The first thing you will notice is silence — not awkward silence, but sacred silence. Most of the Mass is offered quietly by the priest, who prays with you toward the altar, facing God at the head of the congregation. You will hear the rustle of vestments, the small bells at the consecration, the whispered Latin of the Canon. After the noise of modern life it can feel like sinking into deep water. Let it.

Bring a hand missal, or use a pew copy if the parish provides one, the texts are printed Latin and English, side by side. You do not need to follow every word. Many people simply pray along, fix their eyes on the altar, and let the missal guide them at the key moments. The structure repeats; you will know it within three or four Sundays.

Posture, simply: stand for the priest’s entrance and the Gospel, kneel for most of the rest, sit for the readings if you wish. At Communion you kneel at the rail and receive on the tongue. There is no handshake of peace, no procession of gifts. Dress modestly; many women wear a chapel veil, a longstanding custom but never required.

Above all, do not worry about doing it “right.” Watch what others do, pray quietly, and stay through the Last Gospel, the opening of St. John, read at the end as a final blessing. You are not being graded. You are being given something. Let the Mass form you.