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Children & Parish Worship
An Assessment Tool

The "Children and Parish Worship Assessment" is the first step in preparing the parish for participation in NCCL's Nurturing the Faith of Children through Catholic Worship Initiative.

The NCCL Children and Catholic Worship Project seeks to engage children (and their parents) more fully and meaningfully in the liturgical life of the Catholic Church. A major emphasis in this Project will be on liturgical formation and child-friendly ways to engage all children in Sunday Mass.

The Assessment Tool provides a starting point for the work of the parish by examining how children are included in the parish's liturgical life. We are asking for a variety of leaders in the parish - engaged in liturgical ministry, children's faith formation, and parish leadership roles - to complete the Assessment. We are also asking a small, representative group of parents with young children (0-6) and grade school children (grades 1-6) to complete the assessment.

The results will provide a wider view of how the parish is currently engaging children. The Project Team will compile one overall report, incorporating the individual responses, for the parish to review.

Thank you for taking the time to complete the Assessment.

JohnMichael Reyes
NCCL Worship Project Coordinator
Part 1. Parish Profile and Role
1.Your Parish or School Name(Required.)
2.Your City or Town(Required.)
3.Your State(Required.)
4.Your Diocese
5.Your Leadership Role (Select one.)(Required.)
6.Which regularly scheduled weekend Masses are most attend by families with children (0-11)? (Check all that apply.)(Required.)
7.What are the primary languages used in worship and parish communication?
(Check all that apply.)(Required.)
Part 2. Liturgy and Worship in the Parish
8.What is your overall assessment of the liturgical life of the parish?
Strongly Disagree
Disagree
Neutral/Unsure
Agree
Strongly Agree
Mass celebrations are reverent, prayerful, and spiritually enriching.
People experience God's presence, joy, inspiration, and awe in worship.
The parish celebrates worship that nurtures people's faith and helps them with everyday life.
Homilies are engaging, relevant to daily life, and rooted in Scripture and Church teaching.
Music ministry enhances worship and encourages full, active, and conscious participation.
Liturgical ministers (lectors, Eucharistic ministers, altar servers) are well trained and reverent.
The parish offers diverse devotional practices (Adoration, Stations of the Cross, Cultural Devotions, and more)
The worship environment and sacred art fosters prayer and encounter with God.
Part 3. Children and Parish Worship
9.How are children currently included in the weekly celebration of the Mass? (Please rate each item from "not at all" to "consistently.")(Required.)
Not at All
Rarely
Sometimes
Often
Consistently
Children are welcomed explicitly at the start of Mass (verbal welcome, signage, greeters).
Seating accommodates families with young children (e.g., stroller space, family pews, sensory‑friendly areas).
Music includes child‑friendly elements (simple refrains, call‑and‑response, multi‑cultural repertoire).
The homily acknowledges children (language, examples, engagement moments).
The needs and concerns of children are regularly included in the prayers of the faithful.
Visual art and church environment supports children's engagement in Mass (banners, seasonal symbols, procession aids).
Children’s Liturgy of the Word (CLOW) is offered regularly and well‑staffed.
Children's bulletins, worship kits, or other worship tools are available for children to participate in the Mass
Children with disabilities are supported (sensory tools, seating options, communication aids, trained volunteers).
Children are viewed as full participants in the Mass by parish leadership
Children are viewed as full participants in the Mass by the community
Children are encouraged and engaged in the Mass as altar servers, choir members, and gift bearers.
10.How are children currently prepared (formation) for the weekly celebration of the Mass? (Please check as many items that apply.)(Required.)
11.Which practices are present across the liturgical year? (Check as many as apply.)(Required.)
12.How confident are the parish liturgical ministers (priests, musicians) in engaging children in worship?(Required.)
Not Confident
Somewhat Confident
Confident
Very Confident
Don't Know
Rate your assessment. .
13.Briefly describe one thing your parish already does well to include children in worship.
Part 4. Children's Accessibility and Inclusion in Parish Worship
14.Which disability accessibility supports are available at your parish? (Check as many as apply.)(Required.)
15.Do your leaders receive training on disability inclusion? (Choose one.)(Required.)
16.What additional supports does your parish need for the inclusion of people with disabilities?
Part 5. Formation and Resources
17.Please rate how helpful the following resources would be to your parish?(Required.)
Not Helpful
Somewhat Helpful
Helpful
Very Helpful
Don't Know
Short videos on understanding children's spiritual lives
Short videos on how to teach and work with children today
Short videos for engaging children in worship
Child-friendly worship resources (music, scripts, art guides, sensory supports)
Ideas for homilies that engage children
Music playlists and lead sheets that engage children
Art that connects with children
Disability accessibility checklist & toolkit
Children's lectionary-based resources
Family-centered lectionary based resources
Children's worship aids/kits for Mass
Resources for Children's Liturgy of the Word (incorporated in Mass)
18.Please select up to four topics that would be most helpful to you for learning about children and worship. These would be offered as webinars, videos, and/or online resources. (Required.)
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