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Company FAQ

What is Wee Believers®?

The Mission of Wee Believers® is to enkindle the fire of faith in families. We accomplish this by offering a range of playful, innovative and high-quality products that are authentically Catholic and which will inspire both child and adult to know, love and serve God.

Wee Believers® is currently producing a broad line of authentically Catholic products that includes dolls, toys, sacramental gifts and seasonal items. Please see the Company Profile for more information.

Will there be other products available?

New toys currently in development include My Quiet Church^TM, a Fr. Juan Pablo plush doll and a Sr. Mary Clara plush doll. My Quiet Church^TMwill be another fully plush manipulative that includes a line of cloth figures featuring the Wee Believers® family, including Fr. Juan Pablo, the Wee Believers® parish priest, and Sr. Mary Elise. Baptism, First Holy Communion, and Matrimony accessory kits will be available to further enhance creative play inside My Quiet Church^TM.

What is My Mass Kit?

My Mass Kit is the flagship product of the Wee Believers® toy line. My Mass Kit is a plush manipulative, children’s version mass kit designed for reverent play, crafted from cotton/polyester blend material filled with polyester stuffing. It will help children, in a playful and tactile way, learn about the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, understand the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, and love and respect the Holy Priesthood. The pieces of My Mass Kit are child-friendly replicas of the items used by the priest during the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. The kit includes 12 cleanable pieces (Chalice, Paten, Crucifix, 2 Candles, Hosts, 2 Cruets, Corporal, Purificator, Finger Bowl, and Thurible) as well as an illustrated, ecclesiastically approved instruction booklet. My Mass Kit pieces are organized in a durable carrying case that cane be personalized for each child and that also serves as a pretend alter. Created for early childhood education, My Mass Kit is a powerful vocational tool for younger children.

Is playing with My Mass Kit irreverent? Did the Church approve its use?

The notion of a child’s mass kit is not a new idea. In fact, long before Vatican Council II, in the early 1940's and 1950's, children’s mass kits were common fare for Catholic parents help teach the faith and foster respect for the Holy Mass and the sacramentals used during the liturgy. In fact, when we shared the prototype of My Mass Kit with the Most Reverend Raymond Leo Burke, former Archbishop of St. Louis, now prefect of the Vatican’s highest court, he relayed this story to us, “When I was in first grade, I used to like to play Mass with the participation of my siblings and the neighboring children. My parents bought for me a Mass Kit for children, which was available at the time. It has a plastic chasuble and stole and little dishes and candles, much like this kit... I can tell you that that little Mass kit played its part in fostering my vocation to the priesthood.”

Archbishop Burke, as well as a number of respected priests, have reviewed and endorsed My Mass Kit for its reverence and respect to the meaning of the liturgy and the opportunity to help foster a vocation to the priesthood at an early age. Read Endorsements.

I noticed on the package "With Ecclesiastical Approval" What does that mean?

Written items, such as books and other forms of literature often seek Nihil Obstat and Imprimatur, which are declarations that the written work is free from doctrinal or moral errors. In the case of a toy, such as My Mass KIt, there is no official approval process. However, to ensure that we are producing items that are faithful to the magisterial teachings of the Catholic Church, we pursued and achieved the Ecclesiastical Approval of the religious authority in our home diocese (as is appropriate for Imprimatur). In this case, the approval was provided by the Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, Rev. Msgr. Joseph Schaedel, MS, MDiv.

Did you make changes to the design of My Mass Kit as a result of seeking approval of church hierarchy?

Yes. We originally had included stoles in My Mass Kit. After the design was reviewed by former Archbishop of St. Louis the Most Reverend Raymond Burke, he informed us that the wearing of a stole without a chasuble was not liturgically correct. Therefore, we removed the stoles from My Mass Kit, and will include them in a future product called My Vestment Kit, which is planned to include stoles for each liturgical season, and other vestments. These can be used in conjunction with My Mass Kit.

How will playing with My Mass Kit impact the faith of my children?

My Mass Kit will help children, in a playful and tactile way, learn about the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, understand the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, and love and respect the Holy Priesthood.

Of the many priests with whom we have presented My Mass Kit, almost all of them have shared with us the story of how "playing Mass” as young boys helped them grow deeply in love with God and fostered their vocation to the priesthood.

Can girls play with My Mass Kit?

Of Course! My Mass Kit is specifically designed with an eye towards young boys as men are called to the Holy Priesthood, however. We encourage parents and teachers to create environments where all children (and even adults) can participate in playing mass together. Hopefully, parents and faith educators will take the opportunity to explain to children the beautiful and important roles that both men and women play in the Church. We hope that this early childhood development distinctive will teach young boys and girls to grow in respect and reverence for the sacred history of the liturgy as it relates to the roles of men and women in the development of Christ’s Church.

Why does the church teach that only men can be Priests?

This question was eloquently and fully answered by His Holiness Pope John Paul II in his May 1994 Apostolic Letter, ORDINATIO SACERDOTALIS, TO THE BISHOPS OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH ON RESERVING PRIESTLY ORDINATION TO MEN ALONE. (Full Text Here). We could not put it any more beautifully and will not even try.

Will there be products soon that are designed with an eye towards girls?

The next product, My Quiet Church^TM, is inclined more towards playtime for girls. You can see more information here. However, all children can benefit from the educational nature of the toy and the instruction booklet with My Quiet Church, designed to help teach the names of items in and the significance of decorations in our sacred Churches.

How can My Mass Kit be used in the classroom?

We encourage teachers to use the kit to teach about the holy items used during the Liturgy. Typically, young children will not have the opportunity to touch the actual vessels that are used during the celebration of Mass. With My Mass Kit, teachers can pass around the plush items as they teach what each sacramental signifies and its proper use. This hands-on learning will help children focus during the actual Liturgy as they will feel a sense of familiarity with the sacramentals that their priest is using during the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. My Mass Kit is accompanied by an illustrated, ecclesiastically approved instruction booklet narrated by the Wee Believers® characters, which serves as a classroom aid.

Can My Mass Kit be used to help prepare kids for First Holy Communion?

This is one of the most dynamic ways to utilize My Mass Kit in the parish or home setting. For children who are preparing to receive First Holy Communion, My Mass Kit will have special significance and meaning. Catechists and parents will find the explanations of teachings on The Last Supper, transubstantiation, incense, the parts of the Mass, and the Eucharistic prayers much more meaningful as the children are able to touch, feel and visualize items in their own size and familiarity.

How do you suggest My Mass Kit be used?

There are many ways to use My Mass Kit. The most obvious and common is with young boys, encouraging them to “play mass” either alone or with other siblings and friends. Teachers and catechists will find multiple uses for My Mass Kit across grade levels, from pre-school to 8th grade, as they teach children about the significance of the items used at Mass, the history of their use, and the reverence and respect that God calls them to in their attendance at the weekly and daily liturgy. Specific suggestions:

· Invite your child’s Catholic friends over and set up an environment where the children can simulate, in their own understanding, the parts of the Mass.

· In the classroom, have a day or series of days where the children create the other parts of the environment for Mass. Don’t tell them what they are, but have them suggest what additional pieces are needed. When finished, invite a local priest to the classroom to celebrate a “dry Mass” with the children using the items in My Mass Kit and the items they created.

· In religious education classes, Play a “What item is this?” game. Come up with scenarios where various items in My Mass Kit are found in stories of the Bible, stories of the Saints you may have shared with your class or examples from the Mass itself. Ex.:

o Scenario statement: This item was passed by Jesus to His apostles at The Last Supper. Answer: The Chalice

o Scenario statement: This was the one item St. Maria Goretti longed to see before she died. Answer: The Consecrated Host

o Scenario statement: A much bigger version of this item is used at the Easter Vigil. Answer: The Candle

How many total pieces are included?

There are twelve individual items: Chalice, Paten, Crucifix, 2 Candles, Hosts, 2 Cruets, Corporal, Purificator, Finger Bowl, Thurible.

There is also an illustrated, ecclesiastically approved instruction booklet and durable nylon carrying case.

What are the pieces made out of?

My Mass Kit is crafted from cotton/polyester blend material filled with polyester stuffing.

Why plush? Why not metal or wood?

We wanted to design a mass kit that is first and foremost, Certified Quiet—our designs avoid the use of rattles, bells, whistles, electronics or crackling paper often found in toddler and baby toys. Secondly, we want children to be able to clearly distinguish between the toy mass kit, which they can handle and explore with reverence, and the real Mass sacramentals that the Priest uses during the Sacred Liturgy.

What are the dimensions of the carry-case and items in My Mass Kit?

The carrying case is made of high-quality nylon for strength, durability and stain resistance. The case measures 11 ½” x 9” x 3 ¾”, and the entire kit weighs approximately 2 pounds. The tallest of the items is 5” high (Chalice).

Are the pieces machine-washable?

Please DO NOT machine wash the items; while they are durable enough to be washed, machine-washing will cause them to become misshapen as they dry. It is best to spot clean the items as necessary.

What if a piece is lost or damaged through play? Can replacement pieces be bought separately?

Please call us 1-877-Wee-Blvr (933-2587) or Contact Us to inquire about replacement items.

Can the carrying case be personalized with the child’s name?

There is an ID card holder that can be personalized. In the Tools section of our website, you can download additional cards to put in the holder in case you need a replacement. You can simply print the new one on your printer at home.

Are any of the pieces choking hazards for families with smaller children?

Wee Believers® products are safety tested and CPSIA certified. We have had My Mass Kit tested by an independent, world-renowned safety testing firm to ensure the highest standards of quality and safety.

We have tested My Mass Kit using the most stringent safety standards possible. The smallest items in the kit are the hosts, and they are sized large enough so that they are safe for the youngest children. However, it is best to keep the items away from children not old enough to appreciate the importance of a mass kit.

Where are the pieces manufactured? Should parents be concerned about safety warnings for products made outside of the United States?

My Mass Kit is manufactured in Thailand. We sought out and hired quality control experts who have been handling manufacturing for medical, electronic and sewn products since 1983. Each factory facility is carefully and continuously monitored for quality, safety, and strict adherence to labor laws.

What does the instructional booklet explain?

The My Mass Kit instruction booklet will help families learn the meaning and use for each item in the kit. Narrated by one of the Wee Believers® characters, Fr. Juan Pablo, children will learn about each item as well as some other interesting facts about the Mass.

Is it written for children or for use by parents and other adults?

It is written for children with some additional commentary for parents and catechists. Children who can read will be able to follow along with the booklet. Children who cannot read will still be able to follow as each item is addressed on an illustrated level within the booklet.

Ordering Information

Other than online, where can we buy My Mass Kit and other Wee Believers® products?

Use our Store Locator to find a Catholic retail store near you that carries Wee Believers® products. If your local store does not currently carry them, either email us the store name or ask the store to contact us! It is important that we support our local Catholic retail stores, gift shops and book stores. They are an indispensable asset to the Church in making available all of the wonderful religious items that aid in our prayer lives.

My Mass Kit costs more than I would have expected. Are discounts available?

We give you our personal assurance that as we are able to grow our sales through your support, we will be able to procure larger orders from our factory, allowing for generous savings that will result in product pricing decreases. But to get to that point, we need the support of people who respect our mission and will journey with us. Please contact your local Catholic Retail Store directly for special discounts.

My school might want one for every classroom. Is bulk pricing available?

Yes, there is bulk pricing available for schools, churches and organizations who want to buy twelve or more. Please call us at 1.877.WEE.BLVR. (933-2587)

Shipping and Cancellation Policies:

Once we begin shipping, orders will be processed the next business day, at the latest. Many orders will process and ship the same day. Therefore, we will do our best to meet any cancellation request.

Please call 1.877.WEE.BLVR (933-2587) or email us to request cancellation.

We will ship via options from Federal Express for your convenience. Methods will vary in price and speed of delivery. Shipping prices will be available when our eCommerce site is operational.

If you call to pre-order, we will do our best to inform you of expected shipping & handling costs.

Return Policy:

Damaged or defective items must be returned within thirty (30) days of delivery. Unsold inventory in resalable condition** will be accepted up to 90 days after delivery of product, provided customer account is in good standing. No returns will be accepted after 90 days. Products may not be returned for refund on overdue bills – a merchandise credit will be issued.

Return Procedure:

The original packing slip should accompany returns. Please make a copy for your records.

Please include your name, address, and shipping number (from your email confirmation) or print a copy of your confirmation email and return to:

Wee Believers® Returns

11650 Lantern Road

Suite 208

Fishers, IN 46038

Shipping charges are NON-REFUNDABLE unless the return is due to our error (if the item we sent was incorrect or damaged). A restocking fee of $15.00 will be charged to the customer for all returns not due to damaged or defective products or on order cancellations that have already shipped.

Is there wholesale pricing available for retail store owners who want to sell your products?

Call 1.877.WEE.BLVR (933-2587) for discounted pricing and estimated shipping costs.

Initial orders will be paid for in advance while credit applications are pending approval. Credit Card or Check orders will receive an additional discount from the traditional wholesaler discount. Client may choose to submit a Purchase Order to be fulfilled upon approval of credit application. Once approved for credit, billing will proceed on a net 45 day cycle.

Wholesale Return Policy and Procedures