Eucharist

Entrances: There are five main entrances into St. Paul the Apostle Church. The vestibule entrance is the main entrance, and the other entrances lead to the North and South transepts.

Handicap Access: Handicapped parking is available around the Church. The main entrance and the North transept entrances are handicap accessible.

Hearing Assistance: Assisted Hearing Devices are available upon request. If you’d like an Assisted Hearing Device, please see an usher before Mass.

Seating: You are welcome to sit anywhere. Additional space for wheelchairs can be found in the church's front and back.

Lavatories: Restrooms are located in the vestibule of our church. A family bathroom is also available in this area.

Kneeling: Our pews contain kneelers, and we kneel as a sign of reverence during portions of prayer. Members of other religions and people with health problems may sit during the kneeling times.

Summer and Winter Concerns: Our church is air-conditioned in the summer. Because our priests live in the rectory adjacent to the Church, we always have Mass (even during significant snowfall) in the winter. However, if it is unsafe to travel during winter weather, we encourage you to remain at home.

Catholics often make the Sign of the Cross with our right hand. We'd like to invite you to do the same. You begin by raising your fingers to your forehead and say, “In the name of the Father”. Then you lower your fingers to your chest and say, “and of the Son”. Then you move your hand to your left shoulder and say, “and of the Holy”. Then you bring your hand to your right shoulder and say, “Spirit. Amen”. During Mass we do this when we enter the Church and at various times during the Mass.  As this is a sacramental, anyone from any denomination may make the Sign of the Cross.

Holy water is water that has been blessed by a priest. As we enter the church, there are holy water fonts near every entrance. We invite you to briefly dip the tip of your fingers on your right hand into the water in the font and make the sign of the Cross with the holy water.

When you reach your desired pew, Catholics genuflect toward the Tabernacle before taking their seat. The Tabernacle is prominently visible directly behind the altar. You can genuflect by placing your right knee lightly and briefly on the ground as you face the Tabernacle.

After entering the pew, we invite you to kneel in prayer. This is your opportunity to pray for a few minutes before Mass starts. We encourage all to arrive before the start of Mass. This allows us the needed time for prayer, and to focus our hearts and minds.

There are two places you can look to follow along throughout Mass. During the first part of Mass (known as the Liturgy of the Word), you can follow along in the red Worship hymnal when the readings are being read.

During the second part of the Mass (known as the Liturgy of the Eucharist), the prayers said by the congregation are also in the front of the red Worship hymnal. We also invite you to sing along with us throughout Mass.

The congregation will at times stand, at times sit, and at times kneel. While it's not mandatory to take the posture of the congregation, we encourage you to do so. This fosters a sense of unity and community among us.

Collection baskets are passed person-to-person down each pew. The money is used to support the many ministries of the church. Occasionally, a second collection is taken for a missionary or some other need. Although we are always grateful for any gift made, you are not required to give.

Shortly after the congregation prays the Our Father together (about 3/4 of the way through the Mass), the priest invites us to "offer each other a sign of peace". The sign of peace is a wave or a handshake with those sitting near you. We invite you to simply shake hands and say, “peace be with you”. If you are not comfortable with this gesture, you are not obligated to participate, a smile is fine.

The basic condition for receiving the Eucharist is to be able to honestly say “Amen” (I believe) to the Catholic faith with the integrity of one’s belief and actions.

Roman Catholics not in a state of serious sin, and members of various other Eastern churches are welcome to join us in Communion. We use real wine, and we believe that God’s grace transforms the bread and wine into the body, blood, soul, and divinity of Christ.                 In 1 Corinthians 11:27-28, Paul writes, “Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a man examine himself, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup.” Through confession, Christ offers healing and conversion — reconciliation between not just God and you, but between you and the entire Body of Christ. If you’re Catholic and not sure about receiving communion, make time for the healing sacrament of reconciliation.

Receiving Communion acknowledges both our faith in Christ and our communion with the apostolic teaching of the Church. The Catholic Church longs for the fulfillment of Jesus’ prayer “that they may all be one” (John 17:21). We grieve the division within the Body of Christ because the division is contrary to the will of Christ, Who is the Head of the Church. These divisions in teaching and community are real, the sad result of human sin. Because of these divisions, those who are not one in the unity of the faith may not receive Communion at Mass. Rather, we and all Christians are called to pray for Christian unity and to work towards the true unity in Christ that will allow us to all come to the table together. If you will not receive Communion, we invite you to come forward and receive a blessing. To indicate that you would like a blessing, cross your arms over your chest (in the shape of an "X"), and the priest or deacon distributing Holy Communion will bless you.

At Communion time, ministers will bring the Body and Blood of Christ to various stations in the front of the church. If you are receiving Communion, we invite you to follow the congregation's lead and make your way forward to the front of the church to receive Communion. We slightly bow as we approach the minister as a gesture of reverence and thanksgiving before receiving the Sacrament. The Body of Christ may be received in the hand or placed directly into your mouth.