Etiquette Corner
Thank you for your presence here at Good Shepherd. In order to make our weekly celebrations more conductive to prayer, to preserve the sacredness of our liturgies and to ensure the comfort of all those who are gathered, the following are some gentle reminders of simple church etiquette.
Proper Attire:
Remember the time when people put on their "Sunday best" to go to church? In fact, dress clothes were often referred to as Sunday clothes in some parts of the country. Too often, dress in church has become very casual. In all areas of our lives, we should offer Christ our best, and the same is true of our dress. We should dress modestly, not in a flashy way that wold bring attention to ourselves. Our dress should always be becoming of a Christian- especially at church.
Safety:
Also for the safety of our children, parishioners, and guests the speed limit for our parking lot is 10mph.
Arriving on Time:
We ask that you make every attempt to be on time (even early) to Mass. Remember to allow yourself
enough time for parking and extra time if you need to drop off your children in the nursery.
Due to circumstances out of our control, we understand that there are times tardiness cannot be
avoided. If Mass has begun, please enter through the side doors. Please wait for an usher to assist
you since we do not seat people during particular moments of the liturgy, such as during the readings
or the prayers. Remember that it is better to be present, even if late, than it is to be absent
from the assembly. An alternative would be to wait until the next Mass.
Entering the Church:
Once you enter the church and the gong is rung, refrain from socializing with your friends. Remember
that others are already engaged in prayer in their seats. It is optional to bless yourself with holy
water, but a sign of respect for the Blessed Sacrament is by genuflecting (or bow if unable to genuflect)
before taking your seat.
Leaving Before the Final Blessing:
Leaving church before the dismissal ignores another important part of the Liturgy. At the dismissal,
we celebrate our commission as sent forth by Jesus Christ himself. In that, Jesus’ last words to his
disciples were “Therefore, go out and make disciples of all nations….. And behold, I am with you
until the end of the age.” Matt 28:19-20. Our liturgy has a beginning (“In the name of the Father …”)
and an end ("Let us go in peace to love and serve the Lord…"). To leave immediately after Communion is to treat church like a fast food restaurant where we come and go as we please. We live in a fast-paced world where we seem to be hurrying from place to place. But in God's presence, we need to make every attempt to fight this pressure to move on to the next thing on the day's agenda.
Eat and run at McDonald's - but stay in church and thank God for his precious gifts.
Gum Chewing and Food Consumption:
Please keep in mind that there should not be any gum chewing or the eating of food during Mass. We are to fast one hour before Communion to include chewing gum. For little ones, if food is necessary please be sure your area is cleaned up after Mass to help us keep our Church clean and free of insects.
Phones and Pagers:
Please remember to turn off all cell phones and pagers before entering the church.
Our Children:
We encourage you to use our nursery which is available for the 8:30 and 11:30 Masses. The nursery is for children 3 years old and younger. Children 4 years and older should attend Mass with their families.
If your child is attending Mass with you and begins to cry or be disruptive to those trying to pray around you, we gently ask that you take your child outside until comforted enough to rejoin our assembly prayer. The "Little Angels Haven" is also available.
Please save the "Little Angels Haven" space for the families with children 18 months and younger.
Thank you for your presence here at Good Shepherd. In order to make our weekly celebrations more conductive to prayer, to preserve the sacredness of our liturgies and to ensure the comfort of all those who are gathered, the following are some gentle reminders of simple church etiquette.
Proper Attire:
Remember the time when people put on their "Sunday best" to go to church? In fact, dress clothes were often referred to as Sunday clothes in some parts of the country. Too often, dress in church has become very casual. In all areas of our lives, we should offer Christ our best, and the same is true of our dress. We should dress modestly, not in a flashy way that wold bring attention to ourselves. Our dress should always be becoming of a Christian- especially at church.
Safety:
Also for the safety of our children, parishioners, and guests the speed limit for our parking lot is 10mph.
Arriving on Time:
We ask that you make every attempt to be on time (even early) to Mass. Remember to allow yourself
enough time for parking and extra time if you need to drop off your children in the nursery.
Due to circumstances out of our control, we understand that there are times tardiness cannot be
avoided. If Mass has begun, please enter through the side doors. Please wait for an usher to assist
you since we do not seat people during particular moments of the liturgy, such as during the readings
or the prayers. Remember that it is better to be present, even if late, than it is to be absent
from the assembly. An alternative would be to wait until the next Mass.
Entering the Church:
Once you enter the church and the gong is rung, refrain from socializing with your friends. Remember
that others are already engaged in prayer in their seats. It is optional to bless yourself with holy
water, but a sign of respect for the Blessed Sacrament is by genuflecting (or bow if unable to genuflect)
before taking your seat.
Leaving Before the Final Blessing:
Leaving church before the dismissal ignores another important part of the Liturgy. At the dismissal,
we celebrate our commission as sent forth by Jesus Christ himself. In that, Jesus’ last words to his
disciples were “Therefore, go out and make disciples of all nations….. And behold, I am with you
until the end of the age.” Matt 28:19-20. Our liturgy has a beginning (“In the name of the Father …”)
and an end ("Let us go in peace to love and serve the Lord…"). To leave immediately after Communion is to treat church like a fast food restaurant where we come and go as we please. We live in a fast-paced world where we seem to be hurrying from place to place. But in God's presence, we need to make every attempt to fight this pressure to move on to the next thing on the day's agenda.
Eat and run at McDonald's - but stay in church and thank God for his precious gifts.
Gum Chewing and Food Consumption:
Please keep in mind that there should not be any gum chewing or the eating of food during Mass. We are to fast one hour before Communion to include chewing gum. For little ones, if food is necessary please be sure your area is cleaned up after Mass to help us keep our Church clean and free of insects.
Phones and Pagers:
Please remember to turn off all cell phones and pagers before entering the church.
Our Children:
We encourage you to use our nursery which is available for the 8:30 and 11:30 Masses. The nursery is for children 3 years old and younger. Children 4 years and older should attend Mass with their families.
If your child is attending Mass with you and begins to cry or be disruptive to those trying to pray around you, we gently ask that you take your child outside until comforted enough to rejoin our assembly prayer. The "Little Angels Haven" is also available.
Please save the "Little Angels Haven" space for the families with children 18 months and younger.
