Visitors

Orkney is extremely fortunate to be a major tourist destination, welcoming hundreds of thousands of tourists every year. Additionally, Orkney also welcomes home it’s diaspora when they choose to come home and visit friends and family. At Our Lady & St. Joseph’s we are always very keen to see new faces and to welcome you to our church. You don’t have to be Roman Catholic to attend.

To help you better understand our Mass, we have put together a guide to answer some questions you may have.

Do I have to be Catholic to visit your church?

No, we welcome everyone to come and pray with us – if you are not Christian, or have no faith.

How should I behave?

We simply ask that you remain respectful throughout. If you’re physically able, please stand when we stand, and sit when we sit. Please turn off your phone. Show decorum.

At a certain point in the service, we say “Let us show each other the sign of peace”, at which point we shake the hands of the people surrounding us. In these post-covid times, we’re aware some people do not wish to do this, so we urge you to put your hands together as if to pray, and say to each person near you, “Peace be with you”.

What should I wear?

The dress code is quite relaxed. However, please do not wear shorts, or expose your shoulders – dress appropriately. Also, we consider ourselves to be in the presence of our Lord God, so please try to make sure your clothes are clean – no muddy or soiled clothes.

During Mass, everyone goes up for bread and wine, should I?

Firstly, once people are going to receive these we no longer believe them to be bread and wine. We believe that they have become the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. So, if you are a Roman Catholic and have previously received the Sacrament of Communion, then yes, you may. However, if you are not a Roman Catholic then you may not receive the sacrament. If you like, you can still go up to the priest along with everyone else, but when you approach the priest, place your arms in a cross touching each opposite shoulder. The priest will then give you a blessing. You can read more about the Eucharist and what it means to us on The Mass page.

Do I have to place money in the collection plate?

There is no obligation to do this, it is a voluntary donation. If you are in a position to do so, a contribution would be greatly appreciated. It costs more to operate our church than it does with others as our priest has to travel from Thurso and back each week, and occasionally to other Orkney islands. How much is up to you. If you are unable to make a donation nobody will judge you.

If you don’t have any cash with you and want to make a donation, we hope to set up the “Donation” link on this website. Once you make your donation, you can show the confirmation screen to those with the collection basket if you like.

Can I bring my children or my dog?

Yes to both. Please only bring your dog if it is well-behaved and it is safe to do so, children are welcome regardless 🙂