• Why I didn't go to church on Good Friday

Today I find myself at home on one of the most important days of the liturgical year. It feels strange not being with my church family, journeying together in remembrance of Christ's love shown through the Cross.

The reason I am not there is because we are a family of 5, with a toddler and two babies. Although we have participated in every other special mass, including a solemn penitential service, the standard Good Friday mass is just too long for little ones and for parents to look after them.

We seem to be the exception to the rule in even getting out to any special mass at our parish. Last night at Holy Thursday, there were no kids aged 4 or under that I could see. This has been the norm for us, and it both puzzles and saddens me. Why don't families come out? Why don't parishes like ours do more to make families feel welcome and supported?

I was thinking there should be an alternative mass on Good Friday for young families at least at one parish in the Sault. Turns out, there is, but I found out too late! I just saw one listed at Our Lady of Good Counsel parish for 11 am. Had I known, I would have gone, so why weren't all parishes promoting it? Just another example of missed opportunities to support and encourage young families.

I've heard that Good Counsel has an area for toddlers to amuse themselves a little bit during mass, so they seem to be paying attention to the needs of young families. Protestant churches are much further ahead in this regard. Nurseries are common, bathrooms with change tables the norm (our parish has none) and often special seating for noisy kids that need attention.

This Sunday our family will be at Good Counsel to attend a friend's son's baptism, ironically, so I look forward to seeing firsthand how family-friendly that parish is.

- Gerry

2 1/2 years ago my husband and I started a children's liturgy program at St. Andrew the Apostle Parish in Sudbury to meet the spiritual needs of the children that are too young to understand the regular mass. We welcome children of all ages and parents are welcome to attend with their small children. Our program is very simple, we read the gospel and then discuss it with the children so that they understand what message Jesus is sending them. We make a little craft with the children that is the message of the gospel, which really helps because children only learn so much from listening. The craft is taken home and helpd them remember what they learned and to talk about with their family

. We meet every Sunday at the 11 am mass, including the summer, Christmas Day, Easter Sunday and Good Friday. The response to this program has been phenonmenal, we now have over 180 children that celebrate the mass regularly. We invite you to join us any time you are in Sudbury!