Always Learning - The Q&A Teaching Mass

Last Sunday, the Seton Hall University community had the opportunity to celebrate the annual Q&A Teaching Mass. The Q&A Teaching Mass, now in its fourth year, offers students and the wider community a chance to learn why Catholics do the things they do at Mass and ask additional questions about the Mass and faith. With more than 200 people gathered, Sunday’s Q&A Teaching Mass reflected the deep desire of people to learn and grow in their faith. Importantly, the Mass drew not only the typical student crowd but also the students in the OCIA program who are preparing to receive their sacraments in the spring, along with people from outside the University community.

The Mass, celebrated by Father Nick Sertich, began with a 15-minute period of teaching and questions. Father Nick taught those gathered about many things we may not know the answer to when we walk into church on Sunday, such as the symbolism of priestly garments, incense, the altar stone, the monstrance and much more. Following the moments of learning, Father Nick answered questions such as why Catholics hold their hands in a certain way when they pray, what the baldachin above the priest’s head symbolizes and more. The Mass was then celebrated as normal, with Father Nick taking a brief moment to pause and explain certain details within the Mass. At the end of Mass, Father Nick once more answered a variety of questions from those gathered and also mingled around outside to answer any questions that were not asked during Mass. The Q&A Teaching Mass was an incredibly insightful and impactful experience for those in attendance, as it demonstrated a point Father Nick emphasized at the beginning — that “everything is deliberate” and “everything has a meaning behind it” within the Mass.

The impactful experience was especially felt by the students in the OCIA program, who are learning more and more about the Catholic faith every week in the program. OCIA student Andrew Dalton described the Mass as “an amazing opportunity to learn about why Mass is structured and carried out the way it is.” His biggest takeaway was “how deliberate every aspect of Mass and the construction of the Chapel is, and how everything has a distinct meaning or purpose.” Dalton’s words are nearly identical to Father Nick’s, emphasizing the deep lessons students and those in attendance were able to learn. The Q&A Teaching Mass was not only about asking questions and learning but about growing in mind, heart and spirit, something we are all called to do each day.

Categories: Faith and Service