Thinking of attending my first mass tomorrow

[x0stephanie]

I grew up Christian and recently in the last year or so started attending an Anglican church … although since I was a young teen I’ve been really interested in the Catholic church… I’ve had a strong desire to attend for a long time but I’ve been ignoring it out of fear I guess.

I’ve decided that Ash Wednesday would be a great day for me to try out mass, I’ve heard that non Catholics can receive the ash and there will probably be a good turnout.

I’m worried about seeing people I know and them thinking “what is she doing here?”, not knowing what to do, feeling awkward and many other things.

I’m just so nervous and I would appreciate any words of support I can get…

 

[aspirant]

I grew up Christian and recently in the last year or so started attending an Anglican church … although since I was a young teen I’ve been really interested in the Catholic church… I’ve had a strong desire to attend for a long time but I’ve been ignoring it out of fear I guess.

Come on over and try it.

I’m worried about seeing people I know and them thinking “what is she doing here?”

If they ask, just tell 'em. If they don’t ask, don’t sweat it.

not knowing what to do

You won’t feel quite so fish-out-of-water as many other visitors, having been attending an Anglican church. Just watch for other people standing, sitting, kneeling, and so forth. And really, don’t worry.

The missalettes provided in the pews at some parishes can sometimes be difficult for newcomers to follow. (I speak from experience.) I’d recommend watching and listening more than trying to read along.

 

[dnu]

I grew up Christian and recently in the last year or so started attending an Anglican church … although since I was a young teen I’ve been really interested in the Catholic church… I’ve had a strong desire to attend for a long time but I’ve been ignoring it out of fear I guess.

I’ve decided that Ash Wednesday would be a great day for me to try out mass, I’ve heard that non Catholics can receive the ash and there will probably be a good turnout.

I’m worried about seeing people I know and them thinking “what is she doing here?”, not knowing what to do, feeling awkward and many other things.

I’m just so nervous and I would appreciate any words of support I can get…

WOOHOO!! :extrahappy:

Hey, I’ve been going for several months now and even I don’t know whats going on half the time, so that alone will feel awkward, but don’t fret. The important thing is that you are there. Remember that thousands of other Catholic converts start out exactly as you are right now. The important thing is that you are there, the rest will come in time . Best of luck!!

David

 

[lufty]

I started attending Catholic Mass back in November for the first time. Most parishes will have a handout for most Masses, and I’m sure there would be one available for Ash Wednesday.

Or, there usually are Missalettes that explain and list the prayers/hymns for each Mass throughout the year. You could grab both, find a quiet place to sit (and stand and kneel, hehe) where you can observe the Altar and the congregation.

Watching and learning that way was easiest for me, and although I’m not confirmed or baptized yet, I feel very comfortable at Mass, even more then I expected. I look forward to the day I can partake in the Euchrist.

Go and learn! I’ll pray for your comforting attendance at Mass tomorrow in my prayers tonight!

 

[footdoc]

Be not afraid as Jesus and John Paul II said. Go for it and people you might know there will support you. Ask for their prayers for your journey to the truth. It is such a treasure.

 

[footdoc]

Be not afraid as Jesus and John Paul II said. Go for it and people you might know there will support you. Ask for their prayers for your journey to the truth. It is such a treasure.

 

[x0stephanie]

I should probably add i’m only 20 so I don’t have as much confidence as someone older might have. I know a couple high school friends were catholics so i’m a little nervous about seeing them, the service is also really early (8:15am) but i’m going to do my best to make it.

 

[baltobetsy]

Go to Mass - You’ll love it.

I promise you, no one, absolutely no one will notice you and wonder why you’re there. On days like Ash Wednesday, people really want to attend Mass and often go to parishes other than their own closer to work or a better time or whatever. Strangers are expected and not even noticed.

Relax and enjoy. And come back and tell us about it!

Betsy

 

[x0stephanie]

Well I did it, I went to the 8:15am crack of dawn service and the church was surprisingly full. I sat my self down at the back. It was beautiful and I would love to go again. I felt kind of weird when everyone was reciting the Nicene Creed by memory and I didn’t know it (at my church we get handouts that we can follow along with, but I didn’t see anything like that). I was worried not receiving the Eucharist would be awkward as well… but I think the only one who noticed was the lady sitting next to me.

At the end of the service the priest stood at the front entrance and everyone gathered around to say something to him… but I wasn’t sure what I was supposed to say and didn’t want to make a big fuss so I just left.

Honestly, I never really felt anything while at protestant churches. I would venture to say that it might have been the rock concert/secularism that was drowning what I truly needed to feel and hear. I realize now that my spirit is thirsty and hungry for the truth.

 

[aspirant]

I felt kind of weird when everyone was reciting the Nicene Creed by memory and I didn’t know it (at my church we get handouts that we can follow along with, but I didn’t see anything like that).

Most parishes have misalettes available either as you enter or in the pews. These are booklets containing the order of the Mass and the scripture readings for the next few weeks, season, or year. They often include a selection of hymns too. (Some Catholic hymnals also include the order of the Mass near the beginning.)

The order of the Mass in a missalette (booklet form) or missal (real book form) can be tricky for a newcomer to follow because only one option will be chosen where options like “A, B, or C” appear, but you can find the Gloria, the Nicene Creed, and other basic prayers of the Mass in there. It would be a good thing to check this out outside of Mass, so you have more time to peruse it. Still, I stand by the tip my religious ed teacher gave me when I was becoming Catholic: you’ll probably learn the liturgy quicker when you’re not trying to find your place in a missalette.

I was worried not receiving the Eucharist would be awkward as well.

Nah, there are plenty of people attending Mass who cannot or should not receive for one reason or another. We’re used to being the person who remains sitting as well as the one who goes to receive.

At the end of the service the priest stood at the front entrance and everyone gathered around to say something to him… but I wasn’t sure what I was supposed to say and didn’t want to make a big fuss so I just left.

Generally speaking everyone’s just greeting each other. People will shake the priest’s hand and say something like “Nice homily, Father” or “Thank you, Father” or “Beautiful weather we’re having; I hope you get a chance to enjoy it!” or whatever. It’s not obligatory, just a courtesy.

 

[x0stephanie]

Well I looked around for missalettes (i would have liked to take one home) but there were only the hardcopy books. No one else was picking them up and I was unsure what they were. I’m not sure exactly what this book was called but it said 2010 on the front and i’m going to assume it was the missal. I’m used to the book of alternative services and the book of common prayer and i thought the books would be the same but they sure aren’t.

 

[aspirant]

I’m used to the book of alternative services and the book of common prayer and i thought the books would be the same but they sure aren’t.

No, they’re not.

 

[qui_est_ce]

Well I did it, I went to the 8:15am crack of dawn service and the church was surprisingly full. I sat my self down at the back. It was beautiful and I would love to go again. I felt kind of weird when everyone was reciting the Nicene Creed by memory and I didn’t know it (at my church we get handouts that we can follow along with, but I didn’t see anything like that). I was worried not receiving the Eucharist would be awkward as well… but I think the only one who noticed was the lady sitting next to me.

Good for you. That takes a lot of courage to go alone.

But 8:15 is not crack of dawn! 6:30 is more like it! Most parishes have at least two daily masses, a crack of dawn one, and one at 8:00 or 12:00n.

God bless you in your journey.

 

[qui_est_ce]

Well I looked around for missalettes (i would have liked to take one home) but there were only the hardcopy books. No one else was picking them up and I was unsure what they were. I’m not sure exactly what this book was called but it said 2010 on the front and i’m going to assume it was the missal. I’m used to the book of alternative services and the book of common prayer and i thought the books would be the same but they sure aren’t.

Those are the missalettes. Daily mass goers don’t usually pick them up because they already have the mass parts memorized, and they usually only have the responsorial psalm for the daily masses. They do contain the entire readings for Sundays and Holy days, and the music.

 

[paperwight]

A hundred welcomes!

I used to be Anglican, too, but started my journey to Rome when I found that the Anglican service I was used to (very High - incense and so on) wasn’t at all the norm in the city where I went to university. The irony was, the Catholic parish I have ended up in is nowhere near so high and formal. And I love it.

You know what I would do in your place?

Every church has a stack of Lost Property round the back, including missals and prayer-books. Look out for whoever is clearing up after Mass, tidying the church etc, or else some motherly looking person, and ask her if she could help you. Tell her that you are not a Catholic, but would dearly love to learn about the Mass, and would it be possible to take home an old Missal that no-one wants so that you can study it at home.

Don’t be frightened to say you are not a Catholic! We are delighted when sincere people come to join us.

An alternative is to google ‘Order of Catholic Mass’ which will bring up a lot. Only one point, though - be aware that different English-speaking countries sometimes have slightly differing wording in the Creed and so on, so check the source.

 

[tonyh12]

If your church is as friendly as mine you will soon settle in , there is absolutely nothing to worry about , i admit i worry a lot , and so far all my worries about coming back to church have be unfounded!!!

Don’t be concerned about what other people think of you (i know it can be hard) but focus beyond people and look to God as your guide

Our church has a “Parish Mass Card” which describes the order of mass , if you’re anything like me you ought to get this or similar then you can read it in your own time (i found writing the prayers down helped commit to memory)

Another source that i have found indispensable that i obtained from our Parish was “A Simple Prayer Book” by the Catholic Truth Society (publishers to the Holy See)

I wish you well in finding your way,
God Bless
Tony

 

[Erethorn]

Honestly, I never really felt anything while at protestant churches. I would venture to say that it might have been the rock concert/secularism that was drowning what I truly needed to feel and hear. I realize now that my spirit is thirsty and hungry for the truth.

I went to my my first Mass less than 6 month ago, and I’ve been hooked ever since.

While reading your post, my first feeling was one of slight jealousy - because you got to experience that great “first time”, which I won’t be able to anymore

But then I took a moment to think about it and I realized just how wrong I was. Because, although no Mass is like the first Mass, no Mass is like any other Mass.

Each Sunday there is something new, a new layer of beauty waiting to be discovered, a new spiritual discovery, a new way of communicating with God.

At Christmas, I cried during most of the service as I became so conscious of Christ’s love for me and mine for Him.

A few days later, the church was freezing and so was I, the good feeling was gone, so I prayed and sudenly I realized that God was teaching me that the path is difficult and that it was up to me to properly adore Him, even in face of various adversities. I ended up leaving the church, after Mass, thanking God for my frozen hands, and for His wisdom.

Another Sunday I found myself gazing at Christ’s figure on the crucifix next to the altar for most of the Mass. It was as if He was with me for the duration of the service, holding my hand and guiding me.

On other ocasions, it’s the music, or the Gospel readings, the homily, the joy of discovering someone you know but you didn’t know they were Catholics in the pews, etc.

And upon returning home, firing up the computer and searching for the meaning of this and that, what is this hymn and what does it mean, what does it sound in Latin, who composed it and why, why the vestments of the priest have changed colour, what’s the significance of this or that piece of church architecture, why did the priest say a certain thing at a certain point in the Mass, who is that saint whose altar or statue was next to where you sat on the pew - and it all leads further and further into a world that gets more beautiful and exciting each day.

And did I mention the Eucharist ?

It’s a wonderful journey.

 

[baltobetsy]

x0stephanie, I’m so glad you loved your first Mass!

Next time, go ahead and speak to the priest. You can say something like, “Hi, Father, this is my second time visiting a Catholic church and I’m really impressed.” He’ll be very glad to have you visiting and will probably have some nice words of encouragement for you.

Betsy

 

[x0stephanie]

Well i’ve been thinking of doing rcia for a while. I know i’ve only attended one service but it’s not the liking the actual service I was concerned about since it is almost identical to an Anglican service. I just felt like I should actually attend a mass before I decide to do rcia just to make sure.

My heart wasn’t really in the Anglican church, i felt like I was using it as some kind of stepping stone because I knew this is where I really wanted to be. Our priest was a married woman and anyone was allowed to take communion if they wanted to. Ever since I started thinking what the Anglican church was really founded on (King Henry wanting to divorce and remarry) it made me stop and wonder if thats the kind of church I wanted to be in.

On another note I am hoping to be married soon, no plans have been made as i’ve only been engaged for a month but I realize that this church is the church I want to be married and have those memories in. I realize rcia can take up to a year, and it starts in August so I was really hoping I would be able to make some kind of Proclaimation of faith and have it done with. Waiting until next easter seems like an awfully long time

I’m already baptized and have been living a Christian life since I was a young child so I don’t feel like I need instruction on how to be a Christian, just in the Catholic faith which I hope wouldn’t take so long. Do I talk to the priest about this?? After mass seems like a pretty busy time to approach him… I wonder if another, less busy time would be better

 

[aspirant]

I’m already baptized and have been living a Christian life since I was a young child so I don’t feel like I need instruction on how to be a Christian, just in the Catholic faith which I hope wouldn’t take so long. Do I talk to the priest about this?

Yes. Call up a good parish and ask to make an appointment with the pastor.

I can’t make any promises here. Occasionally people are able to do one-on-one instruction with a religious educator, but most candidates (non-Catholic Christians who want to become Catholic) do go through the RCIA process at the normal times with everyone else.