We know it can be intimidating to come to a new church for the first time. All the more so if you’re not familiar with the Catholic Mass. We want to help you have an awesome experience here at Our Lady of Lourdes, so we’ve put together a few tips to help you prepare for your first visit.
- Where am I going?
- We’re located at 1506 Brown Street, Bettendorf. Click here to get directions.
- Is there parking?
- We’ve got lot’s of parking. Be sure to leave extra time if you need a spot near the door, or if you’re coming to Mass for a big event like Christmas or Easter.
- Where do I sit?
- Anywhere you’re comfortable! We’ve got plenty of seats, and we’d love to have you join us up front (but we understand if you’d prefer to hang out in the back). Our Hospitality Team is on hand to welcome you and help you find a spot. If you can, try to get here a few minutes before Mass is scheduled to start. That will give you time to find a seat and settle in, and maybe even say a prayer before Mass starts.
- What if I’ve never been to a Mass before?
- We’re glad you’re here! The Catholic Mass can be a little intimidating if you’re not used to. We tend to forget that not everyone is familiar with when we stand, sit, kneel, and all that. The Mass has developed over the last 2,000 years, and for those of us who are here every weekend, it’s kind of like second nature. The more you keep coming back and digging into the many layers of meaning, the more you’ll come to appreciate the beauty!
- If you’d like to follow along look for a copy of the book called Today’s Missal (they’re in every pew). In the front of the book there’s a section called the “Order of Mass.” But don’t worry if you miss something – we’re just glad you’re here!
- If you’d like to learn more about the Mass (or get a taste of what’s in store for you) you can click here to check out a video from formed.org. You’ll need to register, but it’s free to sign up.
- I’m not Catholic. Can I still come to Mass?
- Definitely! We’d love to have you join us for worship. Because we believe that in the Mass the bread and the wine actually become the body, blood, soul, divinity of Jesus Christ, and that reception of Holy Communion is a sign of union with the Church, only those actively practicing Catholics who are properly disposed are invited to receive Holy Communion. But everyone is welcome to enter into worship of Jesus Christ in the Mass.
We try to make an effort to make sure everyone feels welcome here at Our Lady of Lourdes. But no matter how hard we try, sometimes we miss people. The best way to get connected is to reach out! Flag down someone on the Hospitality Team and let them know you’re new here and you’d like to get connected. Hang around for a little while after Mass and introduce yourself to the priest. We want to get connected to you!