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I want to continue listing some good advice on parish etiquette as we are at the beginning of a New Year. These reflections were first presented by Barbara Budde in a pamphlet (which is no longer in print) for the National Pastoral Life Center. Today I want to make some suggestions about what to do if Mass has already begun or if you need to leave early.

As we begin a new year, I thought that I would devote the next several columns to the topic of parish etiquette at Mass. Barbara Budde, Director of Social Concerns for the Diocese of Austin, Texas, wrote a pamphlet on this topic for the National Pastoral Life Center several years ago. When the National Pastoral Life Center closed in 2009, I contacted Ms Budde to ask if I could use material that she had written in that pamphlet on occasions such as this. With her blessing I am sharing some of her thoughts on the topic of parish etiquette. Today I shall spend the rest of this column talking about some general remarks about cultivating good parish etiquette.

This is a continuation of my column from last week in which I am presenting the Christmas message of Pope Francis to the city of Rome and to the world. (The text is from the Vatican website.)

I have been really struck by the words of the Holy Father in his “Urbi et Orbi” message on Christmas Day. “Urbi et Orbi” is a Latin phrase that means “to the City [of Rome] and to the World. The phrase refers to a papal address and apostolic blessing given on certain solemn occasions (such as Christmas).