Let's have a gentle (but honest) moment here...
Let's have a gentle (but honest) moment here...
Mass with kids can feel more like crowd control than spiritual formation.
You try to be prepared—snacks packed and quiet books loaded. But most Sundays, you don’t even make it to the Gloria before you’re whispering bribes, threats, and Hail Marys.
As a mom of five, I get it. Your kids are just being kids, and you’re so busy managing the chaos, you barely catch a line of the scriptures or homily. And yet—the Mass holds the source and summit of our faith. It’s meant to be an encounter with Jesus in the Eucharist…
But with little kids, it can just feel like a test of endurance.
The thing is, you really want your kids to love the Mass—not just survive it. You want them to understand what’s happening and start connecting with Jesus in the liturgy. Yes, some of that comes with age. But kids understand more than we often give them credit for, and the more prepared they are, the more engaged they become.
When they know what to expect, what they’re hearing, and why it matters, they don’t just sit through the Mass.
They start to participate in it. But as a busy parent already wearing 15 hats, you don’t have time to prep a different liturgical lesson for every age group, every single Sunday.
And now you don’t have to—because we took the planning, printing, and Pinteresting off your plate.
Real-life ready for real families
Real-life ready for real families
Hey, hey! Olivia here, the mom behind Gather & Pray and accidental innovator of the pre-Mass prep that actually works.
I've spent years creating hands-on, engaging prayer tools for families at home—but no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t get my kids to connect that way to the Mass. They’d squirm. Zone out. Whisper about donuts. And I’d walk out feeling more drained than nourished—like I’d survived Mass, not met Jesus in it.
Then one weekend, by accident, my son heard the Mass readings before we got to church. And in the middle of the Gospel, he leaned over and whispered, "I remember this." That moment stuck with me. I knew I had to make Mass prep part of our rhythm—but I couldn’t find anything that was simple, solid, and actually sustainable for our busy life (did I mention the five kids thing?).
So I made it. And I’m so excited to share it with you and your family. This isn’t a curriculum or complex liturgical living project. It’s not more work for you. It’s a grab-and-go tool that helps your kids participate more fully in the Mass, not just sit through it.
They’ll recognize the readings.
They’ll remember the stories.
You may even get your own “I remember” moment (email me when you do!).
And if you’re thinking, “I don’t know if we have time for this,” then know I made this with YOU in mind. Busy Catholic parents trying to raise holy kids. Families juggling homeschool, work, toddlers, teens, and all the things in between. Everything is designed to take 5–10 minutes a week. That’s it. No printing. No apps. No complicated setup. No brain space required to figure out “what to say” or “how to make it stick.”
And here’s the wild part—this whole thing costs less than $2 a week. Less than a coffee run for something that could help your kids meet Jesus in the liturgy.
If you're ready to make Mass more meaningful (without making life more complicated), Mass Prep for Families is waiting for you.
Questions? Get ‘em answered below.
Questions? Get ‘em answered below.
What if we have a family with several ages?
Perfect. That’s exactly who we made this for. The scripture readings, reflections, and sacred art are accessible for the whole family. And we’ve divided the discussion questions into three age groups (3-6 years, 6-9 years, and 9-12 years) so you can tailor the prep specifically to your family. And because it’s all in one place (and super short), you can easily go through it together or break it up to meet each kid where they’re at—without doing three separate lessons.
How much time does this take each week?
Mass Prep for Families is designed to be short, simple, and effective. Most families spend about 5–10 minutes with it each week. (Though, sometimes your kids will surprise you and want to spend more time on the discussion questions.)
I’m not sure my kids would be into this. What if they don’t want to do it?
Great question! Kids respond differently when faith feels like a natural part of family life, not just another lesson or checklist. This isn’t homework—it’s meaningful family time. And even if they don’t seem into it at first, the consistency, warmth, and simplicity speak volumes. Every child craves connection with their parents (yes, even the eye-rolling ones), and this gives you a way to nurture that connection while nurturing their faith.
What if my child is neurodivergent or struggles with attention?
You are not alone—and this resource was made with your family in mind, too. Mass Prep for Families is intentionally short, flexible, and gentle. It’s not a script or a lesson plan—it’s a simple invitation to connect with your child where they are, with no pressure to sit still or "perform." You can easily adapt it to your child’s needs, attention span, or sensory preferences. Want to play the audio instead of reading? Great. Prefer to look at the sacred art and just talk about one question? Beautiful.
Do I need to download anything?
Nope! It comes straight to your phone via text—nothing to install, print, or accidentally delete.
What if I need to cancel?
Monthly members can cancel anytime—no guilt, no questions asked. Annual memberships are a one-time commitment and include full-year access.
Okay, real talk, you might be thinking:
Okay, real talk, you might be thinking:
“Olivia, love this so much, but I already have a drawer/inbox FULL of good intentions: PDFs, downloads, and liturgical living ideas that felt inspiring… until life happened.”
Mama, I feel that!
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had a great idea for a Gospel activity or family devotion—only for the week to fly by in a blur of errands, homeschool, meal prep, and so. much. laundry.
Life is full and beautiful and busy. And my goal with Mass Prep for Families is simple—help you do what matters the most… more consistently.
Because that’s what this is all about: Matthew 28:19—making disciples. Helping your family get to Heaven.
And sometimes that doesn’t start with big plans or beautifully laminated crafts. It starts with five minutes. One text. A simple rhythm that actually happens.
If you’ve read this far and you’re still not sure….
If you’ve read this far and you’re still not sure….
I respect that so much. I know you don’t want another subscription collecting dust—or another thing to feel guilty about not using.
And no, this won’t make your kids sit perfectly still or whisper Gregorian chant on the way in…
But if you're not preparing at all right now, what are your kids really taking away from the Mass?
Because as much as we’d love the liturgy to do all the heavy lifting, most kids aren’t walking into church ready to meet Jesus—they’re walking in fidgeting, distracted, and completely unsure of what’s going on.
That little bit of prep? It matters. It plants seeds. It prepares their hearts to receive what’s always been waiting for them.
Let’s be honest—$9 doesn’t go far at Target. But here? It prepares hearts for eternity.
At less than $2 a week—and with a no-questions-asked, cancel-anytime policy—there’s zero risk, zero pressure.
Try it for one month and see what God can do with five focused minutes. Join now and get your first text before Sunday!
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*Annual memberships are a one-time, upfront payment. You’ll continue to receive full access to Mass Prep for Families for 12 months from the date of purchase.