Welcome to the Cathedral! Joining a parish is an exciting step in your commitment with God because it establishes you as a member of the St. Ignatius community. We encourage all new families and individuals to register using the registration forms above. 

Check our bulletin weekly for news on future events and activities around your new home, and become an active part of the Cathedral community!

The Parish Office is open on weekdays from 8am to 4pm. It is closed on weekends. 

Get in touch with us by phone at (561) 622-2565 or by emailing us at office@cathedralpb.com.

Supporting the Cathedral

Supporting your local parish is a core precept of the Church, and it makes the greatest impact on how the Church can better serve parishioners. Your financial contribution helps us keep our facilities maintained, our offices staffed, our religious education and youth ministry programs running, and allows us to effectively bring the Gospel of Christ to all in our area. The success of a local parish –and the success of the Cathedral– relies largely on the generosity of our community. 

Tithing

Tithing is the practice of giving a budgeted percentage of one’s take-home income back to God by contributing to your local parish. While Scripture does mention 10% as a tithing standard, what is most important to know is that you should tithe intentionally and affordably. For those new to giving, it might be helpful to begin with 2% and then gradually work into greater giving as you can. 

Where does it go?

Half of the percent would go directly to the parish in the weekly collections. An additional half would be budgeted for the diocesan-sponsored second collections for a variety of charitable domestic and overseas projects. This is a very convenient and effective way to exercise giving to the poor. This second half would also include local and neighborhood charities of choice.

Church Envelopes

In many cases using church envelopes for your giving is suggested, but not always necessary, to be a registered parishioner. Use of envelopes helps a family plan its giving and is also a good record for the parish when required to provide information for tax purposes. Envelopes can also be very helpful to volunteers who tabulate the weekly collections.

Catholic Schools Discount

As a parishioner who regularly participates in weekly mass through the use of church envelopes, and who has children attending Catholic school in the area, you have the ability to receive discounts on your child’s school tuition. The amount given towards tuition is decided based on the amount donated each year to the church by the parishioner’s family.

The Poor Box

The poor box is indeed a symbol of life and a reminder of the Church’s mission. It enables one to give a little extra while, at the same time, proclaiming our fellowship with Jesus. Through word and action during His public life, our Lord clearly demonstrated that His followers should be most considerate, caring, kind and generous to the poor.

As we walk into or out of church, we really ought to think of Lazarus lying at the rich man’s gate. It is a reminder of who God really loves, and how easy it is to give a cup of cold water in the Lord’s name.

Tax Considerations

Finally, it is important to remember that all monies given to your parish are tax deductible for both federal and local taxes, as long as donations are not given for services received. Parishes keep records of donations in envelopes that are placed in the collection, and usually send statements at the end of the year. If this is not the case, statements may be requested through the parish office.

The Eucharist is the True Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ, and should be received only by those who have received the Sacrament of Baptism and have been properly prepared. 

Regulations for the Eucharist

Since 1953, the regulations for the Eucharistic fast have been modified several times. Today the fast is for one hour from foods, solid and liquid, including alcoholic drinks. Medicine and water are exceptions. One could calculate the time from actual reception of Holy Communion, not the beginning of Mass. For the sick, aged, and those attending them, the fast does not bind.

When Receiving Twice in a Day

All the above regulations hold in the case where one receives Holy Communion twice in one day for any reason. According to Canon 917, persons who have reason to participate in a second liturgy on the same day, e.g., a wedding or funeral, may also receive Holy Communion a second time. They may not receive a second time outside of Mass.

Religious Education And Youth Ministry

Religious education and the youth ministry constitute one of the most important evangelical functions of the modern parish. Enough cannot be said about the serious responsibility for parents to educate their children in the ways of the Faith. This stems from the promise parents and godparents made at the child’s baptism.

Responsibility of Parents

Parents are obliged in conscience to take advantage of parish religious education programs. When it comes to youth ministry, this can be a challenge because of the many sports and social activities taking place in their neighborhoods. Nonetheless, youth ministry in any parish becomes successful in direct proportions to the amount of time, interest, and concern displayed by the parents of parish young people.

Begins at Home

Parish religious educators form a partnership with parents in the formation of their children. Religious formation begins from the earliest years by teaching children how to pray. They should be introduced very gradually to the protocol of Sunday worship at an early age, but parents should not expect children to be perfect. However, it is not a good practice to bring toys, cereal, and other items to church to distract them. Parents should not feel embarrassed to take children to a separate room or chapel when they become restless.

Youth Ministry

Religious education for students in grades six through twelve is usually part and parcel of Youth Ministry. From sixth grade on, classes usually meet at different times from grades one through five. A more mature approach to religious instruction is utilized, characterized by more self-direction and discovery skills, outreach activities, and social responsibility. These educational approaches likewise include religious instruction at a greater depth.

Again, as youngsters move on to the secondary level, greater responsibility for spiritual growth and increased knowledge of theology and Church are encouraged. Classes are usually held once a week, and are followed by late evening inter-parochial youth gatherings and sporting events.

Adult Volunteers

Adult parishioners are encouraged to play a significant role in these activities as the young men and women prepare to go off to college. Parents should encourage young people to keep in touch with the local parish throughout their college years.

Sunday worship is intentionally convened in an atmosphere of praise, community, and fellowship. Community is paramount in that we, as a worshiping people, together acknowledge with praise and thanksgiving God’s active presence in our lives. Insofar as Sunday Mass is a community celebration, we come to realize how important it is for the welfare of all that we be on time for Mass. Better still, it is always wise to plan to spend some time in preparatory prayer and recollection before Mass, thus almost assuring our on-time arrival.

Appropriate Attire

In this time of highly developed technology, nearly all churches have comfortable heating and air conditioning systems. Moreover, when one thinks of what transpires during Mass and Communion, we should want to dress for the occasion. Our non-Catholic brethren put us to shame in this area. We really should come to church in our proverbial Sunday best. We should be well groomed and properly clothed. Even in vacation areas, flip-flops as footwear, jeans, cutoffs, shorts, t-shirts or tank tops are out of place. What is more, chewing gum and baseball style hats are inappropriate. Finally, given the widespread practice of Communion in the hand, hands should be cleaned, and any kind of decal, sticker or styling accessories are also out of order.

Holy Water and Genuflection

When we enter the church, an age-old, worthwhile custom is to bless ourselves with holy water and genuflect before the Blessed Sacrament before entering pew or chair. If the Eucharist is reserved elsewhere, a profound bow to the high altar or crucifix is appropriate. Although these may seem to be small and insignificant customs, nonetheless, they serve effectively to help us recollect ourselves as we enter, and come to an appreciation for our surroundings.

Join In Singing

Once the procession begins the congregation should stand and join in the singing where customary. During Communion approach the priest, deacon, or eucharistic minister with profound respect. Be cooperative with ushers who are there to guide and maintain reverential order.

In the United States, since it is our custom to kneel during the Lamb of God, this adoration time, according to the American bishops, replaces a need for genuflection immediately before receiving Communion. This latter genuflection is used in many countries where the congregation stands during the Eucharistic prayer and the Communion service. Finally, to maintain good order and a prayerful ambience in church, all should remain in their places until the priest and altar ministers process out of church.

Illness in Church

If you or someone in your family or group experiences distress during the service, inform the ushers and follow their directions. Where ventilation may be needed, ask the ushers for their help and allow them to open appropriate windows and doors at the same time courtesy for those who will attend a following Mass dictates that no disposable items, wrappers, etc., be left in church.

Conduct When Leaving Church

Take church Bulletins with you or return them to their proper place in the vestibule. When leaving the church property exercise caution where children, the elderly, and others are making their way through the parking area. If and when feasible, give way with a smile and gesture of good will to other drivers, and above all, exercise great patience after just received our patient Lord and Savior.

The Cathedral of St. Ignatius is dedicated to providing and promoting a safe environment for all our parishioners –especially the most vulnerable among us. The Cathedral has adopted the Diocese of Palm Beach’s Safe Environment initiatives. You can learn more about these initiatives and Diocesan Safe Environment policies here.