Expansion of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ generally comes through singing the Word of God; reading and speaking the Word of God; repetition; apologetics; discussion; debate; public and private prayer; allowing the Holy Spirit to work; and placing faith into action. Even in advertising, generally, it takes viewing an advertisement at least 6 times until it gets viewer attention. If children who have received their first Holy Communion do not actively and consistently serve as lectors, cantors, co-cantors, singers, ushers, greeters, and before-Mass prayer leaders at all Masses, how does the Word of God soak into their minds, hearts, and souls? Passive attendance at Mass generally does not generate active engagement in the long-term.

Matthew 18:1-5 states:

“At that time the disciples approached Jesus and said, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” He called a child over, placed it in their midst, and said, “Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me.”

Excerpts are from 21 different churches/schools around the world in the last 5 years.

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“The expression 'children should be seen and not heard' is an old English proverb, dating from the 15th century.

In the original form it was specifically young women who were expected to keep quiet. This opinion is recorded in the 15th century collection of homilies written by an Augustinian clergyman called John Mirk in Mirk's Festial, circa 1450:

Hyt ys old Englysch sawe: A mayde schuld be seen, but not herd.

A 'sawe', or 'saw' as we would spell it now, was a medieval term for saying or proverb. It has the same root as the words 'say' and 'saga'. It is interesting that Mirk, writing in Middle English, described the saying as 'old English', which presumably would date the proverb as earlier.

While the expression was originally aimed at women, the Old English names denoting gender are now somewhat altered. A 'mayde' was normally a young female, usually unmarried, although it was also used to denote celibate men. Girls however, could be of either sex, the term simply meaning young child.” From URL: https://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/c...

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Holy Cross Regional Catholic School, Saint Eleanor Church, Collegeville, Pennsylvania, U.S.A., 1 October 2021.

Saint Augustine Church and School, Washington, District of Columbia, U.S.A., 29 January 2023.

Sacred Heart Cathedral, Diocese of Rochester, New York Catholic Schools, U.S.A., 27 February 2019.

Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Assumption, Diocese of Trenton New Jersey Catholic Schools, U.S.A., 12 October 2022.

Cathedral of Saint Matthew the Apostle, Washington, District of Columbia, 20 January 2023.

San Pedro Roman Catholic Church and School, San Pedro, Belize, 21 January 2023.

Saint Mary Magdalene Church and School, Apex, North Carolina, U.S.A., 24 January 2021.

Virgen mambisa, night prayer antiphon in Honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary (in the lamento Afro-Cuban style) sung by a student co-cantor, Saint Kevin Church and School, Miami, Florida, U.S.A., 6 May 2022.

Saint Ann Church, Clayton, North Carolina, 5 November 2022.

Regina Caeli Catholic Church, Karen, Nairobi, [Nairobi Western Deanery Youth Sunday Mass], 4 July 2021.

Saint Hugh Church and School, Coconut Grove, Florida, U.S.A., 10 March 2023.

Saint Michael Church, Prior Lake, Minnesota, U.S.A., 30 November 2022.

Cathedral Catholic High School, San Diego, California, U.S.A., 27 May 2022.

Christian Brothers College High School, St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.A., 1 February 2018.

Sacred Heart Church and School, Hattiesburg, Mississippi, U.S.A., 25 August 2022.

JSerra Catholic High School, San Juan Capistrano, California, 27 May 2022.

Christ the King Church and School, Mesa, Arizona, U.S.A., 22 March 2023.

Our Lady of the Annunciation Church and School, Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S.A., 24 November 2020.

Our Lady of Grace Church and School, Edina, Minnesota, 18 January 2023.

Sunday evening T.E.E.N. Mass, Blessed Sacrament Church, Erie, Pennsylvania.

Co-cantor Niña Manansala, San Jose Church, Agudo, Caloocan City, Philippines, 22 March 2023.

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