Celebration Mass

[maggiebee]

Wasn't sure where to place this question but CB seems as good a place as any.
I am going to Malta on Thursday and will be attending a Celebration Mass on Saturday followed by a reception. As I'm not a Roman Catholic I am not quite sure of the protocol. Is it customary to give a monetary gift? I have bought a silver quaich for my friend and a small gift for his mother, but is anything else expected? Any help appreciated as time is running out!

[gness]

Celebration of......Maggie?
Very few Catholic services don`t have a plate collection.

[maggiebee]

Sorry gness, didn't make it very clear. My friend was ordained as a priest a week ago and this is the follow up celebration mass and reception.

[quizbag]

I don't know what the celebration is but as gness says there will probably be a collection but you can put in what you please - no lower limit. Otherwise go with the flow, copy everyone else as to standing and sitting etc and enjoy the day.

[Wharton]

The quaich and gift for his mother sound just perfect, and enjoy your visit to Malta.

[gness]

I have never been to an ordination Mass but mother has often. She always gave a gift of money to the new priest but she had never bought a gift as you have.
That will be enough and more personal as he is a friend. The plate may do the rounds so have some change ready.
Someone may come along with better information as it`s a long, long, very long time since I was a Catholic. :-)
Enjoy the day.

[mccfluff]

i read quaich as quiche....

[Kiki-frog]

LOL, a silver quiche - there's posh!

[dinki]

Enjoy Malta is it a fantastic place to visit and the people are wonderful, very friendly and helpful. I am not catholic, but what you have done sounds just right, I am sure the gift will be appreciated and as other say have some change available for a collection.

[jno]

you could probably cook a small quiche in it, fluffy, more Murph-size than Fluff-size. I'm not sure if real priests eat quiche.

[Duncer]

Reminds me of the time I started working in a hospital in Belfast and quickly acquired some new drinking buddies, almost exclusively Catholic. I got invited to a wedding and was worried what to do in the chapel as I am not Catholic and hadn't been in any type of church for quite some time. My friend Jim said not to worry and just to copy him. The big day arrived, after a mega stag night, and we set off in the bus for a good old country wedding, having a few small libations en route.

When we entered the church and took our pews people started moving so I quickly looked round at Jim to see what I should be doing.

It certainly wasn't what he was doing, lying there half blotto, asleep and snoring his bloody head off.