Reading at Mass is fun, says 11-year-old Belmont parishioner

The first time Fr Peter Aduaka heard Francis McComie reading at Mass he sat up and took notice because of how well the 11-year-old proclaimed the Word.

“He was not scared at all; I was carried away the way he read. I turned my chair so I was looking at him…the way he read I could not help it,” he said.

Francis did the First Reading and Responsorial Psalm at Mass November 19, the 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time. Since then, he was later put on the schedule of lectors for December 2 and the Christmas Eve Mass 6 p.m.

In November, Francis responded to a call for young people to participate in church and share their talents. He joined the choir playing guitar and singing. This impressed Fr Aduaka who asked if he could do readings. Francis confidently said ‘yes’ and subsequently began reading at the youth Mass.

“He is multi-talented and bold, and his father and mother are always there at his side. He has the parental support –the parents behind him, what the young ones need today,” Fr Aduaka said.

Francis, a pupil of Sacred Heart Boys’ RC started playing guitar during the Covid-19 lockdown. He is a performer and goes by the name ‘Julong’. Two years ago, he released a single titled ‘Rise Up’. His father Anthony is a professional musician.

Fr Aduaka noticed that when Francis read at the regular Mass, the children in attendance were alert and listening to him. “I feel that what he did was great, and I pray that God keep him, and he continue to do what he is doing,” Fr Aduaka said.

Joanne Weekes, coordinator for lectors said the youth Mass occurs monthly and Francis has played the guitar with the music ministry and read. His reading is “outstanding”, she said, and appreciated his willingness to do things when asked.

She is working to have younger parishioners involved because many of the adult lectors are elderly. “We need the younger people and their ideas, get them involved in church so we are looking for the younger people. He was one that captured us, and we decided to hold on to him and his dad was very willing.” Francis is also training to be an altar server.

Francis will be gradually prepared for his role as lector, Weekes said they did not want to overwhelm him as he also has choir practice.

There is another child whom Fr Aduaka would like to see start doing readings. She is being prepared for First Communion. Her grandmother is a lector and she will have her begin in the youth Mass.

Weekes explained, “Right now in our First Communion class, we have a few of them that are good readers, so I am watching them to kind of groom them into being lectors.”

Young readers bring new life to the church, and she sees it as nurturing for the future, the way a plant grows from a seed. Weekes said, “When we have children like this it is to capture them and keep them in line with God too and doing God’s work. As you see the world going crazy now and we need the youths to be more positive in their lives, and I think it will help other youths in the church look at this and say ‘if he can do that I can do it too’ and encourage them to come forward.” Participation is voluntary.

Reading at Mass can build the confidence of children with low self-esteem. Weekes said if a child who may not be doing well in school can find something they are good at, it can have benefits in other areas of life. “They tell themselves ‘I must try before I can fail’ so I think it will help them personally and help the parish,” she said.

Francis told The Catholic News: “I feel elated and happy graduating from the youth Mass to the regular Mass and I find it is an honour out of all the children in church the priest asked me to read at the adult Mass.”

He said reading at Mass is fun and he got to “praise God”. Asked about understanding the readings, he said sometimes he will ask his father but most times he knew what the reading was about.

How does he feel about being an example to encourage other children to do Mass readings? Francis replied, “I feel happy that I am able to actually inspire others to read”. —LPG