Children's Ministry

CLOW Schedule 2019-20

Our Children’s Ministry at St. Madeleine Sophie is designed to provide families with a comprehensive path of religious instruction from preschool through sixth grade.

• Kids’ Church program is for preschoolers during Sunday Masses.
• Children’s Liturgy of the Word engages the elementary aged children during Sunday Masses.
• Whole Community Catechesis (WCC) our elementary aged religious education program, brings children together with their parents in a family centered faith formation process.
• “When we sing, we pray twice”, our Glory and Praise Choir is open to the whole family.
• The Christmas Eve Glory and Praise Choir is open to children in 2^ndgrade and older.
• Your children will love the fun of our Summer Bible Camp usually held in mid-July each year.

Kids’ Church (Preschool through Kindergarten)

Our early childhood program, Kids’ Church, is designed to help preschoolers and kindergarteners gently understand the basic concepts and rituals of our faith. Lessons are structured in a Mass format, specifically designed for the age and maturity level, as well as the developmental and spiritual needs, of young children.

When they arrive at the Kids’ Church worship center, the children are greeted in an atmosphere that is purposefully slowed down and quieted. Children are introduced to the joy and wonder of God’s love through storytelling, art activities, and play. Worship centers are offered to coincide with the 8:30 or 11:00 Sunday Masses and take place most weekends from October to May.

Whole Community Catechesis (1^st through 6^th grades)

Children in grades one through six take part in our inter-generational gatherings on Wednesday evenings. This program is grade based and students attend with a sponsor or mentor, generally a parent. This format helps extend the learning and sharing beyond the classroom. Children in first and second grades meet from 6:30 – 7:30 pm while those in grades three – six attend from 6:30 – 8 pm. Additional programming is available between 7:30 – 8:00 pm for those younger students who will be waiting for older siblings.

Children’s Liturgy of the Word (CLOW)

To make Sunday Mass a more positive experience for children, we provide a “Word” experience that is designed to meet the developmental and spiritual needs of the elementary-aged child.

Families come to Mass together, but after the opening song and prayer, first through sixth grade children are invited to come forward and process downstairs for CLOW. During the children’s “Word” service, we focus on only one reading—usually the Gospel reading. This is followed by a child-oriented discussion/homily, prayers of the faithful, creed, and songs. At the beginning of the liturgy of the Eucharist, children rejoin their families in the church.

CLOW is offered at the 8:30 and 11:00 Masses most Sundays, October through May.  There is no registration for CLOW.  All children in first through sixth grade are welcome.

Vacation Bible Camp

Vacation Bible Camp is held each year in July.  Please see the spring bulletins for specific dates and times or the VBC Page.