I traveled yesterday with my five children to attend my niece’s confirmation. It was a beautiful event that was so well attended my kids and I had to park in a nearby neighborhood.
But there’s a reason I’m telling you the story. Look, I know it can be difficult to have kids in church. Believe me I know. I’ve had kids knocking their chins into the pews and crying, I’ve had kids vomiting and then crying that they vomited, I’ve had kids accidentally tearing the missal and crying because they thought they’d be in trouble. But I couldn’t believe what I saw yesterday at the confirmation Mass.
Mind you, the church was packed so my children and I were standing and couldn’t see a whole lot but in my limited field of vision I saw at least five kids either texting or playing their Nintendo DS in their pew. And I’m talking 9,10,11 year old kids on their DS while sitting right next to their parents.
But the worst part happened later…
November 15, 2010 at 1:44 am
I saw a kid playing a DS at mass. He was probably about 8. I also heard an adult answer a cell phone call once at another church I was visiting.
I have used an iPhone app at mass to see the readings because our parish doesn't have enough missalettes for everyone, and I don't have an old-fashioned missal. Also I leave my phone on vibrate when my 14 month old is in the nursery (in the parish life center), but I don't answer a call; I step out to get him.