Church Etiquette
In order to make our Eucharistic celebrations more conducive to prayer, to preserve the sacredness of our Liturgies, and to ensure the comfort of all who are gathered with us, some gentle reminders of church etiquette follow:
Conversation: Out of respect for the liturgy and community at prayer, your silence is expected.
Communication Devices: Kindly remember to silence all cell phones and pagers before entering the church.
Arriving on Time: We ask that you make every effort to be on time (even early) for Mass. Remember to allow yourself enough time for parking and extra time if you have to drop off a passenger before parking. We understand that there are times when tardiness cannot be avoided for reasons beyond our control. If Mass is already in progress, please wait for an usher to seat you at an appropriate time, not during the readings or the prayers, etc. It is better to attend Mass, even if late, than to be absent from the community. Nevertheless, a latecomer may correctly choose to wait for the next Mass if there is one.
Leaving Before the Final Blessing: Leaving church before the dismissal ignores an important part of the Liturgy. At the dismissal we celebrate our commission as set forth by Jesus Christ Himself. Please remember that the celebrant should be the last person to enter and the first one to leave.
Prayer Attire: Do you remember when people donned their "Sunday best" for church? By contrast, we often observe that dress for church has now for many become too casual. We should offer our Savior our best in all areas of our lives, including our attire for Sunday Mass. We should dress modestly, not in flashy manner that attracts undue attention. This will reflect a Christian respect for self and others, especially at Mass.