This part of the church is called the gathering space. It is the space between the outside of the church and the main section where Mass is celebrated. When people enter the church, they prepare themselves to receive Jesus at Mass. As the faithful leave Mass, they prepare to bring the light of Christ to others. For these reasons, the gathering space is very important.
This is the main section of the church where the assembly gathers for Mass. The assembly of the faithful is the group of people who gather to worship God. At the end of the aisle, you can see the sanctuary and the altar.
You have probably seen or attended a baptism for a baby, but have you ever attended a baptism for an adult? Adults are baptized through the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, or RCIA. They are baptized on Holy Saturday at the Easter Vigil Mass. The place where people are baptized is called the baptistry. The large pool of water is called the baptismal font. Water is used as a sign of new life. During Jesus' time and for a period after that, people were baptized in rivers, lakes, and pools. They were totally immersed in the water!
Today, some churches do baptism by immersion and others pour water on the head of the person being baptized. The large candle beside the font is the Easter candle, or Paschal candle. It is present to remind us of the light of Christ.
The holy water fonts are placed at the entrances to the church. People bless themselves with holy water when they enter and leave the church as a sign of their own baptism. We all belong to the family of God because of our baptism.
Do you know the difference between a cross and a crucifix? A cross shows just the two logs attached like a "plus sign." A crucifix is a cross that shows Jesus' body on it. Here you can see the crucifix that hangs above the altar. This one shows Jesus after he rose from the dead. It is called a Cross of Resurrection. Other crucifixes show Jesus dying on the cross. Either way, seeing the crucifix reminds us of Jesus' great sacrifice for us.
As you look at the altar, the ambo is to your left. This is where the lector and the priest proclaim the Word of God. The lector reads the first and second readings during Mass, and a priest or a deacon reads the gospel.
The Lectionary is the book of readings from the Bible that we hear at Mass. When the lector or priest proclaims God's Word, it is different than reading a speech or reading in class. The Word of God is very special. Lectors and priests and deacons prepare themselves to read us these Bible stories by praying about them before they come to Mass. Proclaiming the Word of God is a very special ministry.
The table of the Lord is where we celebrate the Eucharist. We offer our gifts of bread and wine. Through consecration, they become the body and blood of Jesus. When you share in the Eucharist, you are sharing in Jesus' body and blood.
The Eucharist is kept in the tabernacle. The tabernacle is the gold box you see above the kneelers in this picture. The candle next to the tabernacle is lit when the Eucharist is present. When you see that the candle is lit, you can bow your head or genuflect to show reverence and respect for the Eucharist.
The sacristy is where the priests, deacons, altar servers, Eucharistic ministers, and lectors prepare for Mass. The vestments of the priests and deacons are kept here. Each season of the church year has a different color for the vestments. Pay attention the next time you go to Mass. For the next few weeks, watch what color Fr. Jerry wears e and when it changes.
As you know, other sacraments are celebrated in churches besides the Eucharist. You can come to church to celebrate the sacrament of Reconciliation.
The Stations of the Cross are a type of pilgrimage. A pilgrimage is a prayerful journey. There are 14 Stations of the Cross—one for each event on the day Jesus died. You can journey through the last few hours of Christ's life and follow the events that led to his death.
Many churches have statues of saints throughout the building. Almost every church has a statue of Mary inside. Mary is very special because she is the Mother of God and the Mother of the Church.
Often, when you look at the altar, the statue of Mary is on the left-hand side.
