Here’s some information about some great new Apps on the Liturgy!
The first is the My Picture Missal App from Loyola Press. This App, available in the iTunes store at this link: My Picture Missal App, was developed for children with special needs and for young children. The intent of this interactive app is to help children learn, understand, and fully experience the Mass.
Children with special needs have spiritual lives and, with communication assistance, can learn the faith and deepen their relationship with God. My Picture Missal is a simple, interactive app that leads the child through the Order of Mass, including the words to the following prayers: Sign of the Cross, Apostles’ Creed, Nicene Creed, and the Lord’s Prayer.
With a choice of English or Spanish, each part of the Mass is displayed as a colorful icon and a word or short phrase. Additional icons can be activated at any time for stand, sit, kneel, quiet, pray, and take a break to remind children of what they should be doing, or children can show what they know, or communicate with parents without speaking. Children can use this app as a way to “walk through the Mass” in church and use it at home for reinforcement, as well as a way to learn and pray the prayers with their family.
The 2nd is an iPad app called The Mass Explained from Daniel Gonzalez, designed to foster a deeper understanding of the Mass and targeted at young adults and college students. This was recommended to me by Joyce Donahue, talented Catechetical Associate with the Office of Religious Education of the Diocese of Joliet, who blogs at Liturgy and Catechesis Shall Kiss.
Thanks for the recommendations, Joe! Any chance Loyola Press will release an Android version of their app for us non-Apple users?
Jonathan, I’ll ask around but I’ve not heard of any plans for that at this time.