A liturgy is the Church’s formal prayer, the way the community gathers to worship God together. The most important and central liturgy in the Catholic Church is the Mass, where Catholics gather as a faith community to listen to God’s Word, pray together, and celebrate the Eucharist (Holy Communion).

In Catholic schools, students also participate in different forms of liturgy and prayer. At times the school community may celebrate Mass with a priest, particularly on important feast days or at the beginning and end of the school year. At other times, schools may hold more informal liturgies or prayer services, either in the classroom, at a year level gathering, or as a whole school community.

These may include readings from the Bible, prayers, music and student participation, helping young people grow in their understanding of faith and their relationship with God.

Understanding the flow of the Mass can help parents and children feel more confident and engaged when attending. There are four parts of a Catholic Mass.

Participation in the Mass

For families, particularly those newer to attending Mass, it can be helpful to understand how people participate throughout the celebration.

During Mass, the congregation moves between sitting, standing, and kneeling at different times. These shared postures reflect prayer, listening, and reverence. While practices can vary slightly between parishes, people generally stand for prayers and the Gospel, sit for the readings and homily, and kneel during the Eucharistic Prayer.

The congregation also joins in spoken responses, such as “And with your spirit” and “Thanks be to God,” which help everyone participate in the liturgy together.

During Communion, baptised Catholics who have celebrated their First Communion may receive the Eucharist. Children or adults who have not yet received the sacrament are welcome to come forward for a blessing, usually by crossing their arms over their chest.

For further information on Catholic Mass, you can explore the following links.

• View the interactive link https://www.togetheratonealtar.catholic.edu.au/receive/overview-of-the-mass
• The Catholic Mass Explained https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8-1Dil2Zzb-rgwigL3BWZ6zLVxhqbZzC

References

• Catechism of the Catholic Church. (1994). Vatican City: Libreria Editrice Vaticana.
• Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments. (2011). General Instruction of the Roman Missal. Vatican City.
• United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. (n.d.). Order of Mass. https://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/the-mass/order-of-mass