Four Tips for Making Connections Between the Mass and Class Discussions

One of the boys in my group asked, “Do you go to church?”

We were discussing the Mass, and he seemed genuinely surprised when I told him that, yes, I do go to church for weekly Mass. He admits he only goes to church occasionally, and he, like many kids in our programs, is more the norm than the exception.

I don’t have the secret formula for how we change this trend and encourage those we serve to go to Mass. But here are four thoughts for making connections between the Mass and class discussions.

1. Talk about Mass throughout the year, not just in the week the curriculum dictates to “teach the Mass.” In my class, for instance, we do a session devoted to the parts of the Mass, but we also talk about the sacraments, which offers us another opportunity to talk about the Mass. Breaking down the Creed as part of a session on the early Church helps young people to understand the words we say during our celebration of Mass. Talking about miracles gives the connection between the biblical story of healing the centurion’s servant and our Mass response that “I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and I shall be healed.” A lesson on the parables should remind the young people that we hear these stories as the Gospels during Ordinary Time.
2. Emphasize the invitation. I like to emphasize that we receive the Eucharist at Jesus’ invitation. When we don’t go to Mass, we are turning down an opportunity to attend an event with Jesus present. I don’t want to say this to my group as a scolding, but hopefully to get them to think about the Mass in a different, more positive way—as attending a celebration.
3. Organize your lesson plans according to the liturgical year. I don’t teach the chapters in our textbook in the order they are presented. Instead, I plan the year out in advance, aligning the themes of the chapters to our liturgical calendar. That way, we can talk about the birth of Christ during December, the Last Supper and the Passion during Lent, and the post-Resurrection appearances during Easter season. Mary and the Rosary can be talked about during October or May. Not every session will align perfectly, but by talking about the stories encountered at Mass at the appropriate times of the year, young people can begin to appreciate the liturgical cycles.
4. Seize opportunity. I can’t imagine being a catechist who couldn’t answer my student’s question positively, that I do go to Mass regularly. The question gave me an opportunity to talk more personally about why I go to Mass and why, more broadly, I am Catholic. And that type of conversation is important for evangelization efforts. So while I’m saddened that my student was surprised by the fact that someone he knew was a church-goer by choice, I’m grateful for the question and the conversation.

How do you make connections between the Mass and your class curriculum? Have you had the opportunity to talk about your experience at Mass with the young people in your group?

Image: © Kasey Hund Photography.