Participating In Mass

[Aliwalibongo]

I’ve recently started attending Mass with a friend, and am currently contemplating starting RCIA and entering the church.

My mother was raised Catholic, but left the church as a teen/young adult (for reasons I’m not quite sure of), then joined a Pentecostal church when I was about 7. I also joined and was baptized, but quit attending when I was around 14. I’m now 19, and while I’ve attended some religious services since then, I have not felt drawn to participate in religious activities or felt a personal connection with Christ.

Since starting to attend Mass, this has changed greatly, much to my surprise. I’ve started to truly believe in God. Contemplating my faith and the CC has become regular for me. I expected the questioning to stop a few days after attending my first mass, which happened because I was taking a trip with my friend and others who wanted to see a cathedral where we were(and my friend wanted to attend mass).

However, I’m not sure what level of participation in Mass is appropriate for my situation. Obviously I haven’t taken Eucharist, but I want to participate to my fullest ability. I’m talking about things like: using holy water when entering/leaving, genuflect, performing the sign of the cross and participating in other prayers.
As a child, I can remember saying the Lord’s Prayer with my grandparents(and them crossing themselves), but other than that had no experience with Catholicism.

I haven’t had the chance to talk with the RCIA director(or my friend) about this. As a college student who will be studying abroad February-June, I’m not even sure if I can join the RCIA right now since it runs the length of the academic year.

Any advice or resources would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!

 

[At_Trent]

I’ve recently started attending Mass with a friend, and am currently contemplating starting RCIA and entering the church.

My mother was raised Catholic, but left the church as a teen/young adult (for reasons I’m not quite sure of), then joined a Pentecostal church when I was about 7. I also joined and was baptized, but quit attending when I was around 14. I’m now 19, and while I’ve attended some religious services since then, I have not felt drawn to participate in religious activities or felt a personal connection with Christ.

Since starting to attend Mass, this has changed greatly, much to my surprise. I’ve started to truly believe in God. Contemplating my faith and the CC has become regular for me. I expected the questioning to stop a few days after attending my first mass, which happened because I was taking a trip with my friend and others who wanted to see a cathedral where we were(and my friend wanted to attend mass).

However, I’m not sure what level of participation in Mass is appropriate for my situation. Obviously I haven’t taken Eucharist, but I want to participate to my fullest ability. I’m talking about things like: using holy water when entering/leaving, genuflect, performing the sign of the cross and participating in other prayers.
As a child, I can remember saying the Lord’s Prayer with my grandparents(and them crossing themselves), but other than that had no experience with Catholicism.

I haven’t had the chance to talk with the RCIA director(or my friend) about this. As a college student who will be studying abroad February-June, I’m not even sure if I can join the RCIA right now since it runs the length of the academic year.

Any advice or resources would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!

Hi, you can do everything except receive the Sacraments right now. As far as Communion, you can do a Spiritual Communion.

O My Jesus,
I believe that You
are present in the Most Holy Sacrament.
I love You above all things,
and I desire to receive You into my soul.
Since I cannot at this moment
receive You sacramentally,
come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You were already there and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You.

Amen.

Also, you can pray the Rosary or start any devotion you like.

Here you can find much info
fisheaters.com/beingcatholic.html

They have a forum there, but for now, I’d suggest staying away from it. A lot of debate there and it could be confusing for those new to the Faith.

 

[Little_One0307]

In short you can do everything that everyone else does except particpate in Eucharist.

Before I became Catholic I actually got involed with the choir and music ministries when I entered into the Catholic Church.

I hope that you do come into the Church, but be that as that may, May the most just, the most lovable, and the Most High Will of God be done, be fulfilled, be praised and exalted in all things forever. Amen.

God bless.

 

[PbloPicasso]

Technically speaking, you could not serve as an EMHC, Lectern, Altar Server or sacrastan. However, you might be allowed to participate in the Liturgical music, choir, etc. You could probably become an usher (not sure on this one). But in the event that their is serious shortage of help on the altar, a priest might be able to allow a teenager to serve in that capacity, but it would be a stretch. I’m not sure that’s even a good idea. You are baptized, but you are not in full communion with the Church. EMHC and Lecterns are supposed to be confirmed Catholics. I’ve heard the same is true for Altar servers, but this seems quite unusual since confirmation doesn’t occur until the about fourteen or fifteen years old. My son started altar serving at the age of 12, which is the earliest allowed in our parish.

You ought to simply go through RCIA and learn the faith and before you know it you will be in full communion with the Church. The fact that you are baptized may allow you access to confession soon as well. If you show some sort of advanced understanding about the faith, it’s always possible that a parish can put you on an early track to confirmation, induction into the Catholic Church so to speak. Once you’ve “crossed the Tiber” you have full access to all of the sacraments. In fact, I’m told that once accepted to the program (someone refresh my memory on the particulars) you can even be buried Catholic.

 

[Aliwalibongo]

Thank you all for your replies, it’s greatly helped clear up the confusion I was feeling, especially after reading other threads(one specifically in the Non-Catholic religion forum) about non-catholics/christians participation in Mass.

At Trent, thank you especially for the website. It has lots of great information I was looking for!

 

[ElToro]

Thank you all for your replies, it’s greatly helped clear up the confusion I was feeling, especially after reading other threads(one specifically in the Non-Catholic religion forum) about non-catholics/christians participation in Mass.

At Trent, thank you especially for the website. It has lots of great information I was looking for!

If it is encouraged where you attend Mass, you can also process-up during communion for a blessing from the priest or a deacon.

 

[ElToro]

Technically speaking, you could not serve as an EMHC, Lectern, Altar Server or sacrastan. However, you might be allowed to participate in the Liturgical music, choir, etc. You could probably become an usher (not sure on this one). But in the event that their is serious shortage of help on the altar, a priest might be able to allow a teenager to serve in that capacity, but it would be a stretch. I’m not sure that’s even a good idea. You are baptized, but you are not in full communion with the Church. EMHC and Lecterns are supposed to be confirmed Catholics. I’ve heard the same is true for Altar servers, but this seems quite unusual since confirmation doesn’t occur until the about fourteen or fifteen years old. My son started altar serving at the age of 12, which is the earliest allowed in our parish.

You ought to simply go through RCIA and learn the faith and before you know it you will be in full communion with the Church. The fact that you are baptized may allow you access to confession soon as well. If you show some sort of advanced understanding about the faith, it’s always possible that a parish can put you on an early track to confirmation, induction into the Catholic Church so to speak. Once you’ve “crossed the Tiber” you have full access to all of the sacraments. In fact, I’m told that once accepted to the program (someone refresh my memory on the particulars) you can even be buried Catholic.

There would not be any prohibition against her serving as a sacristan, although that would be quite rare.

 

[puzzleannie]

If it is encouraged where you attend Mass, you can also process-up during communion for a blessing from the priest or a deacon.

best not to do this unless invited by the priest, as it is not common practice everywhere.

Welcome Home, we need you

you may participate as anyone else in the pews with the exception as you know of receiving communion, to the extent you feel comfortable.

do call you closest parish now about RCIA as some parishes have year round meetings and in any case you need an initial interview with the priest or his delegate to establish your baptismal status and look at your needs, questions etc.

 

[CB_Catholic]

Welcome home. I would only add that some of the Pentecostal denominations do not baptize using the Trinitarian formula “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost”. Instead they baptize in the name of Jesus only. Since you were baptized in a Pentecostal church, you should check this out to be sure your baptism is valid in the CC, if you have not already done so.

You also may be able to attend RCIA in a parish near where you are going to school.

 

[Dave2300]

That is great, that you are taking that step. You can just follow the Liturgy as to the Order of the Mass, and sing the hymns like everyone else, that is participation, too.
Welcome home! Yours was a very good post. Thanks for posting that.

 

[PbloPicasso]

There would not be any prohibition against her serving as a sacristan, although that would be quite rare.

This makes no sense, because a sacrastan should have experience as an EMHC as a substitute when required. They also often help with mass and therefore this disqualifies them. At least that’s my logic.

 

[JGMendes4049]

In fact, I’m told that once accepted to the program (someone refresh my memory on the particulars) you can even be buried Catholic.

After the period of inquiry, the unbaptized participate in the Rite of Acceptance into the Order of Catechumens. As they enter this Rite they are known as Candidates. As they leave this Rite they are now referred to as Catechumens. The Catechumenate is a very important step, so much so that

47. One who dies during the Catechumenate receives a Christian burial.

 

[PbloPicasso]

After the period of inquiry, the unbaptized participate in the Rite of Acceptance into the Order of Catechumens. As they enter this Rite they are known as Candidates. As they leave this Rite they are now referred to as Catechumens. The Catechumenate is a very important step, so much so that

Thanks. That’s what I was looking for. I had the terms right. But my confidence in using them is low. I didn’t want to say the wrong thing. We already have enough confused Catholics out there.