NEWCOMERS
Welcome
Thank you for your interest in our parish. Whether you’re just visiting us for a brief time, looking for a new parish home, are returning to the practice of your Catholic faith or are interested in finding out more about the Catholic Church, we’re happy to have you here.
A parish is a community of believers and a spiritual family that is supportive and loving. It can be a place to grow spiritually, to put your faith in action, and to use our gifts of time and talent as disciples of Christ. We look forward to answering any questions you may have. In the meantime, please look through the resources we’ve made available on these pages:
Frequently asked questions:
Visiting?
If you are new to the area, visiting family, or just curious about the Catholic Church, we'd love if you would come and join us for Sunday Mass. Our Masses are on Sunday morning at 8:00am and 10:30am. There is also a Mass on Saturday night at 5:30pm which is offered as a Sunday Mass, especially for those who's job prevents them from coming on Sunday Morning.
I've never been to a Mass before:
The Catholic Mass is the oldest form of Christian worship across the globe. The way we worship comes directly from the experience of worship and prayer of the earliest Christians, who followed the model of the Apostles.
Our way of worshiping is highly ritualized, which can sometimes be discomforting for people who have never experienced it, or who don't know what will happen in the service. Our recommendation to you is to not worry about that. Tell us when you come to visit that you are new and have never seen a Catholic Mass, and we would love to help you participate. Or, if that's not your style, just come inside and take a seat. It's okay if you don't know what to do, or if you stand up or sit down at the wrong time. We are happy you are here.
Our different Mass times can also be a different experience. At every Mass on a single weekend, the readings from Sacred Scripture and the homily (sermon) will be the same regardless of which Mass you attend.
The 5:30pm Anticipated Sung Mass is a standard Mass with hymns. It is called an 'anticipated' Mass, since the texts used are those of the Sunday. Singing is lead by a solo cantor.
The 8:00am Said Mass is a simpler service and slightly shorter. The singing at this Mass is limited to the ordinary (i.e. the Kyrie, Gloria, Sanctus, and Agnus Dei). The organist provides interludes to cover the movement where chants are sung at other Masses, and the Psalm is recited.
The 10:30am Solemn Mass is our main Mass of the week and is attended by the largest group of our parishioners. The choir sings at this Mass, and the Priest will chant all his parts (but not the sermon, don't worry). Music is drawn from the richness of the Catholic musical tradition including Gregorian chant, Renaissance Polyphony, and classical hymnody. Incense will also be used, and on some occasions there are special ceremonies that occur such as baptisms or, on the third Sunday of each month, Benediction (blessing) of the Most Blessed Sacrament.
On weekdays, the Mass is entirely spoken with no music, except on major feast days. The Masses usually take around a half-hour. A brief homily is given each day except on the priest's 'day off'.
On Holy Days, a Sung Vigil Mass is celebrated the evening before the feast. On the morning of the feast itself, a Solemn Mass is celebrated with the school community, and a short spoken Mass is celebrated at noon.
Holy Communion:
There is something very important you should know. Holy Communion is the center of the Catholic life, and our greatest treasure. The Catholic Church teaches that at the Mass the elements of bread and wine are radically transformed (transubstantiated) into the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, so that, when a Catholic receives Holy Communion, they are receiving the true Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of the Lord.
Because of this, Holy Communion in the Catholic Church is reserved only for Catholics. If you aren't Catholic and you visit us for Mass, we would ask that in the communion line (if you choose to come forward) that you cross your arms before your chest when you approach the priest so that he will recognize you are not Catholic and offer you a blessing. If you feel more comfortable, you are also free to remain in your pew.
We want you to know that reserving Holy Communion to Catholics isn't a judgement on you, but it is something we do because we take the Eucharist so seriously in the Catholic Church. We want to make sure those who receive it also believe what we believe it to be. To learn more about our faith in the Holy Eucharist, visit our sacraments
page.
