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We are Called to Worship
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| Arrive earlyand use the time for personal prayer and preparation for receiving Christ. It is important that we show proper respect to the Eucharist while allowing others to worship without distraction. |
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| Fast for one hour before Communion from all solids and liquids (except water and any medicine you might need to take). This is a small sacrifice we offer to Jesus to show our respect and reverence for His true presence in the Eucharist. |
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| Dress with dignity. In order to show our Lord that we have deep respect for the real Presence of His Body and Blood present in the Eucharist, we dress with dignity. God has given us the greatest gift, His Son, and in return, it is appropriate to present ourselves in proper clothes and attitudes as a sign of reverence and respect for this gift. |
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| Bless yourself with Holy Water upon entering and leaving the Church. Holy Water is a popular sacramental and religious tradition used to bless oneself. Its use upon entering Church is a reminder of one's Baptism and a gesture of purifying oneself before approaching the presence of God. |
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| Keep your voice low when greeting one another in Church. Nurturing the family community is indeed important. However, we must be mindful of the presence of Jesus in the Eucharist as well as being considerate of others who are praying. |
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| We are Called to be Attentive to the Word |
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| Genuflect(on the right knee) before entering a pew as a sign of adoration and greeting directed towards the Divine presence of the Blessed Sacrament. It has also been a tradition to bow slightly at the mention of the name of Jesus. Both the genuflection and the bow are symbolic of one's humility in the presence of the Lord. |
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| Bring your whole family, including small children, to Mass with you. Encourage them to participate in the celebration and learn its meaning. We have the Crying Room, so if a child becomes fussy, you can feel free to escort them to the Children's Crying Room and stay with them until they are ready to return to the main church. |
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| Open your mind and heart and be attentive to the proclamation of God's word. Try to discover the meaning of these readings in your life. The following weeks readings are in the bulletin......come prepared. |
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| Respond with "Thanks be to God" following the first and second readings. These acknowledgments create an openness to the indwelling of the message of God. We all join in the singing of the Responsorial Psalm. This is a joyful response to the Living Word of God. |
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| Rise out of respect and prepare for God's message by singing the Alleluia verse. Following the reading of the Gospel, glorify the Lord with the response, "Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ". |
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We are Called to Share in the Eucharist
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| Respond to the prayers being offered by the Celebrant. The prayers are offered on our behalf, and therefore we must be more attentive and responsive if they are to have personal meaning for each of us. |
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| Profess your faith by saying the great Amen. Our "Amen" signifies that we believe the Lord Jesus Christ is truly present; that simple bread and wine have been transformed into the Body and Blood of Christ. |
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| Receive the Eucharist with love and adoration. Respond "Amen" to the proclamation that what you are about to receive is the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Christ. Those receiving in the hands should place one hand under the other and fully extend them to accept the Eucharist. Take a step to the side and place the Body of Christ in your mouth. if you prefer to receive on the tongue, be sure to move close to the Priest or Eucharistic Minister, open your mouth so that the Eucharist can be placed there easily and safely. |
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| During the Mass, when offered, we encourage you to partake of the Blood of Christ. Take a sip from the chalice and carefully return it to the Eucharistic Minister. |
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