Weekday Mass

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eichenb2

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Hello,

I am not a Catholic (yet). However, I feel that I am being called and have a question that I hope a practicing Catholic can answer. If it OK for me to attend a Weekday mass in my local Catholic parish? I won’t be turned away since I am not Catholic, will I? My intention is to get a feel for Catholic worship, first hand? If I go, what do I wear?

Thanks in advance
 
First, I want to say welcome! One does not have to be Catholic to go to weekday masses. Actually, I started going to a Catholic Church when I was first questioning on weekdays, because I was going to my first church on Sundays. When I first went, I looked for someone who appeared to know what they were doing (and she actually ended up being the RCIA director) and told them I was interested in Catholicism but didn’t know anything about it. She handed me a missal and went through it step by step explaining everything.

I will be praying for you! I know these first questions and learning can be a confusing and even terrifying (on occasion) times, but from this side of converting, I can say it is well worth the journey!

God Bless!
Ericka
 
I’m delighted to add my welcome, and if you were in my parish, as a daily Mass goer myself would be very happy to have you amongst us. You just need to be comfortable and reasonably respectful in what you wear. You don’t need to dress formally.

God bless you…Trishie 🙂
 
Welcome!

No one is at the door checking Catholic ID cards, so come on in and grab a seat.

When you arrive, most people spend a few minutes kneeling in silent prayer. After that, you will stand for the opening prayers when the priest arrives, sit for the first (and sometimes second) readings, and stand while the priest or deacon reads the Gospel.

Sometimes at a weekly Mass there will be a homily, for which we are seated. After the homily, the congregation will stand for some short prayers before the Eucharistic Prayer. For the Eucharistic Prayer, those that can kneel, kneel, since we believe that Christ is truly present in the Eucharist.

Those who are able to receive the Eucharist (probably the majoirty of thsoe there) will go forward to receive. You should probably just stay at your place. In my part of the world, everyone kneels in silent prayer after receiving. That may vary from place to place.

After that, a final blessing and dismissal. Usually, it is polite to stay until the priest has left.

Wear something respectful. At daily Mass, you will often see a variety of dress because people are taking time from whatever activity they are involved in during the day. On Fridays, you will see me in jeans. On the other days, I’ll be there in “teacher clothes”.

May you find what you are searching for.
 
You are absolutely welcome to attend Mass any weekday or Sunday.

You are not permitted to receive Jesus in Holy Communion until you have been formally received into the Catholic Church, so you would simply remain in the pew when others go up to receive Communion.

However, if you do believe in the presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, you can make a “spiritual communion” — a silent prayer in which you tell Jesus that you believe in His Eucharistic presence and desire to receive Him, and invite Him to come into you spiritually until the time when you are able to receive Him in the Sacrament of Holy Communion.
 
Like the others have said, you will be most welcome at an Mass, weekdays included. As for what to where, whatever, as long is it isn’t skimpy or horribly dirty or something like that. 😃 Most people wear whatever they will need for the rest of the day, so you will see people in nicer suits who are headed to work or people in more casual clothes who either stay home or don’t have to dress up for work. I usually just wear jeans and a t-shirt/sweatshirt since that is what I wear to work. 👍 😃
 
Everyone can go to Mass. You may not receive Holy Communion, but you may participate in the prayers of the Mass. God bless you!
 
catholic.com/library/who_can_receive_communion.asp

Since you are still learning about the faith, this is a link to explain more why the previous posters are encouraging you to come to mass, but you may not yet receive Holy Communion.

But you are extended a very open invitation to attend weekly mass. You cannot believe the changes for the better you will have in your life by frequent attendance of weekday masses. You can still receive the many graces and mercy in your personal faith journey when you do come to a weekday mass. God bless you!
 
I’m so happy to hear that you are wanting to go to daily Mass!

Wear everyday clothes. No need to dress up as long as you are modest.

Sit behind a few other people so that you can copy their sitting/standing/kneeling.

Be sure to greet the priest afterwards and introduce yourself. You might even get lucky and be invited to breakfast, if you show up at my parish on a Friday crack o’ dawn Mass 😃

The daily Mass crowd, ime, is more friendly and welcoming simply because the numbers are smaller, and tend to be those who are more serious about faith and parish life. If you go every day for a week and see the same faces each time, those folks are a good bet for asking your questions, etc.
 
eichenb2 said:
Hello,

I am not a Catholic (yet). However, I feel that I am being called and have a question that I hope a practicing Catholic can answer. If it OK for me to attend a Weekday mass in my local Catholic parish? I won’t be turned away since I am not Catholic, will I? My intention is to get a feel for Catholic worship, first hand? If I go, what do I wear?

Thanks in advance
Click to expand...
Hello and welcome to the CA Forum. 🙂

I am currently in RCIA. I cannot wait until Easter. :eek:

Trust me when I say you’ll love it. 🙂
 
I would like to add my welcome to you, and agree with the others that you are most welcome to come to Mass!

Before I approached anyone about becoming a Catholic I started going to weekday Mass, just to get a feel of what it was like, to listen to the readings and to hear the priest’s homily. It was a fantastic learning experience. I bought a simple prayer book so I could follow the prayers. Someone noticed me using the book, and they were kind enough to say hello to me after Mass as they realised I was new. Now, whenever I see anyone at Mass who seems new or unfamiliar with the Mass, I try to make an effort to say hello to them afterwards, to make them feel welcome, as I was.

Even if you are not yet Catholic, I believe there are many graces you receive by listening reverently to the Word of God.

God bless you on your journey!
 
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