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.
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 eating of food or gum chewing during Mass. We are to fast one hour before Communion.
Before receiving Holy Communion, Catholics are asked to abstain from food, liquids and solids for one
hour. (Outlines of the Catholic Faith, Page 26, Article 5c).
Even though it has been mentioned that food is ok for children, please be mindful that children after a certain age should learn not to eat in church. This will help your child prepare for First Communion and to understand the meaning of fasting before Communion.
Due to an unusually hot summer the insects have been more active in the Church. Please help us with this issue by providing crumb free, non-sticky snacks, if necessary for little ones. Please ensure your area is cleaned up after Mass.
Phones and Pagers:
Please remember to turn off all cell phones and pagers before entering the church.
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.
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 eating of food or gum chewing during Mass. We are to fast one hour before Communion.
Before receiving Holy Communion, Catholics are asked to abstain from food, liquids and solids for one
hour. (Outlines of the Catholic Faith, Page 26, Article 5c).
Even though it has been mentioned that food is ok for children, please be mindful that children after a certain age should learn not to eat in church. This will help your child prepare for First Communion and to understand the meaning of fasting before Communion.
Due to an unusually hot summer the insects have been more active in the Church. Please help us with this issue by providing crumb free, non-sticky snacks, if necessary for little ones. Please ensure your area is cleaned up after Mass.
Phones and Pagers:
Please remember to turn off all cell phones and pagers before entering the church.
