Come to Mass
If you are considering coming to Mass for the first time (or the first time in a long time), we are looking forward to welcoming you! Please feel free to reach out in advance to welcome@spccnb.org. We would love to arrange for someone to greet you on your first visit.
What is the Mass?
The Mass is the central act of Worship in the life of a Catholic.
​
"As Christians, we are called to relationship with Jesus. There is no more intense, privileged way to relate to Him than at the Mass."
- Bishop Robert Barron
Word
Eucharist
Sacrifice
​The Mass of All Ages: The Liturgical Celebration of the Eucharist
If you are new, you will notice standing and sitting, kneeling and coming forth. You might feel a little out of place. Don't worry! While each movement has a meaning, and you can learn those in time, the heart of what we celebrate is a great mystery, which in the original Greek, mysterion, means a visible reality that acts as the door into an inexhaustible spiritual reality, namely, the infinite love of God and the inexhaustible mercy he pours upon his people.
With that said, the Mass is the central liturgical celebration of the Church. The people of God come each Sunday into the mystery: they gather together to stand before the God of mercy, to worship him, to listen to and be nourished by his Word, to offer our gifts to him, to enter more deeply into communion with him through the one sacrifice of Calvary made present on the altar at the hands of the priest, and finally, to be sent to bring and be the Good News in the world.
At the moment when the faithful come forward to receive communion, they come to receive Christ and all he teaches. As St. Justin wrote in the 2nd century, "Because this bread and wine have been made Eucharist ('eucharisted,' according to an ancient expression), 'we call this food Eucharist, and no one may take part in it unless he believes that what we teach is true, has received baptism for the forgiveness of sins and new birth, and lives in keeping with what Christ taught.'"
To take a deeper dive into the Sacrament of the Eucharist, you may enjoy watching Presence. If you have any questions, please reach out to us here: welcome@spccnb.org
Confession is a Place of Victory
If you're coming back to Mass for the first time in a while, make time for the healing sacrament of Reconciliation (you may also know it as the Sacrament of Confession)! Although it can be normal to be nervous, this is not something to dread. This is a beautiful invitation to receive God's mercy and forgiveness. You won't regret it!
​​
Before your Confession, prepare your heart. Take some time to pray, asking the Holy Spirit to shed light on the sins you've committed. It is also helpful to use an Examination of Conscience like this one.
​
Confession is available Thursdays starting at 8:40 a.m. and Saturdays from 3 p.m. - 4 p.m. and by appointment.
​​​​
The Confessional is located near the choir section in the Main Church. The line forms in chairs outside the confessional. You can ask someone in the chairs where the end of the line is if you are unsure. When you enter the confessional, you will see places to kneel or sit. You may do whichever you prefer. If you do not remember the Act of Contrition the priest will help you, or you may read it.
Kids are Welcome at Mass
We know it can be intimidating to bring young children to Mass at a new church. You may be worried about whether they will behave and how others will react. Come anyway! We want to assure you that kids are welcome at Mass! For example, Jesus said, "let the children come to me." It's tempting to sit near the back so you can make a quick escape, but we find that it helps if you sit near the front so that they can see. There is nothing interesting about the back of someone's head! If you have to step out for a minute, we understand, but please come back inside the sanctuary when you can!
​
Pro tips: Wondering how to keep your kids engaged? While our instinct is to give them a toy or a snack to munch on, try this: seek to explain what is happening in the Mass. You can point out interesting things like the color of the priest's vestments or the sanctuary candle. This is also an occasion for you to grow in your understanding of the beautiful mystery of the Mass. Depending on the child's age, you might consider a small children's missal or MagnifiKid to help them follow along.