Doug

Hi all, <BR> <BR>Any fellow Catholics out there have suggestions for places to attend mass while visiting London and Paris? <BR> <BR>Thanks in advance, <BR> <BR>~ Doug

Bill

I don't know about London, but in Paris walk into just about any church on a Saturday afternoon and there will be a wedding mass going on. Do it all the time. A great way to do mass.

ron

Here is the list of catholic parishes in central London. Take your pick. <BR>http://www.centralarea.demon.co.uk/parishes.htm

martha python

Bill-- <BR>Do Catholics not see that as crashing a wedding? (Please forgive my Protestant ignorance).

K

Doug- <BR>In London, check out Westminster Cathedral. After mass, take the lift up to the Tower and get a 360 degree view of London. <BR> <BR>K-

elvira

Here's all of it for Paris (it's in French): <BR>http://www.catholique-paris.com/paroisse/index.htm <BR> <BR>Notre Dame or Sacre Coeur, of course. Also St Germain l'Auxerrois, across from the Louvre - the interior is beautiful

Henry

Doug,I would make an effort to attend Mass at the Brompton Oratoty.They have both traditional latin & Novous Ordo Masses.You will need to check for times. Check the "Latin Liturgy Assn.'s web-site.The music is superb and truly worshipful.Enjoy your trip.

Veruca

In response to Martha, I'm no theologian, but I can tell you from 12 years of Catholic school that a wedding, like any other sacrament, is to be celebrated with the parish/community. Anyone is welcome to attend church and whatever celebration is going on there. I wouldn't suggest crashing the reception though!

Bill

To Veruca--DITTO <BR>To Martha- No, I don't crash the reception. Going to a Saturday afternoon mass in Catholic countries during a wedding is most enjoyable. The Churches are not completely filled and we merely sit in the back of the church an enjoy the wedding mass. Have done it in Prague, Warsaw, Krakow, Paris, and even went to one in Innsbruck where the Bride rode with the groom on the back of his motorcycle to the church. He dressed in a Tux and she in a wedding gown. Must admit that was different, but fun just the same. <BR>If you haven't tried wedding masses in Europe, you're missing a big treat and you don't have to scout for a church on Sunday morning.

martha python

Clearly I'd make a terrible Catholic. <BR>Actually, Veruca, the rule for Prods is similar (except that marriage isn't a sacrament): a religious event is technically open to all members of the church. Only a) that doesn't really include passers-by and b) in practical terms, no one puts it to the test, because if the couple wanted you there, they'd have invited you, and why go where you're not wanted? <BR>Gee, that sounds kind of pouty, doesn't it? Oh well. Several friends who got married in historic churches (at several weddings, this wasn't some bizarre multiple-spouse thing) were weirded out tourists popped into the church and hung out during the ceremonies.

Lori

My husband attended Sunday mass at Notre Dame on our last visit to Paris in November and thought it was absolutely the coolest thing. Beware, tho, it's all in French.

joann

We really enjoyed Mass in Notre Dame and imagine that Sacre Coeur would be quite special too, but do not overlook a really exceptional spot: the Motherhouse of the Sisters of St Vincent de Paul, which is where Mary appeared over time to the young novitiate Catherine Laboure in 1830, and eventually the Miraculous Medal was conceptualized (is that a word?) and of course is now in wide circulation. (This is the spot that Elvira has mentioned several times that I have seen, as a really pretty church.....) When Catherine Laboure died, her body did not decompose (considered a sign of her holiness) and is next to the altar in a glass coffin. <BR>We went last year just to see the church, and it happened to be during afternoon Mass (I believe they do French followed by English daily) and I found it to be truly awesome (there really is a joy and a presence there) -- figured I was imagining it, but my husband (who is non-Catholic) was also very very moved by the "feel" of the spot. <BR>I am pulling a blank on the name of the street but: Musee d'Orsay faces the river, take the street to the left of the Museum, go about 8 or 10 blocks, as the street is ending the Motherhouse is on the right. (We found it in the telephone guide in Paris, I believe.) <BR>Can't help on London, but I really do recommend visiting this spot.

Carol

Mass NOT a sacrament for protestants???? Sorry to inform you but it IS. My husband was catholic, I a protestant. Why do you think the ceremony is called "Holy" matrimony?? as in "a celebration of holy matrimony". SOME protestant sects, i.e. Baptist and some southern American followings may not call it a sacrament, but the protestant religion (i.e. C of E, Episcopalian, Lutheran, etc., do). <BR>Enjoy your visit to both beautiful cities, Brompton Oratory is fantastic and the music is great, as it is at Westminster, you could go Saturday and Sunday???? one at each venue!

Sally

Hey Bill, <BR>What a neat way to attend mass. Will be in Paris next week. Hope to attend a wedding mass in one of the churches there. <BR>Thanks

Veruca

I know what you mean, Martha, about people popping in on weddings in historic churches. My sister was married at the local basilica, very beautiful church, popular with tourists in St. Louis. Quite a few people stopped in. We thought it was cool. And they loved it. They got to sit and admire the mosaics, while seeing the place "in action". <BR> <BR>As for "passers-by", well the literal sense of catholic is universal or all-inclusive. So there are no passers-by to Catholics. I remember as a child being annoyed when there would be baptisms during a Sunday Mass. Sister Rosemary quickly drove it into me that the whole community must celebrate a sacrament, and the person getting baptized (or married) should feel honored that people want to attend. <BR> <BR>Of course, if you're going to attend a wedding you must not walk around the church, take pictures, or disturb the Mass in any way. You don't have to sit, stand and kneel. But please, sit forward a little if the people behind you are trying to kneel. It's very uncomfortable to kneel behind sitters!

Notsosure

Don't know if it would be fair to characterize mass at a Catholic church as universal or all-inclusive. Non-Catholics are banned from communion. (I'm Baptist and my spouse is Catholic, so I get to sit alone in the pew while everyone else partakes of Communion). So if you drop in and aren't Catholic, understand that the Communion ritual isn't for you, and based on what I've experienced, they'll be miffed if you take communion with them.

Joan Doyle

Dear Doug: The other posters seem to have covered the situation in Paris fairly well--but no one has mentioned my FAVORITE church in London. My sister lives there and she's at the 11 A.M. (Sung) Mass at Farm Street every week. A lovely very Gothic church, terrific music, and (reasonably certain) a good homily (the church is staffed by Jesuits and usually draws a crowd. (Princess Diana's mother is a member of the congregation as is the Duchess of Norfolk--and lots of diplomats.) Coffee is served in the adjoining parish hall after the Sung Mass. Farm Street is a few blocks east of Hyde Park and a rather longer walk south of Oxford Street. Parishioners are friendly. Enjoy! Joan

kam

While we are Catholics and here in CA, all are welcome to come up for communion and then cross their arms over their chests as a sign that they would just like to receive a blessing, but not the communion per se, we loved attending Mass at Brompton Oratory in London. What a lovely experience that was. Also have attended Mass at Notre Dame in Paris and I think you probably must do that if it's your first time. It's more of a tourist thing than a religious experience.

MarkJ

Another church in Paris is the Madeline attended afternoon Mass on our last visit mostly in French but some English. <BR> <BR>To: Notsosure: 1st look at how Veruca wrote "catholic" which does mean universal, if your not sure please refer to the Apostle's Creed (which I believe the Baptist accept and recite). By the way I'm Methodist married to a Catholic (and strongly leaning towards conversion to Catholisism) I have to believe being married to a Catholic you understand the reason why the Eucharist is not open to Non-Catholics. <BR> <BR>Anyway, Doug, have a wonderful trip, you should have no problem finding a Mass in Paris and though I've not been there I would bet Brompton Oratory in London would be wonderful! Have a wonderful trip!!

Notsosure

Didn't mean to offend, MarkJ. I just wanted to point out this whole communion-exclusion thing because some Protestants just don't know this. I didn't know it until after I was married, if you can believe that. Recall when Bill Clinton took communion a while back? I understood from media reports that he didn't know he wasn't allowed, but my Catholic friends were offended by his actions and thought he knew that accepting communion was wrong but did it anyway. So I just thought I'd point out that one ought to be sure about the rules if one is thinking of doing a Catholic mass. At our church, the rules are printed in the back of the instruction book (I know that isn't the right term, but I can't think of the right term) in the pew.