Is it an EF thing or a Catholic thing?

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Hello everyone. I only recently came into full communion in the Roman Catholic church. I know what TLM is. I go to the TLM occasionally. I remember much of it from my childhood pre Vatican ll. Anyway, I would like to know the meaning of EF and OF. Just tell me what the letters stand for, for now. BTW, I am really getting fed up with the talking before the mass in our church when I am praying and trying to prepare myself to receive Christ in the Eucharist. It seems to be getting worse and worse. I may start going to the TLM at another church every Sunday if only because it is more reverent and quiet.

Thank you,
Lynnet
 
rben20 said:
Would you mind telling us what has caused you the desire to convert? Besides the Holy Spirit working in you of course 😃
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It has been a culmination of many things over a decade. I have been drawn to the Church for a long long time. Plus I love Gregorian Chant. 🙂
 
snowbee said:
And to address the other issue of socializing. You just have to stick around after mass and introduce yourself. You have to take the initiative either to introduce yourself or go to other functions by the ministries within the parish.
But certainly violating the Most Holy Sacrament is no way to rub elbows with Traditional minded people mind you.
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*However, there are circumstances when non-Catholics may receive Communion from a Catholic priest. This is especially the case when it comes to Eastern Orthodox Christians, who share the same faith concerning the nature of the sacraments:

“Catholic ministers may licitly administer the sacraments of penance, Eucharist and anointing of the sick to members of the oriental churches which do not have full Communion with the Catholic Church, if they ask on their own for the sacraments and are properly disposed. This holds also for members of other churches, which in the judgment of the Apostolic See are in the same condition as the oriental churches as far as these sacraments are concerned” (CIC 844 § 3).*

catholic.com/library/Who_Can_Receive_Communion.asp
 
lynnet said:
Hello everyone. I only recently came into full communion in the Roman Catholic church. I know what TLM is. I go to the TLM occasionally. I remember much of it from my childhood pre Vatican ll. Anyway, I would like to know the meaning of EF and OF. Just tell me what the letters stand for, for now. BTW, I am really getting fed up with the talking before the mass in our church when I am praying and trying to prepare myself to receive Christ in the Eucharist. It seems to be getting worse and worse. I may start going to the TLM at another church every Sunday if only because it is more reverent and quiet.

Thank you,
Lynnet
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OF = Ordinary Form of Mass, or the Novus Ordo.
EF = Extraordinary Form of Mass, AKA the Traditional Latin Mass.

I’ve been blessed in that my local parish, which celebrates the Ordinary Form, is surprisingly quiet before Mass. Yes, there is a bit of chatter, but from my place in the front it is kept down to a dull roar. (That is actually unfair. Some people chat too much but I can easily tune it out.)
 
skinny_pumpkin said:
In my my desire to convert from Orthodoxy to Catholicism I have visited two parishes that have the EF Mass somewhat near me. Not one person has acknowledged my existence. Not one single hello. Nothing. I thought well maybe it was my first time.
I’ve been to one parish 4 times, nothing. I’m invisible. Today, I tried a different parish. There was some festival going on outside as I arrived. There were maybe 20 people there that attended the EF Mass. Nothing. I stumbled around for a few minutes after Mass but there was no invite for coffee, hello or anything.
Really, at least in Orthodox parishes, the priest or someone will invite you to coffee hour before they start ignoring you. Personally, I would normally just mill around and start up a conversation but I have never felt this kind of alienation except from the staff of the Waldorf Astoria in New York.

Is this normal? Is it an EF thing or a Catholic phenomena?
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I’m sorry that you weren’t welcomed at the parishes 😦

I’m a convert from Orthodoxy to Catholicism… I think that Orthodox parishes tend to be smaller and more ethnic/cultural and so there might be more fellowship for that reason. I think with Mass, most people just come there to pray and - personally after Communion I just like to pray by the Tabernacle, I dont’ really speak to people… I think it depends on the parish though!

I’ve met many Catholic friends through conferences/the university Catholic club/events etc…

If I can make any suggestion, don’t let things like this confuse you, just try to focus on God and He will lead you in His way!!

God bless!
 
skinny_pumpkin said:
Wow. I am wondering if it is even logistically possible to convert. I approached the priest at one parish asking if I could speak to him sometime. He seemed dismayed and told me to contact him through the parish web site.
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that’s really odd 😦 my priest is always around after Mass and is very approachable! I think it really depends on the priest and on the parish. 🙂

what I did, is I phoned the church and asked to make an appointment with Father… then when I met with him, I explained that I’m interested in converting. I didn’t need RCIA, but I was received into the Church at the Easter Vigil.
Seriously, I do not want to inconvenience or trouble anyone with silly inquiries about conversion to the Church, or make people feel uncomfortable with my presence.
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I think people should be glad to meet someone new at the parish, or someone interested in Catholicism; not be uncomfortable. I don’t think inquiries are silly at all!! Maybe you just need to find the right priest to talk to 🙂 … don’t be discouraged!
skinny_pumpkin said:
These parishes offer both rites. I understand very well what you are saying about the purpose of worship. I mean, Matins and the Divine Liturgy can be 2 hours of standing and praying. I am not protestant (no offense intended) . It is a pretty serious affair.
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have you ever thought about going to an Eastern rite Catholic parish?
 
The_Reginator said:
OF = Ordinary Form of Mass, or the Novus Ordo.
EF = Extraordinary Form of Mass, AKA the Traditional Latin Mass.

I’ve been blessed in that my local parish, which celebrates the Ordinary Form, is surprisingly quiet before Mass. Yes, there is a bit of chatter, but from my place in the front it is kept down to a dull roar. (That is actually unfair. Some people chat too much but I can easily tune it out.)
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I understand it now. I saw NO in another post and knew it meant Novus Ordo. Anyway, thank you.
.
 
Welcome home to the Church! I am very happy for you. I am on a journey home to the Church as well, protestant to Catholic, and loving it.

I have found that this depends on the parish. When I go to my parish, OF and primarily African-American, everyone is warm and speaks to you. Our sign of peace is kind of long, and involves some hugging for those who like to hug:D When ever we have visitors a speaker goes up before saying anouncements, he requests for the visitors to stand as he calls their names (we have a guest book). He says something like: We want to extend the love in our parish to you and hope you come back to worship with us Again, and Again, and Again, and Again… The speaker is very warm and sincere.

My Advice is to keep visiting parishes, and consider a very reverant OF Mass.
:blessyou:

Also to those who believe we should not be concerned with welcoming others at Mass, remeber that in our Love for our Lord we must also show love of neighbor. The most important command, only second to the commandment to lov God, is that we must love our neighbors as ourselves.
 
skinny_pumpkin said:
In my my desire to convert from Orthodoxy to Catholicism I have visited two parishes that have the EF Mass somewhat near me. Not one person has acknowledged my existence. Not one single hello. Nothing. I thought well maybe it was my first time.
I’ve been to one parish 4 times, nothing. I’m invisible. Today, I tried a different parish. There was some festival going on outside as I arrived. There were maybe 20 people there that attended the EF Mass. Nothing. I stumbled around for a few minutes after Mass but there was no invite for coffee, hello or anything.
Really, at least in Orthodox parishes, the priest or someone will invite you to coffee hour before they start ignoring you. Personally, I would normally just mill around and start up a conversation but I have never felt this kind of alienation except from the staff of the Waldorf Astoria in New York.

Is this normal? Is it an EF thing or a Catholic phenomena?
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*You know what I would do? I would get myself a T-shirt with “I am a potential convert” and see what happens!

Blessings
Cinette:)*
 
It’s a Catholic thing. We don’t socialise within Mass or even in the church building. If you’re lucky, you might get a nod or a smile in the narthex after a few months of attending.

We don’t want to intrude on others. Try signing up for some of the charitable activities advertised, or join the choir or volunteer to be an altar server. You’ll make good friends, then.
 
snowbee said:
Hold on a sec I’m confused here. How is it technically ok for you to receive Communion if you are not a Baptized Catholic who has received validly the Sacrament of First Holy Communion?
From your posts you identify yourself as Orthodox, which is NOT Catholic. A Catholic can be orthodox, but not Orthodox.
If I’m mistaken correct me. But I INSIST that you refrain from receiving Communion until you have become a Catholic.
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He has validly received the sacraments, probably right after birth. Orthodox apostolic succession, and therefore sacraments, are entirely valid. He has the right to request any sacrament from a Catholic priest at any time.
 
IronHammer said:
At the risk of going off-topic, I am keenly interested in what, exactly, was the process of becoming Catholic before 1969. Do you have any links or references regarding this?
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When my husband converted in 1969 there was no RCIA in the parish. He went to the priest for private instruction, then later was baptized in a private ceremony. He then was able to receive Communion. He was not confirmed at the time of his baptism. I think, at that time in this Diocese, one had to wait until the Bishop came around to get confirmed. Now many parishes have them confirmed at the Easter Vigil, or sometimes the Bishop has a special Mass to confirm adults after they have received instruction.
 
skinny_pumpkin said:
In my my desire to convert from Orthodoxy to Catholicism I have visited two parishes that have the EF Mass somewhat near me. Not one person has acknowledged my existence. Not one single hello. Nothing. I thought well maybe it was my first time.
I’ve been to one parish 4 times, nothing. I’m invisible. Today, I tried a different parish. There was some festival going on outside as I arrived. There were maybe 20 people there that attended the EF Mass. Nothing. I stumbled around for a few minutes after Mass but there was no invite for coffee, hello or anything.
Really, at least in Orthodox parishes, the priest or someone will invite you to coffee hour before they start ignoring you. Personally, I would normally just mill around and start up a conversation but I have never felt this kind of alienation except from the staff of the Waldorf Astoria in New York.

Is this normal? Is it an EF thing or a Catholic phenomena?
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It is fairly common for frequenters of the EF to forget that the has both horizontal and vertical dimensions. To be fair, there is an issue with overemphasis on the horizontal at many OF Masses. Something to consider is that if you do try to strike up coversation, do it OUTSIDE, and not in the Church building.
 
If you came to my parish, no one would even know you were new, it is so big. And we have 6 or 7 Masses on the weekend, so if you saw someone unfamiliar, it probably means they usually attend another Mass. Or usually sit on the other side of the church. I agree, it is a problem.

We do have greeters to welcome people, and a social hour 2x a month after Mass, but most people are too shy to just approach strangers and introduce themselves. There is a committee that welcomes new parishoners and they do a good job of it, but you have to register in the parish for them to be aware of you and contact you.

When I was new to the parish, the way I got to know people was to start joining things. We have a lot of things to join. I joined a Bible Study, then I went to a Small Group for Advent. Gradually I got to know a lot of people and made some very good friends. I guess that you have to be a little proactive in a parish the size of mine. We want to be friendly to newcomers, we just don’t know who they are!
 
Oops. My bad. :o That’s why it says learning Catholic on my description.
I knew that we are pretty much forbidden to receive from the Orthodox so I thought it was a two way street, guess it’s a one way street.
 
Wrong again, Snowbee 😉

We can receive from the Orthodox, in case of necessity, with the permission of the (Orthodox) priest.
They can receive from us without requiring permission.
 
Layman said:
Wrong again, Snowbee 😉

We can receive from the Orthodox, in case of necessity, with the permission of the priest.
The can receive from us without requiring permission.
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He can receive only with permission from his own bishop, and we can recieve only with permission form their bishop.
 
While you are, as you say, allowed to receive the Sacraments, I hope you will at least talk to the Catholic priest at your parish and make sure he knows your situation.
 
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