Welcome

Attire is just one of many ways in which we show outwardly our profound respect for Our Lord. Our external appearance should reflect our internal disposition. Current worldly fashions are a poor guide to properly reverencing our King of Kings, so the following guidelines are offered as a helpful resource to our parishioners:

Dress appropriately on Church premises and especially while attending Mass.

Women should dress in modest clothing, preferably in a knee-length dress or skirt. Tight-fitting or revealing clothing, including miniskirts, sleeveless and low-cut tops, is not considered appropriate church attire. It is also customary (though not necessary) for women to cover their heads with a veil or similar head covering such as a hat or scarf in the church proper. (Extra veils are available at both entrances to the church should you require one.)

Men, whenever possible and especially at Sunday Mass, should wear a collared shirt and long, non-denim pants, preferably with a jacket and tie. T-shirts, shirts with distracting logos or lettering, shorts, and flip-flops are not appropriate. However, if work or travel necessitates clothing not in conformity to the aforementioned standards (e.g. blue jeans), this need not deter you from attending Mass during the week.

The steps for Confession are:

After entering the confessional, kneel down facing the screen with the priest on the opposite side.

Make the sign of the cross. (The priest will do the same in Latin: In nomine Patris…et Spiritus Sancti).

Say the following: “Bless me, Father, for I have sinned; it has been [however long] since my last confession.”

Confess your sins to the priest (Mortal sins must be confessed in kind and number).

Conclude by saying, “ I am sorry for these sins and for all the sins of my past life.”

The priest will give advice (if necessary) and assign a penance to be performed after leaving.

Recite the Act of Contrition. (During this time, the Priest will be reciting quietly in Latin.)

Finally, the Priest will give you absolution (in Latin) and dismiss you.

If at any time you have a question or find yourself stuck, the priest will kindly help you along.

Holy Communion at St. Joan’s is received exclusively kneeling and on the tongue, and Our Lord is administered only under the species of Bread. There is no need to say ‘Amen’ after receiving, the priest will say it for you.

Baptized Catholics in a state of grace, and who are observing the Eucharistic fast are invited to come forward for Holy Communion. By a ‘state of grace’ is meant those who are not conscious of any grave sin which has yet to be absolved by sacramental Confession.

Proper observation of the Eucharistic fast is no food or drink (other than water) one hour prior to the reception of Holy Communion, although some may prefer to observe the older discipline of 3 hours or from midnight.