“Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.”
(Mark 10:14)
Children are a vibrant and vital part of the Church. Pope Francis called them “the most precious treasure of the Church,” reminding us that their noise is “the sound of life and hope.”
In an open letter, Shepparton parishioner, mother, and SMPC member, Jobelle Collier shares her hope for a Church where parents feel supported and children are welcomed as a blessing at Mass. She sees their presence, no matter how noisy or restless, as a joyful sign of faith growing and flourishing.
May this reflection inspire us to become a more inclusive Church, a true home where every child and parent is embraced and can fully share in the life of faith.
By Jobelle Collier
An Open Letter: A Hope for Our Families and Our Church
I have a dream for my children and the children of other young families.
I dream of a Church that welcomes them wholeheartedly. Not when they are older, quieter, or better behaved, but just as they are, full of life, curiosity, noise and wonder. I dream of a Church that delights in their presence.
I dream of pews filled with little voices and fidgeting hands; of toddlers waving during the Sign of Peace and babies being rocked in the back; of parents who do not feel the need to apologise for every sound or movement, because the Church has made it clear that they belong.
I dream of a Church that understands community does not start and end with Mass; what happens in the foyer, the car park, or the garden – the chats, the laughter, the shared chaos –these, too, are sacred spaces where Christ is present.
I dream of older generations smiling at the noise, offering gentle reassurance; of parishioners who remember that they, too, once struggled to keep little ones still.
I dream of leaders and parish teams who know that the families who wrestle toddlers through Mass today are the same families who will be serving, leading, and giving in decades to come.
I dream of a Church that actively builds a home for children now, a home they will never want to leave.
We bring our children not to show how perfect we are, but because we believe the Church is where our children are meant to be. We know it would be easier to stay home, to go alone, or just wait until our children are older. But something in us believes that faith is caught more than it is taught, and that being at Mass together matters.
So, we come. We come with nappy bags and prams, with fruit snacks and water bottles, with tired arms and open hearts. We come because we believe this is our children’s Church too.
And we pray, not just for patience and courage, but for a Church that receives us with open arms and open hearts; a Church that celebrates the sacred messiness of family life.
This is the Church I long for. This is the Church I believe we can be.
With hope,
Jobelle Collier
