Can someone tell me what a typical Catholic church service may consist of?

Answer 1

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)

+ 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 2

It's not really called a church service, it's called "the Mass" and it's held either Saturday evening (for convenience of those who work or will be out of town) or Sunday (several Masses up thru 1PM). The Mass is said in English these days with the priest facing the people (used to be in Latin with his back toward the people). I'm telling you this in case the book you write takes place before 1967 when the rules changed. The priest has at least two boys from the catholic school who are called servers in the sacristy who help carry things and move things around on the altar for the priest. It's an all male thing as I know it (the priest and servers are all male) unless something changed when I wasn't looking. The choir sings. Three important parts to the Mass are the Offertory, Consecration and serving of the Holy Eucharist. People in my church both kneel and stand up, genuflect and do the sign of the cross and tap their heart with their hand at certain times of the Mass. When those 3 parts have been completed the priest and servers leave the church and greet the people at the door as they leave. There are other special services like baptisms, confirmations, first holy communions, weddings, funerals, etc. I guess you could say that every church has their own customs. Although they celebrate several holidays and most are the same everywhere they do add certain touches for every ethnicity who attends there. There are different colored vestments, different prayers for every event. Again, if you are writing for prior to 1967 then women would be in church with veils or callets on their heads. If you are writing about the 1950's then you'd add a flavor of a lot of old people going to daily mass in their black wool coats and the old women with babushkas and the rosary society saying the rosary before mass. Perhaps it's too involved and you'd rather just talk vaguely about it in your book.

Answer 3

For Catholics, the Holy Eucharist / Catholic Mass is considered the most important and highest form of prayer. In fact, attending Mass is an obligation, under penalty of mortal sin, each Sunday and on certain other Holy Days of Obligation. The Mass is divided into two sections, the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist. The Liturgy of the Word consists of two readings (one from the Old Testament and one from the New Testament), the Responsorial Psalm, the Gospel reading, the homily (or sermon), and general intercessions (also called petitions).

The center of the Mass is its second part, the Liturgy of the Holy Eucharist. During this time, Catholics share in the body and blood of Jesus in the form of the bread and wine passed out to the congregation.

Answer 4

The basic structure of the mass has four parts: two main parts and tow framing rites:

1- Introductory Rites
2- Liturgy of the word (Biblical readings, Homily, Creed, Intercessions)
3- Liturgy of the Eucharist (preparation, Eucharistic prayer, Communion Rite
4- Concluding Rite

Go to Google and type in: The order of the Mass

They will go into more detail for you.

Answer 5

The Catholic service or mass consist of two parts 1. th Liturgy of the Word: where there is a reading from the old testament, the new Testament and the GOSPELS and a homily (sermon given by the priest) . and 2. Liturgy of the Eucharist: that includes, Scripture, prayer, praise & worship.

Answer 6

First of all, the Mass is loaded with Scripture. Not only do they have 4 readings for a Sunday Mass, with a Homily (sermon), the prayers are also intertwined with Scripture. Then of course, their is the celebration of the Eucharist, which Jesus commanded his Apostles to do in his rememberance. You should go some time. Sit in the back if you feel more comfortable. Feel free to sing along, there are ususally hymnals in the pews.

Answer 7

Go to a Catholic Church and sit in the back and observe the service!

Answer 8

praying confession ,asking for forgiveness listing to the preist and then getting the body of chirst,but its not so simple.But its alomst like any church its just a little more complex.

Answer 9

Lots of kneeling, singing, creeds and communion. I recommend going to one. They are really pretty. Especially on a holiday.

Answer 10

Go to one and find out. They're free of charge you know.