Advice please--Catholic holidays and special days...?

I'm hosting an exchange student from Brazil. She is Catholic and visits church on holidays and some other days. Because I'm agnostic, I'm not really sure what to do. Is it okay for My husband and I to attend some services with her?


I don't want her to miss out on something important to her, I'm just not sure if it's ok for us to attend as well to make it more of a family function.


Thanks for advice.Advice please--Catholic holidays and special days...?
First off, I think it is wonderful that you have opened your home to an exchange student seeking a good education that will, no doubt, enrich her life. Good on ya!





Now, if she is a practicing Catholic, then she will desire to attend Mass every Sunday. There are a few days throughout the year that are considered Holy Days and would require her to attend Mass that day as well. I have added a link below of all the Holy Days of Obligation throughout the year. I think that you should offer her transportation to get to Mass. Have her find a schedule of Mass times, so that you can schedule transportation for her to attend Mass. I am sure that she does not want to cause any trouble with regards to attending Mass, so, I think, making a schedule of Mass times would be important so as not to disenfranchise anyone.





Open your heart, like your opened your house, to her religious practice. Respect her inalienable right to belief in God, and her right to practice her faith in God as she sees fit. Don't allow differing beliefs in God alienate her while she is in your home. Perhaps, maybe you can learn her religious beliefs to draw a deeper connection with her.





Now, the Catholic Church welcomes all people who desire to come and worship God. It is perfectly fine for you and your husband to attend Mass with her. If you and your husband choose to attend Mass with her, then you can follow along with the Mass by following the directions found in the front portion of the Missal. The Missal has an Order of the Mass, telling you the prayers said, when to sit / stand / kneel, etc. If you do not wish to participate in the gestures at Mass, then you may sit respectfully and listen. The Catholic Mass is in two parts - the Liturgy of the Word {readings from the Old Tesatament, Psalms, New Testament and Gospel, followed by a homily} and the Liturgy of the Eucharist {consecration of the Eucharist}, and generally runs about an hour long. Follow along as you feel appropriate, but be respectful of those in the congregation.





Good luck and God blessAdvice please--Catholic holidays and special days...?
Yes, you are welcome to attend. The Catholic Church is open to all people.





You should not receive Eucharist though. When everyone else goes up, just remain in your seat. You'll see that others do this as well, it's no big deal to stay in the pew.





The Catholic Church asks you not to receive Eucharist if you are not Catholic because you do not understand the meaning and importance of the Eucharist. It is the body and blood of Christ and those who do not understand this should not receive.
You and everyone else is welcome to attend. You may not take the Eucharist (communion) though. You might also want to look into their senior youth program for her. That might give her a better all around experience of being a Catholic in the US.





The special days are called holy days of obligation. They are:


Solemnity of Mary - Jan.1


Ascension - 14th day after Easter


Assumption - August 15th


All Saints Day - Nov. 1st


Immaculate Conception - Dec. 8th


Christmas - Dec. 25th
Bom dia. I am Portuguese Catholic and know a little about Brazilian culture. She will probably want to go to a more traditional church as they do tend to do things more traditionally everywhere but in the US. I would see if she would like the Latin Mass. Here is a directory of the Latin Masses in the US.





http://traditio.com/nat.htm





It is perfectly fine for you to go along with your exchange student, so long as you do not participate in the sacraments. That is all. Tell your exchange student Deus aben莽oe.



Good for you!





Sure you can attend any service in the Catholic Church. You can kneel and stand when we do, or you can just sit during those times, whatever you are comfortable with.





You might ask the Priest or call the Church office if you have any questions, I think you will find them very helpful!





Agnostic or not, you are a VERY good person to respect her beliefs!





Peace!
It's completely fine for you and your husband to go to mass! They'd be happy to see you there! Just stay in your seats when everyone goes up to recieve communion, other than that, have a good time! I'm sure she'd love to have you there. Most fairly devout Catholics go every Sunday since that is what our Church asks.
You and your husband are more than welcome to celebrate mass at the Catholic Church. You will not however be able to participate in Holy Communion.
Everyone is certainly welcome at Catholic masses. I would encourage you to go with her, if you want to.
Sure---go ahead and go with her. You just can't take communion.