Some ideas your parish might want to adopt:

I love to go to Mass when I travel and see what other parishes are doing. Here are some ideas from St. Mark's in Richmond, Kentucky:

- the new church was built on the back of the original building, and the original building converted to an atrium

- a table was set up in the atrium and portraits of the parishioners who'd died over the past year were placed there (many parishes memorialize the dead during November)

- there was a small basket under the end of each pew. At the offertory, the basket was passed down the pew and then the last person took the basket up to the altar to pour the offerings into a large basket. It was quite impressive if not as formal as the typical bringing the gifts to the altar.

- after everyone had received Communion, the celebrant called the special ministers up to the altar and they received the Host in their pyxes to take to shut-ins. This was done with a prayer for the shut-ins. It really emphasized Communion as something that brings us together.


Something I didn't like: the priest announced that those unable to receive Communion should cross their arms across their chests and they would be given a blessing instead. It's a nice way to identify the kids who haven't had First Communion yet. On the other hand, it must be very painful for anyone who is barred because they have divorced and remarried to hear those words every week. IMO, someone who has been through a divorce needs Communion precisely because it is a healing sacrament, not a gold star for those who behave themselves according to Church rules.

If the original building can be saved so that it can continue to serve the parish that's a good idea. One parish I belonged to that built a new building didn't have that option though. They considered it but it would be more expensive, and there would only be about 15% of the original building left by the time they were done. So they tore it down and put up an absolutely beautiful new building, with the stained glass and the organ from the original building put up in the new building.

For the table to memorialize the dead we set up one too, and parishioners were invited to bring pictures or other mementos of deceased loved ones in and put them on the table. I took pictures in - one of my grandparents and a great uncle who died last May.

For all the other Masses we have ushers collect and take the offerings to the back. However at the Sunday evening Mass we set eight baskets out in the church, and people pass them back to either the middle or the back of the church, and people bring the baskets back and fill the big basket with the offerings. The reason for that is that we don't have enough volunteers to usher at that Mass, so this makes it easier on the ushers that are there.