How to behave during Mass?

[bben15]

People talk in church all the time. Why?

They have never been told not to. When is the last time you heard a priest tell the folks that the church is a sanctuary and as such no talking is permitted? Probably never. Growing up our nuns told us to be quiet and pay attention to the mass, our parents told us to be quiet and pay attention to the mass. If anyone disobeyed, well, there were consequences. Also you were taught that since Jesus is in the sanctuary you need to act in a reverend manner and behave yourself. Now things like that might upset somebody or give them some sort of complex so it’s a free for all.

At our church you will not hear talking in the sanctuary and yes it is written down on a sheet of behaviors, along with a dress code. And the priest goes over the list from time to time.

Sitting in front won’t help with talkers, but then I have been to some masses where the priest is the one yucking it up before mass. There should not be any talking in the sanctuary before mass either. If you have to talk go outside and do it.

I never needed to be told to remain quiet. I knew from day one that it is disrespectful to talk. It is a sad day when a child has more respect than a grown adult does.

 

[TK421]

@Lisa:

Yeah I called a couple of weeks ago and talked to the secretary about getting into RCIA. I haven’t heard anything yet but I’m assuming they’ll call me sometime before September. I wasn’t aware there was such a thing as “sponsors”. I happen to be converting during a tumultuous time in my life: I’m in the middle of completing my graduate studies and I may be moving somewhere hours away within the next few months as I look into getting into an intro job that will lead up to another position, so I’ll probably end up completing my RCIA in two different locations. It makes me feel discouraged to try overly hard to socialize, and if I ended up just getting started later in the fall I might have to wait until Easter 2015 to officially enter full communion.

 

[LisaA]

@Lisa:

Yeah I called a couple of weeks ago and talked to the secretary about getting into RCIA. I haven’t heard anything yet but I’m assuming they’ll call me sometime before September. I wasn’t aware there was such a thing as “sponsors”. I happen to be converting during a tumultuous time in my life: I’m in the middle of completing my graduate studies and I may be moving somewhere hours away within the next few months as I look into getting into an intro job that will lead up to another position, so I’ll probably end up completing my RCIA in two different locations. It makes me feel discouraged to try overly hard to socialize, and if I ended up just getting started later in the fall I might have to wait until Easter 2015 to officially enter full communion.

Do follow up with your Parish. I think most RCIA programs have a little informal “meet and greet” for those interested in entering RCIA. Do not be reluctant to let the RCIA director know the challenges in your life and how it might impact your attending. We’re happy to accommodate if someone starts at one place and then needs to finish somewhere else. I’ve seen this occur several times. Or the day of the week we have RCIA doesn’t work so the person goes to a different Parish that has RCIA on a day that works for their schedule. Also your RCIA director and team will help you with a sponsor if you haven’t designated anyone as yet. About half the people who enter do not have sponsors (I didn’t) and the team is very careful to get the right fit so that the person assigned can help you as you need and within your schedule.

Again do not let the bad experience at Mass discourage you. I was very fortunate to have a sponsor (she was part of the team and we are still good friends) who went to Mass with me several times as I was very nervous about protocol and what to do when…our Priest called it “Cath-aerobics” because we are up and down and kneeling and standing which is very confusing to new people.

Again all blessings and prayers for a wonderful journey Home. Also please feel free to ask questions about RCIA on CAF. There are usually a few threads about RCIA and right now as we are forming for 2013-2014 there is more activity on CAF.

Lisa