The Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, which is the premier Vatican II liturgical document, says that the “aim to be considered before all else” is the full, conscious, and active participation of all the faithful in the liturgy because that is the way they will learn the true Christian spirit (14).

On Sundays in our parishes, one of the very first things people experience is the Gathering Rites of the Mass, which begins with the opening song. But even before the first note is sung, the assembly has already begun to gather through all the activity they experience leading up to that song. This informal gathering can be even more critical than the offical Gathering Rites themselves because it sets up the success or failure of the rites to accomplish its purpose—to gather disparate individuals into one, unified assembly ready to hear the Word and celebrate the Sacrament.

Good hospitality creates an environment for people to do the work they have been gathered to do. Good hospitality is the beginning of community.

Here are some observation questions you can use to assess the quality of your hospitality prior to Mass.

• Were there greeters outside the church, at the church doors, and inside the church welcoming people as they arrived?
• Did assembly members greet each other in a friendly and genuine way as people gathered in and around their pews/seats?
• Would a visitor or newcomer feel welcomed? Would a visitor leave your Mass never having been personally greeted, welcomed, and invited to return by at least one other person?
• Are the locations of restrooms clearly marked so that visitors know where to find them?
• Is there “code language” in your bulletin, such as “RCIA” or “ICF dinner”? Can a visitor easily find the parish phone number and a name of someone to talk to if they are new to the parish? Do you have to be an insider to know where meeting rooms are?
• Are the parking lot, gathering areas, and church space clean and inviting?
• Do those in wheelchairs have easy access to all parts of the church grounds?
• Are worship aids or projected materials printed clearly in type that is easily read?
• Do all who use the microphones use them effectively so that all can hear well?
• Is there a “cry room” or other ways that members of the assembly are physically separated, left out, or ranked (e.g., reserved places for special groups)?

This is the All Saints altar at the parish I was in on All Souls Day. The marigolds are supposed to provide an attractive scent so loved ones who have passed away will want to come and visit the altar. The altar is filled with favorite foods and drinks of the loved ones. There are also pictures of the dead on the altar. The skulls are made out of sugar and are technically edible, but I don’t think I’d try one. These particular skulls are stored at the end of November and reused every year.

The central liturgy for catechumens is the first half of the Sunday Eucharist called the Liturgy of the Word. When catechumens are dismissed, they reflect on what they experienced in the Liturgy of the Word and share how their experience connects to their daily life.

One of the United States bishops’ documents on liturgical music says this about the effect of liturgy on faith: “Good celebrations foster and nourish faith. Poor celebrations may weaken and destroy it” (Music in Catholic Worship, 6). If this is true, catechumenate teams need to work closely with their priests, liturgists, lectors, and music directors to help ensure that the principle liturgy of the catechumens will foster and nourish their growing faith.

Use these observation questions to assess the quality of your Liturgies of the Word.

Silence

• Was there an ample amount of silence before and after the First and Second Readings and before and after the Responsorial Psalm?
• Was there silence after the homily?
• Describe the “quality” of the silence, for example, uncomfortable, deep, rushed, peaceful, etc.

Proclamation of the Readings

• Did the lector/deacon/priest proclaim the reading clearly and confidently?
• Did they have good eye contact with the assembly?
• Did they project well, speaking so all could hear?
• Did they convey the emotion and meaning of the reading?
• Describe the pace of their reading. Was it too fast or too slow?
• Describe their posture at the ambo. Did they look attentive? Did they slouch?
• Describe their gestures. Did they do anything distracting?

Procession

• Did the procession during the Gospel Acclamation look like a procession? Did the ministers walk with dignity? Was the Book of the Gospels carried with dignity in the procession?

Homily

• Did the homily relate to the real-life experience, concerns, joys, and fears of the people in the assembly?
• Did the homily connect the people’s lives with the Scriptures proclaimed at that liturgy?
• Did the homily strengthen people’s faith to participate in Eucharist or whatever blessing or sacrament was being celebrated at that liturgy?

Music

• Did the assembly sing the Responsorial Psalm well? Did the assembly seem to know the music? Did the assembly know when to sing? Did the assembly sing confidently?
• Did a cantor lead the Responsorial Psalm from the ambo (where the readings are proclaimed)?
• Were the verses of the Responsorial Psalm sung or chanted by the cantor?
• On a scale of 1 to 5, 1 being poor, 5 being excellent, overall, rate the quality of the musical performance of the Responsorial Psalm by the cantor, choir, and assembly.
• Did the assembly sing the Gospel Acclamation well? Did the assembly seem to know the music? Did the assembly know when to sing? Did the assembly sing confidently?
• Was the verse of the Gospel Acclamation sung or spoken?
• On a scale of 1 to 5, 1 being poor, 5 being excellent, overall, rate the quality of the musical performance of the Gospel Acclamation by the cantor, choir, and assembly.
• If the response of the General Intercessions was sung, did the assembly sing the response well? Did the assembly seem to know the music? Did the assembly know when to sing? Did the assembly sing confidently?

Dismissal of Catechumens

• Did the dismissal take place after the homily, before the Creed?
• Was the dismissal prayerful? Did it feel like the catechumens were being sent for mission, in a similar way the assembly is sent for mission at the end of Mass?

Prayers

• Did the Profession of Faith feel like a “profession” by the whole assembly? Or was it rushed and robotic?
• Did the General Intercessions include prayers for the Church, the world, the needs of the community, the needs of those suffering or oppressed?
• Were the General Intercessions announced by the reader prayerfully and clearly?

Presider

• Did the presider seem confident in leading the prayer of the people? Did the presider engage the assembly in prayer?

Assembly

• During the readings did the assembly “read along” in a missalette, or did they actively listen to the proclamations?
• During the songs did the assembly just listen to the choir, or did they actively sing the responses and acclamations?
• Overall did the assembly participate fully consciously and actively throughout the whole Liturgy of the Word?