The Mass is celebrated facing toward the altar, the tabernacle, and the Cross, but not toward the congregation. The focus of all of our worship in the Holy Mass is toward God and Him alone. In all liturgical rites of the Church, including the Roman Rite, both the priest and the congregation have always faced the same direction, toward the East (ad orientem), toward the Lord who comes in glory. Together, the people face the same direction as the priest, who acts as a mediator between them and God.