I’m going to a Catholic Church on Sunday. Is there anything I need to be aware of?

[TheLightSideOfTheMoon]

Support Worker, taking one of my peeps for the first time.

I’ve not been into a Catholic Church before and don’t want to offend anyone or make any faux pas.

Is there a dress code? Anything else I need to be aware of?

Thank you!

I would honestly not encourage anyone who does not recognise the deity to genuflect on entry to a pew or any other time.

Off point, but it's a basilica in Assisi which is not the same as a cathedral.
I have seen elderly women cover their hair in mass in the UKbut not since the 1970s. They wore a special scarf anyway. A black net one, I can't remember the name of it.

Communion happens at the end of mass. To receive it you must be Catholic and in a state of grace (which you will be after confession). If the person you are going with hasn't been to confession recently they should probably skip receiving communion. You can both just sit while everyone else goes up

Take loads of money the collection basket goes round numerous times !

I’m not catholic, but attend mass with my catholic children. I never do this at any church (I’ve been to a fair few different ones now). No one has said anything.

There's a lot of standing up and sitting down. You need to kneel a couple of times too. Just copy everyone else. The bit I used to hate was shaking hands for the Sign of Peace. I really didn't want to touch everyone's clammy hands - you don't know where they've been! And that was pre-Covid. Once I got muddled up with whose hand I'd shaken and whose I hadn't. The man sitting behind me had to say "um, you've already done me actually." Quite embarrassing.

You don't need to take any money. You're under no obligation to put into the offertory collection.

Here in "Holy Catholic Ireland" (!), Mass is normally done and dusted in 30/35 minutes on a Sunday, less time still on a weekday.

Mask wearing still in place, a significant proportion of the congregation will be elderly/vulnerable. Use the hand sanitiser provided at entry points.

The Sign of Peace, shaking of hands has not returned since the pandemic, you may be invited to make eye contact with your neighbours and say "Peace be with you".

Dress respectfully, but casually, definitely no need to cover your head but do cover your midriff.

There may be a place assigned for special needs people in the church, in our church there is a place to park wheelchairs and the Ministers of the Eucharist will bring the Communion wafers there. If you arrive early, you can ask the sacristan (caretaker/not quite receptionist type of role). Or, there may be a "meet and greet" volunteer on duty. Most older churches will have steps, the steps with a ramp attached may be at a different entrance. Some churches have a "Crying Room" type of facility - this is a room where you can essentially hear the service but the rest of the congregation won't be able to hear you (or crying babies, upset toddlers etc), depending on the set-up you may be able to see the service through a large glass screen.

Please don't feel obliged to contribute to the collection(s). If a basket is passed, then just pass it on to the next person. However, since Covid, it's more usual to have buckets at the entrance/exit points.

Don't think of it as time wasted. It can be a lovely restful spiritual or meditative experience for you. There may be music. There may be some lovely stained glass or artwork to admire as well as the architecture of the church itself. Enjoy your visit.

@SageRosemary ah, that's interesting, I didn't know about not having to shake hands any more. I might go back!

Yes I have a vague recollection of a little black veil worn by elderly ladies but not for many years.

If you aren't elderly or disabled OP, it's extreme rude to sit whilst others are kneeling and people will look

@x2boys @MrsPelligrinoPetrichor some women cover their hair in my church. Unfortunately, we aren’t in Italy! Just South Yorkshire.

Our local church must be very lax then. You can seriously wear anything you like, or very little, which is also quite common 😂

It depends on your church. It’s not rude at the ones I attend as a non-catholic. I’d find it more rude if someone not of the religion was kneeling tbh.

when someone shakes your hand it’s “peace be with you” not “oh hi mate” the latter being what my husband decided to say during my sons christening 😂.

They might not do that now though covid and all that. Have not been for a while.

It was called a mantilla. I had a gorgeous black lace one.

The local church in Italy, which, by the by, my great Uncle built, and his brother was a monsigneur at, there are no rules. People pop in and out, kids, teens, mums and dads, grandparents, you go as you like, and do what you want. I have been to weddings there, and people pop out for a chat and a cigarette if it goes on too long. It's a social occassion, as much as a religious one.

If the priest is elderly, his hands shake and he starts randomly shouting ‘Drink!’ ‘Feck!’ ‘Arse!’, don’t worry. This is quite normal.

The songs will definitely not be projected on a screen! This is the cat honk church not the C of E!
You don't need to say or do anything at communion. Take your charge up. If they receive the host, remind them to put their hands out if they don't automatically. And make sure the host is consumed immediately. You just put your hands across your chest and the priest will give you a blessing.

Yes, everyone bows at each other instead. It always makes me laugh. But I'm very glad to be rid of the hand shaking as well.

Yep.
I'm in the south of Italy and anything goes. People come in and out, never seen a head covering in 30 years, the only people I've ever seen kneel are my SIL and a couple of others at the "let us pray" moment. Collection baskets go round once, some people put money in, some don't. Nobody bows or genuflects before getting sat down but some people do a quick sign of the cross if passing in front of the altar.
In tourist places I've seen women asked to cover their shoulders, St. Peter's etc, but nothing else.
Everyone back to "exchange a sign of peace" as usual since the churches were opened again in 2020.

You only genuflect to the Tabernacle, so only if the tabernacle is behind the altar.

In my church the tabernacle is in a side chapel and people genuflecting at the altar is one of my bug bares. But I'm a liturgical pedant!

😂my DH used to think people were saying 'pleased to meet you'. Anyway, yes they are not doing hand shaking at the moment since covid.
Dress wise, anything you wear to work would definitely be smart enough. Anything goes in my church, from tracksuits to party dresses. We have a large black community and they tend to be immaculately dressed, like for a wedding. The white community is generally much older and usually very casual (I think more casual than Protestant churches where people wear Sunday best, but that might be outdated?). Many people never take their anorak off, whatever the weather.
I would also say a lot of people don't kneel, probably because of their age, but you won't look different for not kneeling. There is a lot more standing up and sitting down than in a Protestant church, just follow what others do. The priest will be very happy you are there and no-one will draw attention to you.
It can be nice to get the blessing if you want it. In our church quite a lot of people get blessings and the priest or deacon would ask your name and then say 'may god bless you @TheLightSideOfTheMoon with His peace and His love'. That's all, you don't have to do anything. If the person you are with would find it difficult to walk up for communion, they can also have it in their seat. Just have a word beforehand.