Welcome To Our Catholic Church Home

Dear Inquirer:

We learn much about people from being in their homes. Likewise, we can learn much about our Catholic family from the place where we gather together every Sunday to worship God. The various parts of our church home tell you who we are and what we believe.

In this bulletin, you will be introduced to some of the things you will see in any Catholic Church: e.g., an altar, ambo, crucifix, etc. I will also introduce you to the sacred vessels used at Mass and the various vestments worn by the clergy.

The Sanctuary

The sanctuary, from the Latin word for holy place, is the main focus of our church home. The main focus in the sanctuary is the altar and ambo. The altar is a symbol of Christ (that's why the priest kisses the altar at the beginning of Mass) who died for us, and it is the "table of the Lord" from which we receive the body and blood of Christ. For us, the Mass is both a sacrifice and a community meal. The altar table is covered with a white cloth and usually has candles and some flowers nearby. The big book on the altar from which the priest proclaims the prayers of the Mass is called the sacramentary .

The ambo is the stand from which the Word of God is proclaimed. The book from which the Scripture passages are read is called the lectionary (from Lectio - to read). This book contains all the Scriptures that are read at our Sunday and weekday Masses. On a stand near the ambo rests the book of the Gospels which is usually carried in procession during the Mass. Occasionally before the Gospel is proclaimed, the book of the Gospels is carried in procession and incensed with incense from a thurible as a way to stress its importance.

The Paschal Candle is also placed near the ambo. A new candle is purchased once a year and lit for the first time during the Easter Vigil Mass which celebrates the victory of the light of Christ over the darkness of sin and death. In every Catholic Church. In every Catholic Church sanctuary you will see a cross. The cross represents the salvation won for us by Jesus. Some crosses will have the figure of the crucified Christ on j them, emphasizing_ the sufferings of Christ. A cross with the figure of the crucified Christ is called a crucifix. Some crosses will have the figure of the risen Christ, symbolizing the triumph of Christ over sin and death.

Also in the sanctuary you will notice the Presider's chair, the chair from which the priest leads us in prayer and where he sits during Mass. Some churches have a tabernacle in the sanctuary. Most of the newer churches have it in a special Eucharistic chapel which is used daily for Mass and private devotion.

The Tabernacle, from the Latin word for tent, is a small box or cabinet in which hosts or breads left over after Mass are kept. Some of these leftover breads are used by priests and lay ministers to take holy communion to the sick and shut-in members of our community. Catholics believe that Jesus continues to be present in the consecrated breads that are left over after Mass. That is why they genuflect (bend right knee to floor) or bow on entering and leaving the church. It is an external mark of reverence for this special presence of Jesus. A traditional devotional practice in the Catholic Church is to "pay a visit" to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. Because we believe in the special presence of Jesus in the breads in the tabernacle, we sometimes feel drawn to go and visit with him.

Beside the tabernacle is a lamp called the sanctuary lamp, a reminder to us that Jesus is our light and is present in the Blessed Sacrament (the term used for Jesus' presence in the breads in the tabernacle).

Finally, in the sanctuary you will often see a baptismal font or baptismal pool in which infants and adults are baptized. The baptistry is a central symbol for us the place where Mother Church welcomes new members into her midst.

Outside the Sanctuary

The following are some of the things that you will notice outside the sanctuary:

An area for musical instruments and the choir .Music and song have always had an important place in our liturgy. It has been said, "He who sings once prays twice."

Reconciliation rooms where Catholics confess sin, are forgiven and reconciled with God and the community. In a reconciliation room, one can confess anonymously or speak face-to-face to the priest.

Stained glass windows and statues. Our church community of believers, just like the citizens of our country, does not hesitate to memorialize its heroes who live its ideals in an extraordinary way. Stained glass windows and statues also speak to our senses and put us in touch with the sacred dimension of life. Beautiful art reveals to us something of the beauty of God.

Stations of the Cross. These are fourteen images of the last, painful journey of Christ from Pilate's house to the hill of Calvary. Each Friday during the season of Lent, Catholics participate in a special prayer service built around the Stations of the Cross.

The Sacristy. This is where the priests vest for Mass and where sacred vessels and vestments are kept.

Holy Water Fonts. You will notice at the doors of the Church are holy water fonts. On entering the Church Catholics usually dip the fingers of their right hand into the holy water and then trace the Sign of the Cross upon their body, touching forehead, breast, left and right shoulder, while saying, "In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit". (Matthew 28:19). Making the Sign of the Cross reminds us that we belong to Christ and that we, like him, must carry our crosses. When we bless ourselves with holy water we are reminded of our baptismal commitment.

Sacred Vessels

The following are three sacred vessels that are always used at Mass:

The chalice is the cup used to hold the wine during Mass.

The paten is the vessel used to hold the large host used by the priest at Mass. In many churches today, the paten is replaced by a large bow or basket which contains all the hosts, including the priest's large host, that are needed for a Sunday Mass.

Ciborium is the vessel which the ministers of the Eucharist hold while distributing holy communion.

Other important vessels: A thurible is the vessel used to incense the Book of Gospels and the altar during Mass. During Benediction ( a prayer service in honor of the Blessed Sacrament) it is used to incense Jesus present in the Blessed Sacrament i.e. in the consecrated bread. When used in the liturgy, the incense has various symbolic meanings: it's use is a way to show respect and honor. You will recall that one of the gifts the Magi brought to infant Jesus was incense. Also the Bible depicts the prayers of God's people as rising up to him like the smoke of incense.

Monstrance (from the Latin Monstrare = to manifest or show forth) is the vessel in which the sacred host (i.e. the consecrated bread) is placed for a prayer service called Benediction or for Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament (name given to the special presence of Jesus in the consecrated bread).

Luna is the vessel in which the Blessed Sacrament is placed when it is not in the monstrance.

Pyx is a small container used to carry the Blessed Sacrament to the sick and homebound.

Other vessels, of lesser importance, are the cruets, vessels which hold the water and wine used at Mass.

The purificator is the cloth which the priest and ministers hold while ministering the cup at Mass.

Vestments

In all our lives there are moments when clothing adds a special touch to times and occasions of great importance. Public worship of God are times of special importance when we dress up to show our respect for God. The three main vestments worn by a priest and deacon are:

The alb is the long white garment worn by the priest and deacon.

The stole is a long, narrow scarf that comes around the back of the neck and falls in two equal strips in the front. You will notice that the deacon wears his stole over one shoulder joined at the opposite side ( a sign of service).

The chasuble is the outer garment worn by the priest. Dalmatic is the outer garment worn by the deacon at Mass.

In addition, to the above vestments: alb, stole, and chasuble, a bishop during special ceremonies will wear a miter (mitra=headband) on his head and carry a crozier (a long staff) in his hand. The crozier is a symbol of the bishop's role as the shepherd of his flock.

Colors of Vestments

You will notice that the colors of the chasuble and stole change periodically.

Green (symbol of hope) is worn during ordinary time (33 Sundays of the year when no particular feast is being celebrated).

Blue (symbol of expectation) is worn during the four weeks of the Advent Season.

White (symbol of joy) is worn during the Christmas and Easter seasons, during other special feast days and for weddings. .

Purple (symbol of penance) is worn during the six weeks of Lent.

Red (symbol of fire) is worn on Palm Sunday, Pentecost Sunday and on the feast

of martyrs.

During the various liturgical seasons (Advent/Christmas, Lent/Easter, etc.) the

liturgical environment in church depicts and focuses our attention on the particular season and event in the life of Christ that we are celebrating. For example, during Lent we may have in the sanctuary a barren tree symbolizing the barrenness of the desert

(during Lent we recall the 40 days Jesus spent in the desert).

Liturgical. Ministries

Presider is normally an ordained priest. If no priests are available the Presider will

be a designated layman or woman who will lead the assembly in a Word or Communion Service. The special role of the presider is to lead the assembly in.

worship, to encourage other liturgical ministers and the assembly to perform their roles well, and to be and active member of the assembly when his role does not require him to be doing something else.

The Ministry of the Assembly is to be actively engaged in the Eucharistic Celebration. The Mass is not a spectator's sport. It is not something the presider does for us. The members of the assembly are fulfilling their important role at the Mass when they show hospitality to those around them, listen attentively to the Word of God, receive the Eucharist with faith and reverence and be actively engaged in the prayer and song of the Mass. The role of the

Lector is the person who proclaims the Scriptures during the Liturgy of the Word section of the Mass. Lectors should have a special love for God's Word and proclaim it with conviction.

Ministers of the Eucharist are the persons who minister the cup which contains the consecrated wine called the Precious Blood. They also minister or distribute the sacred breads called the hosts.

Ushers are persons who help people find a seat in church, take up the collection, pass out the bulletins and sometime act as greeters.

Ministers of Hospitality/Greeters are persons who welcome people to church on Sunday. Not all parishes have Ministers of Hospitality.

Cantor/ Minister of Music is a person who leads the assembly in song. One of the Saints of our Church has said, "he who sings once prays twice". Singing plays a very important and supportive role in the Eucharistic celebration

Altar Servers officially called Acolytes, are persons who assist the priest at Mass.

The Altar Society is a group of parishioners who work behind the scenes to ensure that everything is nice and clean, especially the Sacred Vessels and priest's vestments, for the Mass.