Gathering Space

This part of the church is called the gathering space. It is the space between the outside of the church and the main section where Mass is celebrated. When people enter the church, they prepare themselves to receive Jesus at Mass. As the faithful leave Mass, they prepare to bring the light of Christ to others. For these reasons, the gathering space is very important. In this particular church, it is also the space that is used for Baptism, but in your church, it may be different. You may have noticed that the baptismal area is lined up with the altar. This shows that Baptism and Eucharist are closely related.