Church Etiquette

RULES TO BE OBSERVED BY A CATHOLIC FOR MARRIAGE:
A marriage of a baptized Catholic is to take place in the Church in the presence of a priest or deacon and two witnesses. The Church considers Marriage a Sacrament and is to be witnessed in a sacred setting. The marriage between two Catholics can take place during a Mass. The marriage between a Catholic and a BAPTIZED Christian of a different faith community may take place at Mass if the Protestant requests permission in writing from the Bishop. The marriage between a Catholic and a person who is not baptized takes place at a Marriage Ceremony without a Mass. At all times, we have to be sensitive to the family who is not of our faith tradition.
Marriage in another Church or a different religious tradition:
For a good reason, the Bishop may give permission for a Catholic to be married in a Protestant Church by a minister or in a different faith tradition if:
1. The Catholic party is practicing his/her faith and intends to share that faith with the Children.
2. A marriage preparation program must be taken.
3. Marriage papers must be filled out at the Catholic Parish.

COMMUNION TWICE A DAY: One can receive communion twice in a day. If one receives Communion at a funeral or wedding and goes to Saturday evening Mass, receive at each Mass. Speaking of weddings, I get the question after a 2:00 PM wedding, does this COUNT for Sunday? My response is, did you come for the wedding or to kill two birds with one stone? One DOES NOT fulfill ones obligation until 4:00 PM. Technically a wedding after 4:00 PM does fulfill the obligation.

HOLY WATER: We bless ourselves with holy water as we enter Church to remind us of our Baptism.

LEAVING MASS EARLY: Again, not ordinarily a problem here. If one is sick and must leave, then leave. Leaving to get to the parking lot early, etc. should not be a person’s norm. As someone once said, Judas was the first one to leave Mass early at the Last Supper.

WEARING OF HATS IN CHURCH: It is inappropriate for men to wear hats in Church. This has not been a problem here, but sometimes people are so used to wearing ball caps today they forget.

COMMUNION TWICE A DAY: Once can receive communion twice in a day. If one receives communion at a funeral or a wedding and goes to Saturday evening Mass, receive at each Mass. Speaking of weddings, I get the question, After a 2:00 PM wedding, does this COUNT for Sunday? My response is, did you come for the wedding or to kill two birds with one stone? One does not fulfill ones obligation until 4:00 PM. Technically, a wedding after 4:00 PM does fulfill the obligation.

CRY ROOM: When God created children, he did not intend them to be in a small place for longer than 10 seconds. When a child gets excessive\y noisy, take them and walk them in the back of the Church or over to the new gathering room.

ALWAYS TREAT THE CHURCH AS SACRED SPACE. IT IS.

PARTICIPATION AT CHURCH: We should always participate at Mass in the prayers and the hymns. We are not here to observe. We are all an important part of the celebration of the Mass.

HOSPITALITY: Always greet new people that you see in Church. The Catholic Church has a lot to learn from the Protestant traditions about the importance of making people feel comfortable. Ushers and Ministers at Mass should do this before Mass.

ATTENTION AT MASS: Once Mass begins, ones attention should be on the Readings in the beginning and on the Altar during the Eucharistic Prayer.

ARRIVE ON TIME: I know that at times it is difficult to get the kids together on time, and there can be reasons that one is legitimately late. Start five minutes earlier.

LEAVING MASS EARLY: Again, not ordinarily a problem here. If one is sick and must leave, then leave. Leaving to get to the parking lot early, etc., should not be a person’s norm. As someone once said, Judas was the first one to leave Mass early at the Last Supper.

CHEWING GUM: Chewing gum or eating candy in Church is not appropriate. Throw it in the waste can before you enter the Church proper.

BATHROOM: The bathroom in the side room is for emergency only. Children have a habit of using the bathroom to get out of Church for a while. Have them use it BEFORE Mass begins. People should not be walking around during the Readings and the Eucharistic Prayer after the Holy, Holy.

LEAVING PEW FOR COMMUNION: When one wants to go to communion and you are not, instead of having people crawl over you, stand up, get out of the pew and go back in when the person has stepped out of the pew to proceed to the Altar.