Children’s Liturgy of the Word  is first and foremost a worship experience. This is a concerned and sensitive way to enable children to participate in the formal worship experience of the community. The celebrations of these liturgies are intended to form children in the liturgical language of the church, to nourish and guide their spiritual growth, and to immerse them in the Word in ways that are understandable to them.    

After the opening prayer of the Mass, the children who wish to participate are called forward, receive a special blessing, and are sent forth with their leaders to hear and break open the scriptures of the day in a way they can understand, learn from and hopefully apply to their lives. The children return to celebrate the Liturgy of the Eucharist and re-enter the assembly as part of the Offertory Procession.

The Sunday readings from the adult Lectionary are written on at least an 8th grade reading level. In 1989, the U.S. Bishops with the approval of the Vatican released a Children's Lectionary written in simplified language. Using these readings as a basis, adult leaders engage the children in the celebration of God's Word. Each Sunday children participate in this effective and important ministry. After praying the Intercessions together, the children return to the Sanctuary to celebrate the Liturgy of the Eucharist with their families.

Children’s Liturgy of the Word is a special celebration which enables the young people of our Parish to hear and celebrate the Word of God on Sundays in a setting adapted to their needs and capabilities.

Children have the right to hear what God has to say to them. They have the right because they have been baptized. God wants to speak to children as well as to adults. The problem is that in our liturgy, the Scriptures are proclaimed in adult language which the children cannot comprehend.

This celebration with children will enable them to discover and recognize themselves in the story proclaimed in the Gospels. When they make the discovery from within their experience, they can then thank, and praise, and bless God in their daily lives.

Our Lady of Lourdes celebrates Children’s Liturgy of the Word on each Sunday of the month at the 9:30am Liturgy, except the weeks that the Children's Choir sings. We encourage the parents of those who attend Liturgy of the Word With Children to read the Scriptures for the upcoming Sunday and talk with their children about what the Scriptures mean to them, their family and what God is trying to tell us today