You are very welcome
Whether this is your first visit to a Catholic church, you are visiting the area, you have been away from Mass for some time, or you are beginning to explore the Catholic faith, you are very welcome at St Mary’s, St John Bosco and St Edward’s.
You do not need to know what to do before coming.
You do not need to understand everything.
You do not need to take part in everything.
Simply come.
Coming to Mass for the first time
The Catholic Mass is the Church’s great act of worship.
We listen to the Word of God in Sacred Scripture, pray together, offer ourselves with Christ and celebrate the Holy Eucharist.
During Mass, people will:
- stand, sit and kneel at different times;
- listen to readings from the Bible;
- join prayers and responses;
- sing;
- spend time in silence;
- and come forward for Holy Communion.
If you are unsure what to do, do not worry.
You can simply watch what others do and participate as much as you feel able.
No one expects a first-time visitor to know everything.
What should I wear?
There is no special dress code for coming to Mass.
Wear something comfortable and reasonably respectful.
You do not need special clothes and you do not need to dress differently simply because you are new.
Holy Communion
At the heart of the Mass is the Holy Eucharist, in which Catholics believe that Jesus Christ is truly present and gives himself to us as his Body and Blood.
Holy Communion is received by Catholics who are properly disposed to receive the sacrament.
If you are not Catholic, or if for another reason you are not receiving Holy Communion, you are still very welcome at Mass.
You may simply remain in your place during Communion.
According to our parish practice, you may also come forward for a blessing, indicating this by crossing your arms over your chest.
There is no embarrassment in not receiving Holy Communion and no explanation is required.
If you would like to understand more about Catholic practice, please ask.
Children and families
Children are very welcome at Mass.
Please do not worry if a baby cries, a toddler needs to move about or a child does not yet know how to behave perfectly in church.
Children learn to worship by gradually becoming part of the worshipping community.
Parents are encouraged to bring their children, pray with them and help them become familiar with the Mass over time.
Information about Children’s Liturgy and other provision for families can be found through our parish Mass page.
Returning to Mass after time away
If you are Catholic but have not been to Mass for months or years, you are welcome to return.
You do not need to wait until you feel completely ready.
You do not need to give an explanation at the door.
Simply come to Mass.
If you would like some help returning to Confession, prayer or ordinary Catholic practice, we have a simple Returning to the Faith pathway to help you begin again.
If it has been a long time since your last Confession and you are unsure what to do, we also have a straightforward guide.
Thinking about becoming Catholic?
The right pathway depends partly upon whether you have already been baptised.
You do not need to work this out alone.
I have never been baptised
If you are an adult who has never been baptised and are thinking about becoming Catholic, your normal pathway is the RCIA / Catechumenate.
This is a journey towards Baptism, Confirmation and the Holy Eucharist.
BECOMING CATHOLIC — RCIA / THE CATECHUMENATE
If you have an unbaptised child seven or older:
BAPTISM FOR CHILDREN SEVEN OR OLDER
I was baptised in another Christian Church
If you have already been validly baptised in another Christian Church or community and now wish to become Catholic, you are not baptised again.
Your pathway is normally Reception into Full Communion.
RECEPTION OF BAPTISED CHILDREN INTO FULL COMMUNION
RECEPTION OF ADULTS INTO FULL COMMUNION
I was baptised Catholic but never Confirmed
If you are already a baptised Catholic adult but never received Confirmation, you do not need RCIA.
We have a distinct Adult Confirmation pathway.
I am Catholic but have been away from the Church
If you were raised Catholic or received the sacraments but have been away from the practice of the faith, you do not become Catholic again.
You are already part of the Church through Baptism.
Our Returning to the Faith pathway is designed to help you return to prayer, Confession, Sunday Mass and ordinary Catholic life.
I am Catholic but missed First Holy Communion or another sacrament
Adults sometimes discover that they were baptised Catholic but did not receive First Holy Communion, Confirmation or another sacrament when they were younger.
Please contact the parish.
We will check your sacramental history and arrange preparation appropriate to your circumstances.
You do not need to put yourself through a children’s programme or assume that RCIA is automatically the correct pathway.
I am curious, but I am not ready to make a decision
You are still very welcome.
You do not need to be preparing for a sacrament in order to learn about Catholicism.
Our Catholic Faith Online Course offers a basic introduction to the principal beliefs and practices of the Catholic Church.
You can use it simply to explore questions and understand the faith better.
There is no commitment involved.
You are also welcome simply to come to Mass, listen, pray and take your time.
Looking for a sacrament for your child?
If you are enquiring about:
Baptism · First Confession · First Holy Communion · Confirmation
please visit our Sacraments pages.
Each has a clear explanation of the sacrament, how preparation works in our parish and the appropriate preparation resources.
Getting married?
If you are engaged and considering marriage in the Catholic Church, please contact us early in your planning.
Marriage preparation begins with a conversation with the priest so that we can establish freedom to marry and explain the preparation process before important arrangements become fixed.
Not sure where you fit?
That is fine.
People’s circumstances do not always fit neatly into a website menu.
You may be unsure whether you were baptised.
You may have been baptised but not know where.
You may have received some sacraments but not others.
You may have been married previously.
Or you may simply know that you want to take faith more seriously but not know what the next step should be.
Please get in touch.
The purpose of the first conversation is simply to listen, understand your circumstances and help you find the right way forward.
After Mass
If you come to Mass and would like to introduce yourself, please do.
You are also completely free to leave quietly afterwards.
Some people stay to pray.
Some talk with others.
Some stay for refreshments when these are available.
Some simply go home.
There is no expectation that a new visitor must immediately become involved in parish activities.
Come, worship and become familiar with the parish at your own pace.
A simple place to begin
If you are unsure what to do next, begin with these three things:
Come to Sunday Mass.
Begin a simple daily prayer.
Speak with us when you are ready.
You do not need to have everything worked out before you begin.
“Come and see.”
John 1:46
We would be glad to hear from you
St Mary’s · St John Bosco · St Edward’s
Contact: Fr John Owens
john.owens@dioceseofnottingham.uk
St. Mary's, St. John Bosco and St. Edward's 