Posted on 11/28/2008 7:28:03 AM PST by NYer
My Mass Kit is the flagship product in the Wee Believers™ Catholic toy line. This innovative, educational and entertaining soft-sculpture toy is aimed at play for boys ages 3-12. Children will enjoy “playing Mass” using this kit as a part of their playtime activities at home or at school, and in environments such as a church sanctuary where busy-child activity requires solemn attendance.
My Mass Kit includes most items used during Holy Mass to assist in a child’s first-hand interaction with the sacramental pieces used by the priest in the Sacred Liturgy. Also included in the kit is an ecclesiastically-approved instructional booklet to educate and foster better faith communication between adults and children. My Mass Kit is an excellent tool for catechists and faith-formation teachers, as well as parents, grandparents and godparents.
My Mass Kit includes twelve plush, cleanable pieces and detailed instructional booklet contained in a durable, canvas case.
Pieces include: Crucifix, Chalice, Thurible, Finger Bowl, Purificator, 2 Cruets, 2 Candles, Paten, cloth Corporal, and foam Hosts
This is the first in what they expect to be a growing line of merchandise with a religious theme. Finally - a gift that may lead to a vocation! Should be labeled for “boys only” but I guess they are leaving that up to the discretion of parents and godparents.
He He - we used to play with Necco candies - LOL
That's true. It would be very useful for teachers to show the children exactly what Father is doing during Mass, since they can't see unless they're in the front row and at exactly the right angle. It would also help them to memorize the names of the vessels and other items.
Our deacon in Broken Arrow had made flash cards and would quiz the altar servers, because it drove him crazy when they would point and say, "Should I bring you that thingie next?"
http://ourfathershouse.biz/shopsite_sc/store/html/page30.html
These are the kits my kids use in their Catechisis of the Good Shepherd classes. They are beautiful.
Playing Mass is more likely to demean the sacred by making it commonplay and commonplace.
Parents would be better served to explain the Mass to their children as soon as they can stand on the kneeler and pay attention.
Parents of today seem to be remiss in educating their children in the Faith.
Even if the children can see the altar clearly, you'll get nothing but nasty looks and annoyed comments from the people in front, behind, and to both sides of you. A video would be great, though, like the ones the Red Cross uses to teach CPR.
They are indeed ... thanks for posting the link. I believe the above kit is geared more towards the pre-school crowd and for home (personal) use.
That is because they were never properly catechized themselves. We see this at our parish.
Good point. You know that kids will be scooping sand, drinking soda, throwing these around, etc... Like the toys that they are. It’s not right. MY opinion.
It’s a popular item with the Catholic homeschooling crowd.
There are also some more elaborate and realistic toy Mass kits available. I think toy Mass kits foster a strong Catholic identity that could lead to more vocations and only wish they had been available when I had little boys.
No offense, but it looks like a plastic “Sick Call” set. (Do priests still make Sick Calls?)
Father Z has a post with a very nice picture of a young man playing with a kit. It’s from a poster from the Raleigh diocese. I’d post the picture but am picture-posting illiterate.
http://wdtprs.com/blog/2008/08/great-vocations-poster/
Plus you can get the poster and read about the background here;
http://romancatholicvocations.blogspot.com/2008/08/latest-diocese-of-raleigh-vocations-ad.html
I disagree. I think it has to do with context. The families I know who have these kits, use them as leaning tools, which is why my three and five year old know the names of all the pieces on the altar. They love to set up the altar the correct way and explain what each is used for.
Now, if they want to have a tea party, well that’s what the Disney princess tea set is for.
All kids I know play mass. It just depends on how they do it. I think it’s a beautiful thing, it’s so a part of their lives that it factors into their games of house. Or better yet, my two year old nephew reapeating the entire epiclesis over his toys, with his hands streched out and everything.
Oh yeah, that’s way better than a bike or a Gameboy./sarc
Ours does every week, and also visits the home-bound in the neighboring parish 20 miles away where the priest neglects his duty in that regard.
Here’s another idea, we did this in religious ed and the children loved it. One day we took them “behind the scenes” for a tour of the sacristy. The priest explained all the various vessels and things, the closet with all the vestments. This was fascinating to them. We had a “dry Mass” which is where you go thru the prayers and some motions, but it’s not sacramental, there is no consecration (not a real Mass), so that you can stop along the way and explain what the words mean, or what the priest is doing on the altar and why. We had a small group of adults attend, who just wanted to learn more about the Mass.
That’s very much what I was suggesting for a video presentation. Our RE program includes around 800 children, so it would be very difficult for Father to do something like this “live”!
My pastor not only visits sick parishioners, he also says Mass at a local hospital and then makes sick calls in the hospital. He has shared some of those experiences with us in different homilies. Recently he commented on a politician in the hospital who had just learned he had a fatal illness. The politician asked Father to hear his confession in which he repented for having adopted a 'pro choice' stance during his elected term. Recognizing the error as he approached death, he asked Father what he could do at this late hour. Father told him to share begin by acknowledging this error with his own family.
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