Please genuflect when entering your pew before
Mass. Then take a moment to kneel and
pray before Mass begins.
Please genuflect when leaving the pew after Mass
and then leave the church in a respectful
silence or in a respectful quite tone of
conversation.
Those who must stand in the back of church or in
the narthex during Mass are kindly asked to
refrain from talking during the Mass.
Those who stand in the back are also asked to kneel
during the Eucharistic Prayer and the
Lamb of God (if they
are able).
Our tradition tells us to refrain from eating or
drinking one hour before receiving communion.
This fast includes gum, candy, or mints.
One should also not stop for coffee and donuts
before Mass. Any of these things before
Mass are disrespectful to the Eucharist.
No one should receive Holy Communion if they are
conscious of serious sin, until they have
gone to confession.
Non-Catholics are asked to
not receive Holy Communion. Please feel welcome
to make a spiritual Communion.
When receiving Holy Communion, please say
Amen in a clear and distinct voice, and if
receiving on the hand, hold hands at a
respectful level, one hand on top of the other. One must never grab the host.
If you cannot use both hands to receive communion
(e.g. carrying a child)
think about receiving Holy Communion on
the tongue.
Please respect the instructions of the ushers given
to you at Mass.
Please discourage children from unnecessary trips
to the bathroom. No one should leave
church, except for emergencies during the
Gospel, Homily, and Eucharistic Prayer.
If you are arriving late to Mass, please do not enter
the main body of the Church during the
Gospel reading.
Please dress respectfully when attending Mass.
If you hold hands during the Our Father, please
respect the rights of others who do not wish
to do so. This gesture is not allowed
for in the rite and so must not be imposed on
anyone for any reason.
Please do not leave Mass until the priest has
reached the back of the Church.
