We begin by asking the children and parents to look around the Church. They are instructed to draw or write down a list of all the "things that they think are important". They are free to move around the space, getting up close and personal with the objects they see.
After a few minutes, we re-convene with the group. I ask one person at a time to name/show one thing they drew. Inevitably, the altar, pews, stained glass windows and ambo are named; although not always with the correct terms. We then tour the space and look at each object and talk about what it's purpose is. The tabernacle, ambo, and sanctuary lamp are the most "unknown". I then ask a follow-up question, which of the objects named are important/necessary for Mass? We discuss how the piano and stained glass windows are not necessary, but serve to beautify the space with color and music.
Those things that are necessary, essential even, the altar, ambo, seating (for the people, but not necessarily pews), etc. are things that one will find in ALL Catholic Churches in one form or another.
Shortly after the retreat day, a family went on vacation to Taiwan. Here is a note I received from them...Beautiful - FAITH IN ACTION!
In Taiwan we went quaint little parish in the mountains and Hans saw that it had all the same important things as St. Matthias. We took a picture there (he looks this dour in every picture.) Later we went to a beautiful cathedral in Taipei for Easter Mass and Hans was able to point out all the same stuff. It was a nice chance to reinforce what we learned the week before at first communion class.
I attached another picture so you could see the tea farming area we were in at 6 to 7 thousand feet elevation. On a clear day you can look down and see the ocean. It's a small island.
