WE’RE GLAD YOU’RE HERE
We’re glad you are here checking us out! Whether you are new to the area, looking at joining our community or looking at becoming Catholic, you are in the right place! Check out the sections below to learn more about what to expect at St. Rita, how to register, and why becoming Catholic could be the right thing for you.
Masses at St. RIta are Monday-Saturday at 8:15 am, Saturday at 4:30 pm, and Sundays at 8:00 am, 9:30 am, and 11:00 am.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Thank you for taking the time to check out our community! We wanted to write down just what to expect when you come to Mass at St. Rita for the first time.
For our non-Catholic friends, a Catholic Mass celebrates the sacrifice of Christ, who died for our salvation. We worship God through the Mass, which lasts about an hour. It is the greatest prayer ever and is a time when we get a foretaste of Heaven. We worship God through song, readings, preaching, and by partaking in the divine feast of the Eucharist. We are then sent into the world (“Ite, missa est.” “Go, the Mass has ended.”) and are called to transform the world for Christ by doing good deeds and helping our neighbors.
During Mass, the Holy Eucharist is consecrated. At this moment, Catholics believe that what was bread and wine has been transformed into the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. We call this transubstantiation.
We invite everyone to participate in the Holy Mass as much as they’re able and willing by singing the hymns (which can be found in the hymnals in the pews), listening to the readings, and worshiping God to the best of your abilities. We do kindly ask that our non-Catholic friends not receive the Eucharist. This can sound like Catholicism is a mean and exclusive club, we know, but we don’t mean any insult. In fact, we love you so much that it is because of that love that we ask you not to receive. Receiving the Eucharist is an outward sign that you accept that the bread is truly, substantially, Jesus Christ. We care about your soul and don’t want to lead you astray by having you receive things you may not yet accept.
WHAT SHOULD I WEAR TO MASS?
So glad you asked! We get it – you don’t want to stick out like a sore thumb! We certainly welcome all people regardless of how they’re dressed, but we encourage people to dress nicely. The way we dress is a way we communicate how we view that event. For Mass, we recommend dressing up a little bit.
Men: khakis, dress pants, or nice jeans with a nice shirt, polo, sweater, or dress shirt are always a safe bet. Suits look nice, too!
Women: dresses, skirts, or nice pants with a nice blouse are usually good in warmer weather, while sweaters are usually a comfortable choice for colder weather.
Probably best to avoid: muscle shirts, swimsuits, snuggies, etc.
We encourage you to dress comfortably for the hour of Mass, but also a little nicer than you would dress if you were going to Walmart to get some groceries.
REGISTER AT ST. RITA
Thank you for your interest in registering at St. Rita! We want you to be a member of our community, so we strove to make it as simple as possible for you to register. We have registration forms available at our office, you can download a registration form and drop it off at the office or in the offertory basket, or you can fill out an online form by clicking the button below.
We look forward to having you as part of our community! If you have any questions about registration, please feel free to call our office at 815-398-0853. God bless you!
WANT TO BECOME CATHOLIC?
God bless you for your interest in becoming Catholic! The Catholic Church was founded by Jesus Christ around 2,000 years ago.
Click the button below to see a great video on why we should be Catholic from Fr. Mike Schmitz as well as for the links to request more information and to enroll in the adult faith formation program.