Wanting To Invite Non-Catholics To Mass - But How To Avoid Awkwardness Over Communion?

[3DOCTORS]

I would like to invite more non-Catholic people to Mass in hopes that some might fall in love with the Church and want to enter RCIA. But I often hesitate because of having to explain to them that they can’t receive Communion.

The USCCB guidelines in the front of the Missalette provide a good explanation, but sometimes it feels rude or off-putting to say: “Here, read this, and be sure not to go to Communion.” I can see how from their point of view they could possibly interpret this as contradictory to the initial hospitality of being invited to Mass.

But I do have thorough understanding and reverence for the Eucharist, so I’m not saying there is anything wrong with the Church’s position. I just don’t know how to present it, shall we say, diplomatically - and what to do in the awkward situations where the person decides they will receive anyway.

So then I find I hold back on inviting people to Mass. :imsorry: Any good suggestions how to resolve this dilemma?

 

[WantingUnity]

I’m not sure this will help, but some may already know not to go up for Communion. I knew that my relatives who were Catholic believed similarly about many things as I grew up in a Christian household, but there were some differences. When I visited them as a teenager I attended church with them one Sunday and knew that I would not be going up for Communion because I wasn’t allowed. I didn’t know all the reasons then (or really up until this last year I didn’t really know either) but I knew enough to know it wasn’t okay. I was still interested in going to church with them, if only because I wondered what the Catholic church was like. Some 20+ years later I am in RCIA and expecting to join in full communion this May.

 

[DarkNight]

How about something like

I would love for you to join me in the celebration of Mass. While communion is only for members of the Catholic faith, there is so much beauty in our mass that I want to share it with you. I will understand if you don’t want to attend but I would truly love for you to be there with me.

You then provide them the opportunity to share in the mass with you. In fact, you could chose also not to participate in communion so as not to leave them alone in the pews feeling “ostracized”. Depending on your level of friendship (and whether or not they do this in your church) you could suggest going up to receive just a blessing.

Don’t not ask them simply because of how you “think they may interpret”. They may in fact be very interested and may quite probably have a completely different reaction. It will at the least open the door to discussion.

Go with Love, Go with God

 

[3DOCTORS]

How about something like

I would love for you to join me in the celebration of Mass. While communion is only for members of the Catholic faith, there is so much beauty in our mass that I want to share it with you. I will understand if you don’t want to attend but I would truly love for you to be there with me.

You then provide them the opportunity to share in the mass with you. In fact, you could chose also not to participate in communion so as not to leave them alone in the pews feeling “ostracized”. Depending on your level of friendship (and whether or not they do this in your church) you could suggest going up to receive just a blessing.

Don’t not ask them simply because of how you “think they may interpret”. They may in fact be very interested and may quite probably have a completely different reaction. It will at the least open the door to discussion.

Go with Love, Go with God

I like that idea very much! It’s the “missing link” that I knew had to be there - kind of get the “bad news” part out of the way then focus on the “good news.”

 

[kentuckyliz]

Teach them how to go up in line, and cross their arms to show they’re not receiving Holy Communion, and the priest or deacon give them a blessing. Tell them what to expect: that the priest will trace a cross on their forehead and say a nice blessing, and they should answer, “Amen.” (People want to know what to do and expect–they don’t like to feel stupid or be taken by surprise.)

My priest says such nice, heartfelt, radiantly kind blessings, it just makes your heart melt!