Little Rock parish’s “Massports” program rewards children with stickers for attending Mass, encouraging faith participation during Lent.
Newsroom (12/03/2026 Gaudium Press ) At Our Lady of the Holy Souls Church in Little Rock, Arkansas, a colorful booklet is helping children rediscover the habit of attending weekend Mass. The parish’s inventive “Massports” program, first launched during Advent 2025, has returned for Lent — and with enthusiastic participation from families across the parish community.
Each child, from preschoolers to eighth graders, carries a small “passport booklet” to weekend services. After Mass, they excitedly line up to receive a sticker from the priests and deacons, a small but meaningful acknowledgment of their presence. The sense of anticipation is palpable; after the Feb. 21 Saturday evening Mass, children swarmed pastor Father Daniel Velasco, associate pastor Father Joji Reddy Allam, and Deacon Quinton Thomas, eager to collect their first Lent sticker.
From Incentive to Community Spirit
The idea, born out of pastoral council discussions on how to engage families more deeply in attending Mass, has proven ingenious in its simplicity. Principal Amber Bagby explained that the program began as a gentle way to nurture consistent participation without invoking guilt. “The kids thrive off incentives and just the sheer challenge of it all,” she said. “We started small with Advent to see how it would play out, and it was wildly successful.”
Following that strong response, the parish decided to expand Massports during Lent to include seventh- and eighth-graders. Of the school’s 350 children in pre-K through sixth grade, 220 students turned in their completed passport booklets after Christmas break and were rewarded with treats from a snow cone truck. After Easter, those who attend all six weekends of Lent will receive a new surprise — a mystery “special treat” planned by parish organizers.
The initiative is flexible enough to include students who travel during spring break or those who attend other denominations. Children away from Little Rock can ask a priest at another parish—or even their parents or minister—to sign their booklet. The goal, Bagby emphasized, is to focus on participation over perfection.
A Growing Movement of Faith
The enthusiasm among young parishioners has been contagious. Sixth grader Harper Couch admitted that the program changed her outlook: “Sometimes I would put Mass off, but the Massports motivated me to go. It was more about being with God rather than the big prize.” Her classmate, Lillian Richards, shared similar feelings. “I think it is good for kids who typically don’t like going to Mass. It brings me closer to Jesus and keeps me motivated,” she said.
Youth Faith Formation director Andrew Baka said he’s already seeing new energy in his Sunday classes. Although none of the 49 religious education students returned their booklets after Advent, this Lent seems different. “I’ve started promoting it again to both students and parents,” Baka noted. “I can already see new families showing up—or kids bringing a friend to Mass just to get their sticker.”
He said the program even appears to be motivating entire households. “You can tell it was one mom or one dad coming so their kid could get that sticker,” Baka said. “It’s the kids driving the parents to church.”
Building Habits That Last Beyond Lent
Father Velasco said the success of Massports rests in its simplicity—and its focus on joy rather than obligation. At the end of each Mass, he playfully reminds the children, “Bring your parents to Mass next week.” For many families, the booklet is quickly becoming more than a child’s project; it’s a shared journey of faith.
“I got to see kids that I didn’t see regularly at Mass,” Velasco said. “The kids had to have the initiative to go to Mass. Sometimes I remember the kids saying they had to ask grandma or grandpa to bring them.”
As Lent continues, the parish of Our Lady of the Holy Souls is discovering that a few stickers and a little encouragement can go a long way. A small, passport-sized idea is transforming not just attendance numbers, but the rhythm of family faith life in Little Rock — one Mass, and one sticker, at a time.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from CNA
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