On Mondays, I answer questions frequently asked by those considering a return to the Catholic Church. How do I know this stuff? I was away for more than 30 years myself, and am the co-author of When They Come Home: Ways to Welcome Returning Catholics, a book for pastors and parish leaders interested in this ministry.
Last weekend, someone asked me to “bring up the gifts.” Since I didn’t know what that was, I said no. I mean, I’m haven’t even been back to confession yet. The person seemed hurt.
![By de:Benutzer:GregorHelms (Self-photographed) [Copyrighted free use], via Wikimedia Commons](https://melanierigney.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/returning_gifts_wikimediacopyrighted20151109.jpg)
Declining is always an option if you’re not comfortable in a situation at church or in life. It also would have been all right to have asked what’s entailed. People who come to Mass every week also get a bit flummoxed when they’re asked to help out in a way they’ve never done before, or they haven’t done for a while.
There’s no requirement that gift bearers participate in the Eucharist; the usher is not going to ask any details about the sanctity of your soul. If the usher has selected you, he or she typically will signal you during the offertory when it’s time to come to a small table in the back. You will be handed the bread or the wine and walk to the priest. You’ll hand the gift to the priest, and there will be some reverent bowing as everyone focuses on what is to come: the consecration of that bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ.
