I'm going to service tomorrow at a Catholic church and I don't know what to expect?

Question

My cousin just converted to Catholic. She invited me to come to her baptism which is tomorrow. I agreed to go, but my mom just told me that she heard that Catholics are really strict about who comes to service and they might not let me in. She also said that they do all kinds of things like crossing themselves and doing communion that I can't do because I'm not Catholic. Is it still ok for me to go to Catholic service? And what should I expect? How will I know what its okay for me to do or not to do? I would ask my cousin but my mom just told me and I can't call her house this late. I need someone to help me please!

Answer 1

Anyone can go to a Catholic service.

Answer 2

What to expect..... well - have you ever been to a ball game and done the cheer where the cheerleaders say "Stand up, sit down, fight fight fight!" - and you have to stand up and then sit down and move the left and the right? It's a little like that! LOL

No - seriously - Catholics do a lot of kneeling (but some of the churches have done away with their kneelers) then they stand, then they sit, then they stand again - then they kneel. Just follow everybody.

Your Mom is wrong. They don't care if you come to their church. But - they don't want you taking communion. They believe there are certain steps you have to take before you take communion. One of them would actually be the baptism that you are going to. Baptism is the first sacrament. Then you have to confess all of your sins - and THEN you can have communion.

Just go - and follow along - and it doesn't matter if you dip your fingertip in the holy water and cross yourself or not. And it doesn't matter if you genuflect (that might be spelled wrong - it's a little half kneel that you do before you go into the pew). None of that matters!!!! The catholics will be fine with you being there - but they will consider it disrepectful if you try to take communion - that's all. There will be other people who don't take communion. Some of them will be non-catholics like you. Others will not be feeling like their soul is clean enough to accept communion right now. You won't be the only person not going. And even if you were - that's okay.

One thing is this.... tomorrow is Easter - so I find it kind of odd that a Baptism is going on - but whatever. BUT - since it's Easter - the church is going to be PACKED!!! Get there really early so you can find a parking place!

You are going to support your cousin - and celebrate the fact that she has found a spirtual home that's right for her. That is very sweet - and a nice thing for you to do. Just go and be supportive. All will be well.

Answer 3

My husband is not Catholic and goes to church with me every Sunday. Your mom sounds like she either has no idea what she's talking about or she was teasing you or something. There is no Catholic test to get through the door.

I've been to many other Christian churches, and the mass is not all that different. There are readings from the Bible, singing, and preaching. The only things that are different are the use of Holy water, the sign of the cross, and communion, all of which are not a big deal and several other people will probably not participate. In every Catholic church to which I've belonged, there are always people who do not receive communion. People who are divorced are not supposed to, and lots of people are divorced!

Keep an open mind. It is seriously nothing different. You can follow along and watch when other people stand and sit and kneel. If you are Christian, it probably is not that different from your service and it's really nice that you are going to support your cousin.

Answer 4

Yes, yes, you can go to the service (called a Mass), you just can't receive communion. You can kneel and cross yourself if you want. There will be a lot of 'sit down, stand up, kneel down, repeat'. Just follow along with everyone else. Step out of the pew to allow others to pass by when it is time for communion, then sit back down.

Expect it to be crowded, so get there early! It gets packed because in addition to the regulars, there are many people who only go to church on Christmas and Easter. If baptisms are being done, the Mass will be long, so visit to the restroom before it starts.

I know how strange, terrifying and confusing it can be. It took me several tries to get up the courage to go to a Mass, and my sister almost didn't come when I converted because she was scared of not knowing what to do. Good luck to you and congratulations to your cousin.

Answer 5

All are welcome in God's Church. You have nothing to worry about.

Thank you for being there for your cousin. It's a wonderful thing when a person has loved ones there to support them during this special time of their life.

It's okay if you don't understand or know how to participate in the Mass. Just follow the congregation and you'll be fine. Don't worry if you don't know all the prayers or responses.

When the time comes for Holy Communion, I do ask that you not receive it. This is out of respect for the Blessed Sacrament and for you since you are not Catholic. You can still go up to the priest for a blessing; cross your hands in front of your chest or put a finger over your lips. However, if you don't feel comfortable going to the priest, you can simply remain seated and pray.

Thanks again for being there for your cousin.

God bless.

Answer 6

I was raised catholic. They won't let you have communion, but other than that, just sitting in the service won't make you conspicuous. There's a lot of standing and sitting and kneeling and standing... It's kind of like mini calisthenics. :) If you really want to blend, just follow along. There will be a little book called a missalette (sp?) that will help you follow along. The sign of the cross, if you wish to do that in order to follow along, is right hand to forehead, chest, left shoulder, and right shoulder.

Doctrinally, if you're a regular Protestant church attender, you will probably note a lot of unusual doctrine and teachings that are peculiar to the Catholic church. And the service is very solemn in tone.

Hope that helps! Have a blessed Easter.

Answer 7

Go, and enjoy.

Follow the Bible readings and sing the hymns.

There's nothing there that willl hurt you.

Sit, stand, or kneel when everyone else does.

Stay behind in your seat when others go up for communion, as communion, for a number of very good and complex reasons, is available only to Catholics.

Happy Easter!

Answer 8

Thank you for showing respect by asking. And welcome.

Please:
+ If you feel comfortable then pray and sing with the rest of the congregation.
+ Sit and stand when everyone else does.
+ If you feel comfortable kneeling during the Consecration then do so, otherwise sit.
+ Out of respect do not to receive Communion, according to local custom, and only if you wish, you may approach the altar with their arms crossed over your chest to receive a blessing.

Here is an outline of the Mass:

+ Introductory Rites
. + Entrance (All stand)
. + Greeting
. + Act of Penitence
. + Kyrie Eleison (Latin for "Lord have mercy")
. + Gloria
. + Opening Prayer

+ Liturgy of the Word
. + First Reading - usually from the Old Testament (All sit)
. + Responsorial Psalm
. + Second Reading - usually from a New Testament Epistle
. + Gospel Reading (All stand)
. + Homily (All sit for the sermon)
. + Profession of Faith (the Nicene Creed) (All stand)
. + Prayer of the Faithful (prayers of petition)

If a Baptism is scheduled then it would happen here.

+ Liturgy of the Eucharist
. + The Preparation of the Gifts - the bread and wine are brought forward and placed on the altar, our monetary offerings are also collected at this time (All sit)
. + The Prayer over the Offerings (All stand)
. + The Eucharistic Prayer - during this prayer the bread and wine change into the Body and Blood of Christ (Catholics kneel, visitors may kneel or sit)
. + The Lord's Prayer (All stand)
. + The Rite of Peace (We offer each other a sign of peace)
. + The Breaking of the Bread
. + Communion - non-Catholics are requested out of respect not to receive Communion, they may approach the altar with their arms crossed over their chest to receive a blessing (Stand or kneel according to local custom)

+ The Concluding Rites
. + Announcements (All sit)
. + Blessing (All stand)
. + Dismissal
. + Procession

With love in Christ.

Answer 9

...relax... you can go in... really, it's Ok... The Catholics do a lot of "religious gymnastics"...crossing-themselves, kneeling down at the isles... ringing of bells, shaking things filled with smoke...(the smoke is just incense) munching on wafers, drinking small sips of wine... and in the case of your cousin, the Priest (dressed like he just stepped off a chess-board) will drizzle some water over her head... Just go and watch. See all the gymnastics... Jesus never meant worship to be like that... He made it so much simpler... but the Roman Church still holds is antiquated traditions up on the back of their believers... just go and watch.... you'll be fine...

Answer 10

Yes, you can. There is nothing wrong in praying with other Christians, right? You don't have to cross yourself if you don't want to. Just don't take communion because you are not a baptised Catholic.

Peace and every blessing!