mass more. Julie Hill Springfield, Mo. It wouldn't hurt for preachers to visit contemporary culture from time to time. Father Joseph A. Brown, S.J. Carbondale, Ill. Teens desire to see their words and actions make a difference. Worship needs to be connected to service and justice work or it risks being seen as a waste of time on a Sunday morning Sunday Morning may refer to:
Anne K. Walter Louisville, Ky. I wish I knew! The church and parents have to work together on this. Barbara McGinty Pleasantville, N.Y. General Comments What's most important is to keep a dialogue going, to respect the child, and to listen. Yolande V. Logan New Orleans New Orleans (ôr`lēənz –lənz, ôrlēnz`), city (2006 pop. 187,525), coextensive with Orleans parish, SE La., between the Mississippi River and Lake Pontchartrain, 107 mi (172 km) by water from the river mouth; founded , La. I taught fifth-grade religious education and was shocked at how many children were not required to attend Mass by their parents. Some were given a choice of R.E. or Mass but not required to do both. Pat Owen Concordia, Kan. Growing up without church, I feel I was cheated and missed out. Kristi Soller Temperance, Mich. I believe all people--but especially teens and children--want and need rules to live by and discipline if the rules are broken. Donna J. Marken Rural Valley, Pa. I am convinced that in many households children rule. Many Catholic adults so poorly understand their faith that they don't really know what they are trying to pass on to their children. Sunday morning soccer is far less demanding. Father William Menzel Wisconsin Rapids Wisconsin Rapids, city (1990 pop. 18,245), seat of Wood co., central Wis., on the Wisconsin River; inc. 1869. Paper, heating equipment, plastics, chemicals, paint, and iron and steel are produced. , Wis. I was brought up to obey "the rules" and just expected children to do the same. I realize now that the time would have been better spent teaching them to love God. Nancy Fleming Nancy Anne Fleming (born ca. 1942) won the Miss America crown in 1961.[1] A native of Montague, Michigan, Fleming competed in the Miss America pageant as Miss Michigan. She competed in Miss Michigan as Miss White Lake[2]. San Dimas, Calif. Obligatory Mass attendance casts celebrating the Eucharist in a penal way. It'd be like making opening gifts on Christmas a requirement, which is just plain silly and counter to the whole notion of a gift. Paul Armstrong Bethel Park, Pa. I made my children go to Mass on Sunday until they graduated from high school, at which time I felt they needed to make the choice themselves. Both stopped going the week after graduation, and 15 years later they only go on Christmas and Easter. I still hope some day they will realize the value of belonging to a church community. Helen Welter Indianapolis, Ind. When my son would complain, I sometimes said, "Well, God thinks we need to go to Mass and worship weekly. And God is a lot wiser than we are." Joann Held Pennington, N.J. AND THE SURVEY SAYS ... 1. Parents should make their children and teenagers go to church regularly. agree 89% disagree 3% other 8% 2. The appropriate time when children should make the Mass decision for themselves is:
(80%) When they are in
college or no longer
living under their
parents' roof.
(6%) When they are in
high school.
(6%) As soon as the child
can express a preference.
(8%) Other.
Representative of "Other": "When they're mature enough to talk about their decision," or "After they're confirmed." 3. I think many parents today are too afraid to require anything of their children. agree 89% disagree 6% other 5% 4. As a teenager I rebelled against going to Mass. yes 12% no 88% These results are based on survey responses from 195 U.S. CATHOLIC readers and website visitors. Note: Table made from bar graphs. |
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