I, too, am wondering how I’m going to learn the parts while trying to shush/distract/etc the little ones. I rarely pick up a book in church, so I’m thinking it is going to take forever for me to learn the new parts.

We’ve been singing the new Mass parts for several weeks now too, so my kids are well aware that a big change is coming. I have 2 10 year olds and a 4 year old who will be old enough to understand what is going on. The big guys have been talking about it some during their Faith Formation class, but I don’t think they will fully understand how significant the change is until they sit through the new Mass one time. The one I feel a little sorry for is the 4 year old. He’s just old enough to finally have almost all the old Mass parts and prayers down perfectly but not old enough to read along as we adjust. I have a feeling he will just sit like a bump on a log again and not try to participate for awhile, fidgeting and entertaining himself leading to trouble. Honestly, I don’t think I would feel as anxious about it if we weren’t instituting this at Advent. This is one of my favorite times of year but I fear that juggling a toddler, a confused preschooler and a book is going to take something away from the Mass for me. As we get closer, I think I’m feeling a little sad more than anything. I know that will go away as I adjust though. The other adjustment we’re making is in our Thanksgiving travel. Its a 14 hour drive and we’ve decided to arrange the trip so we can be back for the 4 pm Sunday Mass at our own church so that everyone will feel more comfortable instead of finding a Mass on the road. We thought that would be the best for all of us.

I ordered pew cards for our family, because flipping pages for myself & the older kids, while holding younger kids, sounded like a nightmare.  I know that Our Sunday Visitor, Magnificat, and AndWithYourSpirit.com all sell them.

I’ve done activities with my kids and as RE overseer for the 3 rural parishes that my priest serves, I’ve led catechist training to better teach the changes.  Activities that can be adapted for most ages that have really helped even little kids get the new vocabulary.  Not every activity is theologicaly “perfect” and yes, I could point out the inaccuracies, but I think they’ve really helped the kids anyway. Here are a couple of them: (1) We play an excuses game - How many excuses can you come up with for the broken plate in the kitchen? the 4 tests (including yours) that appear to be copied? and other “problems” then contrast that with the new penitential rite where we repeat “through my own fault”.  The contrast helps point out that the words really want us to own up to and accept responsibility for our choices instead of making excuses and justifications.  (2) Consubstantial -Big words in the Creed - and Playdough: Every kid gets playdough and has to use all the playdough to make at least 3 very different objects like a cat, a table, a carrot, etc.  Then we talk about how each object was different but was made with the same stuff, the same substance.  Practice saying the “consubstantial” and review that it means made with the same stuff.  Father, Son, and Holy Spirit while being different persons are the same God - the same “substance”.  I use the playdough for the word incarnate too as I explain the new creed.  Especially for younger elementary we play pretend with a marble or sunflower seed and imagine how God came into Mary’s womb or tummy and “took on flesh” by forming a human shape around the marble.  Then we talk about how Jesus lived with God for all time but with Mary he took on a human body just like our marble took on a human shape.  And lots of practice saying the word.  I have also used the playdough to demonstrate the word begotten by holding up a ball of playdough and then holding up a matching ball of playdough - this one is never quite as clear although feedback from little kids has made me feel that it is still worthwhile to talk about Jesus becoming distinct from His Father, but neither Jesus nor God have less power because they are still the same God.  Practice saying the creed and Gloria a few times at home and the new flow will feel pretty familiar fast.  (3) the other really fun activity for little kids is acting out the story of the centurion and having them say, “I am not worthy to have you come under my roof”.  For older kids we’ve done journalling and discussion on a meditation that I think came from Max Lucado about the home of our heart.  Is Jesus invited into our living room? bed room? every scary closet and pile of messy dishes?  Are there places in my life where I like Jesus involved and places I want to hide from him?  And reflect on the need for healing and courage to truly give Jesus our whole selves and let him touch our hidden places in the Eucharist.

I don’t know if these ideas will help others much or not, but they have worked very well across lots of age ranges in our churches and I’ve repeated them at home with my kids and I think my 3 old is excited about new words.

we subscibe to Magnifikids and they have the new translation in there for the kids to follow.  They are also learning it at schol.

Can’t you just review the missal at home, in your own time.  That way while at Mass you aren’t worried about the missal.  Also, just being at Mass and hearing the rest of the congregation uttering the responses, you will eventually catch on.  Isn’t that how we learned it as children.  My kids know the Our Father and Hail Mary, but have never read the words.  Don’t worry.  It may take some time, but you’ll catch on quickly enough.

My little guy is too young to have learned any of the words yet.  Like you, though, I’m wondering how I’m going to hold a missalette while wrestling with a squirmy two year old!  I think our parish has ordered laminated pew cards that have the new parts for the people in bold, so hopefully that will help.  I’m happy for a lovely new translation, but it’s definitely going to be . . . interesting for a while!