Adoration and Children
- Church of St. Mark
- 1 hour ago
- 2 min read
"Hey, what's with all these rambunctious kids?!"
"Hey, why are people giving me dirty looks for bringing my kid to adoration?"
St. Mark's is blessed to have Perpetual Adoration, an animated parishioner base, and, disproportionately (at least as of this writing), many young children. Their presence can present a challenge, especially for adoration in front of the Real Presence.
All are welcome to the adoration chapel at any open time, provided they're there in the proper form and not there at cross-purposes with the object of the chapel: Â adoration.
As adoration plus children, however, has its challenges for all parties involved, the Friday 9:00 AM adoration hour has now been generously/duly dedicated to be a child-friendly hour. The expectation for a child-friendly hour is that children will be children. Regulated, but children. There is no obligation for parents and children to attend a dedicated hour, or for parents and children to only attend one, but the hope and understanding is here is an option where the little ones are especially welcome to come to the Lord! We best not hinder them!
Whenever children are present, the expectation, unless noted otherwise, is that the chapel's purpose is still observed: adoration. If not silent, then at least quiet adoration.
Parents, please be considerate to other adorers when you bring your children. Behavior for any parties should still be regulated accordingly. Parents are welcome, but not required, to display a "children present" sign (which will be retained in a conspicuous location) to alert on-comers.
And let everyone be quick to charity — all parties would probably prefer silent adoration richly attended, ceteris paribus — and help bear each others burdens while also striving to not add to them, lest we lose the gifts the Lord has given us at St. Mark's!