Gathering for Mass

One of our duties as Catholics is to participate in Mass on the Lord’s Day. The people in your parish gather every Sunday just as Christians have done since the time of Jesus. When you celebrate Mass with your parish family, Jesus is truly there with you. Our community is united by the Eucharist we share.

The Mass is also called the celebration of the Lord’s Supper. All of us gathered together celebrate the Eucharist.

The Parts of the Mass:

The Introductory Rites

o The people arrive, greeting one another

o The priest enters with altar servers and other ministers and everyone sings

o The priest greets all of us gathered to share the Lord’s Supper

o We pray for forgiveness and we praise God

The Liturgy of the Word

o We listen to the readings from the Old Testament, New Testament and Gospel

o The priest gives a homily to help us better understand the Word of God

o We profess our Catholic faith

o We pray for the whole world

The Liturgy of the Eucharist

o Gifts of bread and wine are brought to the altar to be prepared

o In the Eucharistic Prayer, the words of consecration are said

o The bread and wine become Jesus’ Body and Blood

o We pray the “Our Father”

o We share in the Eucharist

The Concluding Rites

o The priest blesses us and asks us to love and serve one another

o The priest leaves in procession and everyone sings