If you are planning to visit us at either NAM or St. Michaels, the information below will familiarize you with our grounds, inside our churches, and our celebration of the Mass. Click on the tabs to view the information that is specific for each church.

NAM Building and Grounds

Entrances

The main entrance to NAM is located on Haymaker Road.  There are two roads leading into the church grounds, but one is marked as the Exit, and one is marked as the Entrance.  The entrance is the road that sits to the right of the front of the building.

Parking

NAM has its own parking lot with spaces that go all around the building.  Parking should not be an issue for any mass.

Buildings

Our campus consists of four main buildings.  Our church, rectory, Social Hall and school.

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Accessibility for the Disabled

While there is a curb around the church, there is a ramp from the street onto the center main entrance to NAM. Handicapped parking is available immediately in front of the main church doors.

Listening devices are also available for the hearing impaired.

Our Church

Seating

Pews are laid out in a semi circle around the altar.  You may sit anywhere you like, although we ask our visitors to please respect the pews that are marked for the handicapped or elderly or otherwise marked for special masses.

Restrooms

Restrooms and water fountain are located to the left side of the church gathering area.

Cry Room

Babies and children of all ages are welcome at Mass. If your baby is crying excessively, we have a cry room located on the left side of the center aisle as you are walking into the church.  The cry room has chairs and a glass partition and speakers so you can follow along with the Mass while you tend to your child(ren).

Air Conditioning

The church is air conditioned.

St. Michael Building and Grounds

Entrances

The entrance to St. Michael is located right off of the main road.

Parking

St. Michael has its own smaller parking lot with spaces in the front.  Street parking is also available in the area surrounding the church.

Buildings

The St. Michael campus consists of a single building which is the church and the office.  The office is located on the second floor.

Accessibility for the Disabled

The church is wheelchair accessible. Handicapped parking is available immediately in front of the main church doors.

Our Church

Seating

Pews are laid out in two main rows in front of the altar.  You may sit anywhere you like, although we ask our visitors to please respect the pews that are marked for the handicapped or elderly or otherwise marked for special masses.

Restrooms

Restrooms and water fountain are located in the back of the church in the church gathering area.

Cry Room

There is no cry room available.

Air Conditioning

The church is air conditioned.

Our Masses

Sunday celebrations of the Mass include prayers, songs, readings from the Bible and a homily from the priest related to the readings.  Occasionally we’ll have a baptism or special ceremony within the Mass, or a special blessing, such as for students or those preparing for the sacraments.

The celebration of Sunday Mass at NAM usually lasts approximately one hour.  You are encouraged to stay until the priest and other ministers process out of church.

If you are not familiar with the order of Mass, the books in the pew racks can guide you.

What to Wear

We encourage you to dress respectfully for Mass and other services, but you will find people attired in everything from shorts and t-shirts to suits and ties.

Music/Singing

A cantor leads the congregation in song, as well as sung prayers and responses, and is usually accompanied by an organist or pianist.   Our choir also sings during certain masses.

Offertory

Collection baskets are passed person-to-person along each pew. The collection is used to support the operations and various ministries of the church, including charitable outreach.  Occasionally, a second collection will be taken for a missionary or some other need.

The Sign of Peace

After praying the Lord’s Prayer (the Our Father), the priest invites us to exchange a sign of peace -- usually a handshake or, between couples and families, a kiss or hug. If you are not comfortable with this gesture or have a bad cold, don’t feel obligated to participate or simply offer a nod and a wave.

Communion

Roman Catholics not in a state of serious sin, and members of various other Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches are welcome to join us in Communion. We offer the option of receiving Communion in both species – the Host (Body of Christ) and the wine (Blood of Christ).  We believe the bread and wine to be totally transformed into the Body and Blood of Christ.

At Communion time, the priest and Eucharistic Ministers bring the Body and Blood of Christ to various stations in the front of the church.  Our congregants will be prompted by ushers to process from the pews to the distributor for their section, and follow the practice of gently bowing before receiving the Sacrament.  Children may accompany you, however if they are not old enough to receive the Eucharist, we ask that they cross their arms to their chest as they process up with you.

The Body of Christ may be received in the hand or can be placed directly into your mouth. The Blood of Christ is distributed from a chalice.  The distributor wipes the chalice clean after each recipient’s sip.

Low-gluten hosts are available at NAM and St. Michael Churches for anyone with wheat/gluten intolerance. They are not gluten free; they contain .01% of gluten/wheat. If you need this type of host, please let Father know before the Mass begins. If you have any questions, please call Elizabeth at 412-373-0330 X 27.

Questions? Need Help?

Before and after Mass, members of our parish can answer your questions.  In addition, the celebrating priest will be outside the gathering area greeting the parishioners. If you need help during Mass, including a need for medical attention, ushers at the rear of the church can assist you.