Faith is the foretaste of the knowledge that will make us blessed in the life to come”

Saint Thomas Aquinas, (Comp. theol. 1,2)

The requirement to attend Mass on Saturday evenings, Sundays, and Holy Days of Obligation is a fundamental precept of the Roman Catholic Church. It is not merely a discretionary choice, but rather a sacred obligation that enriches and deepens our journey of faith.

Regarding the upbringing of children in our faith:

At the sacrament of Baptism, parents solemnly commit to nurturing their child within the Catholic tradition. Consistency plays a pivotal role in laying the groundwork for this spiritual development. Consistent attendance at Mass, coupled with the active involvement of significant individuals such as parents, grandparents, and extended family, is essential. Their participation alongside children underscores the significance of communal worship and prayer in the life of Catholic believers.

The policy upheld by Saint Augustine-Saint Francis Xavier serves to underscore the paramount importance of our communal prayer at Mass as the cornerstone of our Catholic identity.

For a more comprehensive understanding of these foundational principles of our faith, I encourage you to refer to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, paying particular attention to sections 44-49, 176-184, and 2180-2183, 2189-2195.

It is incumbent upon all Catholic children, accompanied by the significant adults in their lives, to fulfill their obligation to attend Mass on Sundays and other designated Holy Days throughout the liturgical calendar.

  ‘2182 Participation in the communal celebration of the Sunday Eucharist is a testimony of belonging and of being faithful to Christ and to his Church.  The faithful give witness by this to their communion in faith and charity.  Together they testify to God’s holiness and their hope of salvation.  They strengthen one another under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.’ 

Attendance tracking for Faith Formation students is conducted throughout the year, facilitated by the utilization of children’s offertory envelopes. This streamlined approach replaces the traditional process of queuing after Mass for signatures or stamps on bulletins, providing a simpler means to acknowledge their presence and support parents in instilling values of stewardship, sacrifice, and gratitude towards God within their children.

1. Each child should be accompanied by a significant adult figure in their life. It is encouraged for attendees to arrive a few minutes prior to the beginning of Mass to engage in quiet prayer. 

2. The formal beginning of Mass is marked by the entrance hymn and the Sign of the Cross. 

3. Prior to seating, attendees are requested to retrieve a children’s offertory envelope from the church vestibule and complete it with the student’s full name and grade for placement in the collection during the offertory.

4. Parents are expected to instruct their children to actively participate at Mass. This includes: knowing the prayers, responses, gestures, and postures (such as sitting, standing, and kneeling when appropriate). Resources are available upon request. 

5. In instances where circumstances lead a child or family to attend Mass in another parish, a bulletin signed by a priest or deacon from that parish will be accepted as proof of attendance.

Efforts will be made by a member of the Parish Staff to reach out if it is noted that a family is not actively participating in Mass. For families enrolled in our program but affiliated with a different parish, a letter confirming their active registration and weekly Mass attendance from their home parish is required, alleviating the need for weekly bulletin submissions. This letter is required to complete the registration process.

It is important to underscore that consistent attendance at weekly Mass is fundamental for children to be deemed ready and adequately prepared for the sacraments of First Holy Communion and Confirmation as celebrated by the Parish.

‘2181 The Sunday Eucharist is the foundation and confirmation of all Christian practice.  For this reason, the faithful are obliged to participate in the Eucharist on days of Obligation unless excused for a serious reason (for example, illness, the care of infants) or dispensed by their own pastor. Those who deliberately fail in this obligation commit grave sin.’