What we see in a What we see in a Catholic churchCatholic church

The TowerThe Tower

The tower is high and The tower is high and grand to show the grand to show the importance of the importance of the

church in the church in the community. It holds community. It holds

the bells that are rung the bells that are rung before church before church

services to call people services to call people to worship.. to worship..

The Notice BoardThe Notice Board

The noticeThe notice board is by the door, giving board is by the door, giving information about important events and the information about important events and the

charities that we supportcharities that we support..

The Holy The Holy Water Water Font Font

(stoup)(stoup)

The holy water fonts are next The holy water fonts are next to the door. They contain to the door. They contain water which is blessed by the water which is blessed by the Priest. When they enter the Priest. When they enter the church they dip their fingers church they dip their fingers into the holy water and then into the holy water and then make the sign of the cross. make the sign of the cross. This reminds them of their This reminds them of their baptism, and that they are baptism, and that they are entering the presence of God entering the presence of God in church. When they leave, in church. When they leave, they do the same, but now it they do the same, but now it reminds them they are being reminds them they are being sent out into the world by sent out into the world by Jesus, to bring his love to Jesus, to bring his love to others.others.

The NaveThe Nave

The congregation sit in the nave for The congregation sit in the nave for the main services.the main services.

The ConfessionalThe ConfessionalThe confessional is a The confessional is a very private place very private place where someone can where someone can confess their sins to confess their sins to the Priest. The Priest the Priest. The Priest will then pray for will then pray for theirtheirforgiveness by God - forgiveness by God - this is called this is called 'absolution'. 'absolution'. This is known as theThis is known as theSacrament of Sacrament of Penance or the Penance or the Sacrament of Sacrament of Reconciliation, and it Reconciliation, and it can take place can take place anywhere.anywhere.

A Priest will never speak of A Priest will never speak of what he has heard in what he has heard in

confessionconfession

The priestThe priest The penitent (person The penitent (person confessing)confessing)

The Stations of the CrossThe Stations of the CrossThese are These are fourteen fourteen pictures or pictures or carvings which carvings which tell the story of tell the story of how Jesus how Jesus suffered and suffered and died. Catholics died. Catholics use these to use these to help them to help them to pray during the pray during the time known as time known as Lent, just before Lent, just before Easter. Easter.

The SacristyThe SacristyThrough Through the doors the doors is the is the sacristy. sacristy. This is a This is a room room where the where the vestmentsvestments, and , and items items used in used in worship worship are kept.are kept.

The Lady AltarThe Lady Altar

This chapel is dedicated to Mary, This chapel is dedicated to Mary, mother of Jesusmother of Jesus

The Baptismal FontThe Baptismal Font

This is the basin , This is the basin , that holds water for that holds water for the purpose of the purpose of baptising new baptising new members of the members of the Church, including Church, including babies.babies.

The Paschal The Paschal CandleCandle

This is a large This is a large candle near the candle near the baptismal font. It is baptismal font. It is lit for the first time lit for the first time at the Easter vigil, at the Easter vigil, and is used and is used throughout the throughout the Christian year to Christian year to remind people that remind people that Jesus is 'the light of Jesus is 'the light of the world'.the world'.

The Sanctuary LampThe Sanctuary Lamp

Hanging from the Hanging from the ceiling is the ceiling is the sanctuary lamp. It is sanctuary lamp. It is lit to show that bread lit to show that bread that has been that has been blessed in mass blessed in mass (communion service) (communion service) is in the tabernacle. is in the tabernacle. This can be taken by This can be taken by the Priest or the Priest or ministers to people ministers to people who were too ill to who were too ill to come to church.come to church.

The AltarThe Altar

The altar is used by the Priest during Mass. It is near The altar is used by the Priest during Mass. It is near the congregation, so that they can see and hear. The the congregation, so that they can see and hear. The missal used by the Priest is open, ready for use. missal used by the Priest is open, ready for use.

The Sanctuary The Sanctuary

The sanctuary is the holiest part of the church, around the The sanctuary is the holiest part of the church, around the altar.altar.

The TabernacleThe Tabernacle

In the In the tabernacle tabernacle are the are the 'blessed 'blessed sacraments'. sacraments'. These are These are kept to take kept to take to people who to people who have been too have been too ill to come to ill to come to church. church.

The The AumbryAumbry

This is a This is a small small cupboarcupboard which d which contains contains the holy the holy oils. oils.

St. Joseph's AltarSt. Joseph's Altar

This chapel is dedicated to St. Joseph.This chapel is dedicated to St. Joseph.

Votive Candles (vigil Votive Candles (vigil lights)lights)

This is a stand of This is a stand of small candles. People small candles. People can light a candle to can light a candle to show that they are show that they are praying about praying about something particular - something particular - perhaps for perhaps for themselves, or for themselves, or for someone else. They someone else. They are usually near an are usually near an icon or statue of Mary. icon or statue of Mary.

The Choir LoftThe Choir Loft

This is the gallery from which the choir may This is the gallery from which the choir may singsing

The Credence TableThe Credence Table

A Small shelf or side table used for A Small shelf or side table used for holding the articles (cruets, chalice etc.) holding the articles (cruets, chalice etc.) used in the celebration of the Eucharist.used in the celebration of the Eucharist.

CrucifixCrucifix

A Cross with A Cross with the crucified the crucified image of image of Christ on it.Christ on it.

An IconAn Icon

A symbolic, A symbolic, sacred image sacred image of Christ, the of Christ, the Holy Trinity, Holy Trinity, Mary or the Mary or the angels and angels and saints, saints, usually usually written on written on wood or wood or ivory.ivory.

The PresiderThe Presider’’s Chairs Chair

The presider's The presider's chair is located so chair is located so that the priest that the priest may preside over may preside over the celebration. It the celebration. It is from this place is from this place that the priest that the priest leads the liturgical leads the liturgical assembly in assembly in prayer.prayer.

The PulpitThe Pulpit

This is where the homily or This is where the homily or sermon is preached from. sermon is preached from. The pulpit is high up, so The pulpit is high up, so that all the congregation that all the congregation can see the Priest. Not all can see the Priest. Not all priests use the pulpit. priests use the pulpit. The Priest might explain The Priest might explain the meaning of the Bible the meaning of the Bible passage that has been passage that has been read. The teaching helps read. The teaching helps the people to apply the the people to apply the guidelines and stories in guidelines and stories in the Bible to their own the Bible to their own lives. lives.

The Lectern (Ambo)The Lectern (Ambo)This is a This is a stand from stand from where the where the Bible is read Bible is read during during church church services. It is services. It is higher than higher than where the where the congregation congregation sit, so that sit, so that everyone can everyone can see and hearsee and hear..