The purpose of this series is to take you on a quick journey through the various parts of the Mass and instruct you about ways you can become more actively engaged throughout the Mass.  (All exerpts are from Rediscover Catholicism by Matthew Kelly)

ENTRANCE:  Like every single part of the Mass, the opening song and procession have intended meaning.  This song  is designed to bind us together as a community and lead our thoughts to the mystery of the particular feast or season being celebrated.
ENGAGE: Make an effort to sing. If you do  not enjoy singing or are  unable to sing, follow the words of the song in your hymnal, reflecting on how they challenge or comfort you.


PENITENTIAL ACT: This is the moment when we acknowledge that some of our thoughts, words and actions have not helped us become the best version of ourselves, have prevented other people from being all God created them to be and have created an obstacle between us and God's love.
ENGAGE: Identify a specific thought, word or action that created an obstacle between you and God this week and ask for His forgiveness.


GLORIA:  The Gloria ia an ancient hymn that praises God.
ENGAGE: Set yourself and your life aside for a moment and praise God for something specific as you sing or say the Gloria. Praise God for his goodness. Praise God for creation.  Praise God for his wisdom.  Praise God.


LITURGY OF THE WORD- SCRIPTURE READINGS:  The readings that make up the Liturgy of the Word for Sunday Mass include an Old Testament reading, a Responsorial Psalm, a New Testament reading and a Gospel reading.  The readings are related to each other in some way and belong to a flow that moves us from the readings of last week to the readings next week. 
ENGAGE:   Purchase a Missal or Word Among Us app and take time during the week to read and reflect upon next Sunday's readings.


HOMILY:  During the Homily, the priest develops some point from the readings and transforms it into a teaching moment about how Jesus answers the issues and questions we struggle with and that the life Jesus invites us to is the best way to live.
ENGAGE:  Listen.  Stay open to what God may be trying to say to you.  Try to apply the lesson from the Homily to your life throughout the coming week.


THE CREED - OUR PROFESSION OF FAITH:  This is where we proclaim our faith as individuals and as a community.  
ENGAGE:  Reflect on the Creeed as you say it.  Find comfort as you place your trust in God and His Church.  If you have doubts or questions, explore and study them (consider reading Rediscover Catholicism by Matthew Kelly) and allow your doubts or questions to strengthen your faith rather than diminish it.


THE OFFERTORY:  As the gifts are brought forward and the priest is prepaeing the gifts, in your heart bring the different aspects of your life forward and offer them to God.
ENGAGE: Offer God your family, your marriage, your career, your business, your friendships.  Offer him your successes and failures.  Hold up to God a friend who is suffering in some way.  Offer Him a particular struggle that you are enduring.  Offer God everything.  Mentally and spiritually place them all on the Altar so that God can transform them.


EUCHARISTIC PRAYER:  The word Eucharist means "Thanksgiving".  During this sequence of prayers the priest invities us all to lift up our hearts to the Lord.  In this way we are offering ourselves with Jesus to God the Father.  This prayer also reminds us of God's goodness and his friendship thoughout history.
ENGAGE:  Pay attention to the words of the priest.  Spiritually, life up your heart and offer it to the Lord.  Allow God to transform your heart as he will transform the bread and wine.


CONSECRATION:  The Consecration is the moment when the bread and wine become the body and blood of Christ.  This happens when the priest says " this is my body which is given up for you, do this in memory of me."  
ENGAGE:  During this time, simply allow yourself to be in the presence of God.  Quiet your mind.  Imagine yourself close to Jesus at the Last Supper.  As the priest elevates the host say in your heart
" My Lord and My God."  These mysteries are mysteries but if we approach them humbly, often and with reverence, God will give us an everlasting love and understanding of them.


THE LORD'S PRAYER:  We join together as a community to pray the words Jesus taught us.
ENGAGE:  Focus on a particular word or phrase depending on what your needs are.  If you are struggling with God's will, perhaps you wil focus on THY WILL BE DONE.  Or maybe you have real human needs to be met, so you wil focus on GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD.  Perhaps you feel the need to be forgiven for something, then you can focus on AS WE FORGIVE THOSE WHO TRESPASS AGAINST US.  If you are struggling with a particular temptation focus on LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION BUT DELIVER US FROM EVIL.


SIGN OF PEACE :  Everybody has had their heart broken by something or someone. Jesus wants to heal our broken heart. He offers his peace to you and offers you to pass that peace on to others. 
ENGAGE:  As you offer the sign of peace to those around you at Mass be mindful that while they may look happy and seem like they have it all together , we all have a broken heart that needs healing.