St. Joseph’s Cathedral Basilica — Local services in Central Core

I went here today… and had the worst experience in my life at a place of worship. It had been 13 years since I had last attended mass. I was at a low point in my life and was horribly sad today so when my friend offered to take me here to St. Joseph's I took it as a sign that perhaps something beautiful could come of a visit. I followed along with the service, sang, and went up to accept the communion. My church I was baptized in and taught catechism at always taught me to take the communion and either take the communion at the front or take the communion wafer back to my seat, put it into your mouth and let it dissolve as you pray. Well… half way back to my seat my arm was grabbed and I was scolded then demanded to eat the communion right then and there. I have extremely bad social anxiety and I burst into tears as I walked back to my seat… My friends who were there (both had never been to a catholic church) were also accosted by the same lady giving communion and asked very rudely "WHAT DID YOU DO WITH THE COMMUNION?! I sense you took in doubt."

Before I give my review, I just wanted to say that I am very sorry for Oddvar's negative experience at this wonderful basilica. It was not clear if Oddvar is Catholic, but to clarify, it is the Catholic Church's firm teaching that only those who are Catholic and in a state of grace may receive Holy Communion. It is also our custom that communion is consumed immediately after receiving it, should it happen that the Host is taken away and merely discarded or kept for malicious purposes.

I am certain that those who confronted Oddvar did so out of respect for Holy Communion, which we believe to be Jesus' Body and Blood itself, and perhaps were imprudent in the manner with which they accosted Oddvar and company.

This does occur frequently as many who are not Catholic and unfamiliar with proper protocol at Mass will do likewise, and we as Catholics must not berate them, but rather, gently advise them in a prudent manner of the break in protocol.

I am elated that you decided to join the Catholic community for Mass, and please do not let this one-time occurrence stop you from returning to other Masses at other churches, perhaps. I too experience social anxiety and being confronted in public for a seemingly little mistake would make me terribly disappointed as well, but things like this happen, and one must move forward.

This cathedral is an awesome place of worship and a historical relic of Alberta's past which I strongly recommend...

We ❤️ going to St. Joseph’s Basilica especially pre-COVID-19. Ever since March 2020, we have been able to attend Mass physically twice, one in November 22 and when it counts the most, on December 24 through registration. The parish team have always been helpful & kind towards my husband and I, particularly how to register for the masses during the pandemic and helping us pray to God for the recovery of my in-laws, especially my mother-in-law who was admitted into ICU for severe COVID-Pneumonia on December 15, 2020. Father Paul supported my husband and I by helping us pray, and now more than 3 weeks later, my mother-in-law, who has renal failure and on dialysis beat COVID-19. She is off on the ventilator and will soon be transferred to a COVID-ward to help facilitate her healing until she can be fully discharged from...