Your Questions Answered

Thank you for all the positive feedback about the Tabernacle.  The symmetry between the Crucifix, the Tabernacle, and the Altar of Sacrifice is inspiring.  Here are answers to some questions posed by leaders of various ministries and parishioners.

• Please genuflect when entering your pew before Mass. Then take a moment to kneel and pray before Mass begins.
• Please genuflect when leaving the pew after Mass and then leave the church in a respectful silence or in a respectful quite tone of conversation.
• Those who must stand in the back of church or in the narthex during Mass are kindly asked to refrain from talking during the Mass.
• Those who stand in the back are also asked to kneel during the Eucharistic Prayer and the Lamb of God (if they are able).
• Our tradition tells us to refrain from eating or drinking one hour before receiving communion. This fast includes gum, candy, or mints. One should also not stop for coffee and donuts before Mass. Any of these things before Mass are disrespectful to the Eucharist.
• No one should receive Holy Communion if they are conscious of serious sin, until they have gone to confession.
• Non-Catholics are asked to not receive Holy Communion. Please feel welcome to make a spiritual Communion.
• When receiving Holy Communion, please say “Amen” in a clear and distinct voice, and if receiving on the hand, hold hands at a respectful level, one hand on top of the other. One must never grab the host.
• If you cannot use both hands to receive communion (e.g. carrying a child) think about receiving Holy Communion on the tongue.
• Please respect the instructions of the ushers given to you at Mass.
• Please discourage children from unnecessary trips to the bathroom. No one should leave church, except for emergencies during the Gospel, Homily, and Eucharistic Prayer.
• If you are arriving late to Mass, please do not enter the main body of the Church during the Gospel reading.
• Please dress respectfully when attending Mass.
• If you hold hands during the “Our Father,” please respect the rights of others who do not wish to do so. This gesture is not allowed for in the rite and so must not be imposed on anyone for any reason.
• Please do not leave Mass until the priest has reached the back of the Church.

With all of these minor, but important, questions answered, we continue to focus on the worship of the one, true God. Holy Cross is an awesome parish that continues to grow and flourish. We have so much for which to be thankful. God’s work is such a joy!

Fr. Dan Deutsch