Bringing Friends to Mass

Dear Sr. Edwina: Is it okay to bring a non-Catholic friend to Mass?

Concerned Catholic: Oh my heavens, mercy and goodness…of course! It is perfectly acceptable to bring others to our celebration of the Eucharist. However when doing so, I would encourage you to share the significance of the following information with them prior to their visit: 1) Holy water 2) The sign of the cross 3) Genuflecting and 4) Abstaining from taking the Eucharist. Any of the above mentioned customs may confuse our non-Catholic brothers and sisters if not explained properly. Our desire is for everyone to feel welcome to our Eucharistic celebration; therefore a bit of enlightenment regarding our customs and beliefs may help them feel at ease. If, by chance, gentle Christian, you yourself are a bit fuzzy regarding the reasons for our customs, perhaps a visit to the entrance of the Church for some free information would refresh your memory.