THE CHILDREN STOOD IN a line waiting for their chance at sinking the ball into the basket. Of the 20 who tried, only two made the shot.
“That basket is something you pray for and sometimes we pray, but we don’t get it right away,” explained Marlene Zambrano, the children’s faith formation coordinator at La Purísima Catholic Church. “If you keep trying and we have enough time, then maybe one of your balls would have gone in. That’s how prayer works.”
CHILDREN GATHER AT THE ALTAR DURING MASS AT LA PURÍSIMA CATHOLIC CHURCH BEFORE BEING DISMISSED FOR THE CHILDREN’S LITURGY OF THE WORD (CLOW). PHOTO BY ALAN WENDELL/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
Zambrano led the 20 children in a revived program called Children’s Liturgy of the Word (CLOW) at La Purísima in Orange. The class, which is open to children in first through sixth grade, read “the Faith of the Canaanite Woman” from the Gospel of Matthew — the same reading happening in the main assembly. The class brought the reading to the children’s level and gave them a chance to discuss its meaning. The children then returned to the main assembly for the Liturgy of the Eucharist with their families.
“We do everything the same as they’re doing it over there, but for the little kids,” said Zambrano.
CLOW teaches children the process of Mass through visuals, echo reading, songs and movement. Children are given opportunities to lead readings and songs, while also getting to share with the group their takeaway from the Liturgy. CLOW takes place during the parish’s 10 a.m. Sunday Mass each week. The offering began this summer, but this isn’t the first time La Purísima has offered the program. It was a staple of the church before the COVID-19 pandemic hit.
“We wanted to bring it back because we saw there was a need for our parish, for the kids, for them to have something in particular for their age,” Zambrano said. One of the favorite parts of the class is the prayer of the faithful, said CLOW volunteer Erika Abao.
Hearing the children say their prayers and intentions out loud and then listening to other children close with “Lord, hear our prayer,” is very moving, Abao said. “It’s touching,” she said. “To be a part of that, you can feel the Holy Spirit surrounding our group.”
Fifth-grader Delilah Arcos, 10, said she looks forward to the new class because it helps her understand more of the liturgy and deepen her faith.
“I think it’s really good for children, and it helps us learn more and it just helps a lot,” said Arcos, “because it’s more in a children’s way and children understand more.”
Parents Jesse and Sear Ly Montanez, who also volunteer with CLOW, said they like that the children have the opportunity to come together to talk and express themselves. Jesse Montanez said now that his son attends the class, he is better able to talk about the liturgy after Mass.
“He’s more adaptive and more soaking in the Word,” he said, “and because they bring it down to his level, he understands it.”