Arkansas Parish Launches 'Massports' Program to Boost Mass Attendance During Lent

Children at Our Lady of the Holy Souls Church receive stickers for attending Mass each week.

Mar. 12, 2026 at 3:36pm

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A parish in Little Rock, Arkansas has instituted a program called 'Massports' to encourage children to attend Mass during Lent. Children from ages 3 to 8th grade are given a 'passport booklet' and receive a sticker from priests and deacons after each Mass they attend. Those who collect stickers for all six Sundays in Lent will receive a special treat after Easter.

Why it matters

The Massports program is an effort by the parish to boost Mass attendance, especially among families with children. The parish hopes the incentive will motivate more kids to attend Mass regularly and get their parents involved as well.

The details

All children from 3 years old to 8th grade are encouraged to bring their 'Massport' passport booklets to Mass each weekend to receive a sticker after Mass, personally handed out by the priests and deacons. After Easter, children who received a sticker for all six Sundays in Lent will get a special treat. The program was first introduced during Advent 2025 and has now been expanded to include 7th and 8th graders for Lent 2026.

  • The Massports program was first introduced during Advent 2025.
  • The program was brought back for Lent 2026.
  • After Ash Wednesday on February 18, 2026, Massports were given to all children in the parish.
  • On February 21, 2026, kids swarmed the priests and deacons after Mass to get their first sticker.
  • After Easter 2026, children who received a sticker for all six Sundays in Lent will get a special treat.

The players

Our Lady of the Holy Souls Church

A Catholic parish in Little Rock, Arkansas that instituted the Massports program.

Father Daniel Velasco

The pastor of Our Lady of the Holy Souls Church who supports the Massports program.

Father Joji Reddy Allam

The associate pastor of Our Lady of the Holy Souls Church who hands out stickers for the Massports program.

Deacon Quinton Thomas

A deacon at Our Lady of the Holy Souls Church who hands out stickers for the Massports program.

Amber Bagby

The principal of the school at Our Lady of the Holy Souls Church who helped implement the Massports program.

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What they’re saying

“The kids thrive off incentives and just the sheer challenge of it all. We started small with the Advent season to see how it would play out the first time around, and it was wildly successful. So I told Father, 'Why don't we try it one more time at Lent,' and then we will see how it progresses from there, if it grows into maybe a summer challenge. It's just a way to get more kids actively invested in their Sunday Mass obligation and try not to put any guilt or shame in there.”

— Amber Bagby, Principal (The Catholic Telegraph)

“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. So now I like going.”

— Harper Couch, 6th Grader (The Catholic Telegraph)

“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.”

— Lillian Richards, 6th Grader (The Catholic Telegraph)

What’s next

After Easter 2026, the parish will plan a special surprise for the students who participated in the Massports program by collecting stickers for all six Sundays in Lent.

The takeaway

The Massports program at Our Lady of the Holy Souls Church demonstrates how a parish can use creative incentives to encourage greater Mass attendance, especially among families with children. By making it fun and rewarding for kids to attend Mass regularly, the parish hopes to instill lifelong habits of faith and community.