Bring the Noise! A Church That Will Stand the Test of Time

by hazelelponiSC · April 18, 2018

Dougie Eckard, Cape Town – I would like to respond to the mother who wrote about being challenged by a parishioner about her noisy children, and more so the encouraging remarks from grandma Sharron Reynolds.

In reading most of the comments on this sensitive matter, it’s my humble opinion that so many of our Catholics brothers and sisters are very godly, without always living out the teaching of the Gospel message — but in the same vein they can be very petty and legalistic in practising their faith, without realising that legalism breeds a lifeless, boring faith.

I’m privileged to have raised four children in our Catholic belief, resulting in 11 grandchildren, of whom seven are fully-fledged Catholics while the rest are full- practising Christians born of a solid Catholic background.

The Catholic grandchildren (the eldest is 21 and the youngest five) are active in the Church, side by side with their parents.

Needless to say, we received criticism on many occasions while the kids went through their natural noisy phase. I encouraged my son to ignore those parishioners who come to Mass to judge others.

My advice to those who moan, groan and pull ugly faces at noisy kids – is to better concentrate on the altar — in which case they’ll experience the children’s noise as soothing medicine for their souls, an integral part of the music and holistic celebrations.

I concur with Fr Francis Dufour SDB of Johannesburg that moaners must get themselves a comfortable seat in the crying room. The bottom line is that those kids who are criticised for being noisy now, already show that they will be the Catholics of the future.

Viva to our noisy kids who, come tomorrow, will be the Church that stood the test of time.