Role-Playing the Sign of Peace

To demonstrate the sign of peace from Mass and to stress its importance

The children will be familiar with the sign of peace as a time to share the peace of Christ with the Church community.

• Discuss the sign of peace and when it happens at every Mass.
• Talk about the difference between a strong handshake and a limp, weak handshake.
• Demonstrate a strong handshake.
• Have the following words written on the board: Peace be with you. And also with you.
• Create two equal lines of children facing each other.
• Have the left line begin the sign of peace by shaking hands with the children directly across from them in the right line and saying: Peace be with you. Children in the right line should respond: And also with you.
• The left line stays stationary for the entire activity.
• Instruct the children in the right line to shift one person to their right.
• The right line will now begin the sign of peace by shaking hands with the children directly across from them in the left line and saying: Peace be with you. Children in the left line respond: And also with you.
• Instruct the right line to shift again and have the left line begin the sign of peace, alternating which line begins and which responds until children in the right line are back in front of the children with whom they started.
• Discuss with the group that every Mass they attend is an opportunity to share the peace of Christ with their families and the community.

Body Smart

Depending on the number of children in the group, you may need to join one of the lines so that both lines are equal and everyone has a partner.

Encourage the children to be open to extending the sign of peace to others. If a child shares a story about someone who refuses to participate in the handshake at Mass, tell him or her to just say Peace be with you to that person.