My boyfriend is Catholic and likes to get his mass in every week. One option we were considering for our first week was going to a mass at the Kolner Dom on a Friday morning. I speak a little German, but he speaks none. I am wondering if any seasoned Catholics have enjoyed masses abroad where they don't know the language? I assume a weekday mass is likely to be in German. I think it would be a nice experience for the boyfriend but was curious if anyone had any do's or don'ts for attending a mass in another language. This is his first time abroad (other than Canada), and I'm not Catholic.

The cathedral has a website, in English, and lists mass times (there is an evening mass at 6:30 pm as well as daytime masses); there don't appear to be English masses, but you may want to check; your hotel may have info as well.. Go to http://www.koelner-dom.de, and click on the UK flag.

If your boyfriend is familiar with the order of the mass, he will have no toruble follwing it in German, as the same form will be followed. It is not really possible to get anything out of the priest's sermon obviously, but if the gospel numbers are listed on a board, and if he knows his Bible chapter and verse, he may be able to get some context of what gospels are being read (or you can intrepret for him). The hymns may be German versions of songs he is familiar with, the page and song numbers may be posted as well and you will can follow along in the hynmal. My only advice would be to arrive on the early side, dress nicely (better to be overdressed than underdressed, and people who attend weekday masses tend to be older and more conversative).

Weekday masses are usually shorter than Sunday masses, and have no music. While it doesn't "count" as a mass, vespers in the evening could be quite nice too.

I attended mass at the famous Koelner Dom earlier this year and, being a catholic, it was a great experience to be there for mass. It meant more to me than Notre Dame in Paris, but probably due to language preference. Nevertheless, your boyfriend should be able to appreciate it as the order of traditions and rituals are consistent in any language. The stern robed monks stood guard in the back, ready to snare at tourists who tried to invade or take a picture. I had to convince them that I was there to attend mass despite the fact that I was so late, so try not to be too late.