Jack at Mass

The kindergartners have been going to mass on Fridays since January. I have been to a few, but the girls end up late for preschool when we go. Jack asked us to come today because the kindergartners were singing in the choir. John was able to come as well. It was cute to hear the kids sing!

Something else happened at the mass too. Jack's name was called by Father O'Connor during the homily. Let me back track a little bit and tell you the story.

Last year, Jack received a children's mass booklet from my mom. He took it into church each week and followed along fairly well. We learned he was paying close attention in the last few months however! The book was well-loved and I think every page over the course of the year had to be taped. He showed the book to Father after mass a few months ago and asked him why he always uses "A" at the end of the mass. He was talking about the closing blessing. Father told him he was trying to keep it the same because of the new responses and he didn't want people to get messed up with the other closing blessings. He also told Jack that he loved to see a mass book so used!

When John and I were in Arkansas a month ago, we walked into the Catholic bookstore and picked up some First Communion gifts. We saw a new children's mass book that was hard cover so we got Jack a new book, hoping this one would last a little longer. Last week after mass, Jack again asked Father about the closing blessing. He asked why he had not yet used "D." Then he had to show Father what he was talking about. Father told Jack he had been thinking about Jack and he was close to using the other blessing. He also thought that Jack was the only person in the church that has probably noticed that he has not used one option of the final blessings.

Fast forward to all school mass on Friday: The homily started with Father "practicing" the responses to the parts of the mass and he came to the different closing blessings. At that point, he asked where Jack Scudder was. Jack jumped up and raised his hand from the choir loft--not at all embarrassed to be pointed out in front of the school like his mama sure would have been! Father began to tell the story of Jack and final blessing and then proceeded to tell everyone he was ready to use it and they would be one step ahead of the congregation on Sunday because they had practiced today. He thanked Jack at the end of the homily. At the end of the mass he used "D" and John and smiled.

After mass Father came up to us and told us Jack keeps him on his toes. And John responded he keeps us on our toes too! His teacher came up to us and told us she had no idea he would be pointed out at mass!

I'm glad I decided to go to mass and John was there too. Jack was so proud!