A private Sunday Mass?

[CatholicNerd]

Calling all canon law experts!!! Can a bishop permit a large group of people (over one-thousand) to fulfill their Sunday obligation by attending a votive Mass offered at 1:30 on a Saturday afternoon and then bar people from that parish community from attending what essentially is a parochial Mass?

I’m asking this ridiculous question because I’ve found myself in a bit of a jam. There’s a performance of the opera I’m in on Sunday at 3pm, and I’ll need to be at the theater at around 2. It takes an hour to get there, and I am unfortunately committed to playing for Methodists at 8 am and noon (thought I’m tempted to cancel that engagement). There is, however, a graduation Mass at Gonzaga University being celebrated at 1:30 pm on Saturday afternoon. Bishop Skylstad has granted dispensation allowing them to fulfill their Sunday obligation by using the Sunday readings and propers. Yet the long-standing policy of the University is that the Mass is by invitation only. Since I cannot attend the 5:30 Mass at the same parish (again, opera performance), I feel a bit stuck and slightly offended that one-thousand people can attend a Mass and fulfill their Sunday obligation and I cannot do so. Isn’t a Sunday Mass, by its very nature, parochial? I can understand turning people away from a Saturday votive Mass, but not a Sunday Mass celebrated using the propers for Sunday morning!!!

Am I correct to be slightly concerned or am I just looney?

 

[Fortiterinre]

You make a good point, although lots of Sunday Masses limit attendance, especially religious communities where the Mass can be essentially “private.” I don’t think any rule is being broken by this, but would love to hear a lesson from someone who knows more.

 

[chicago]

Call and ask for an invitation, if necessary.

Are there any late Sunday evening or night Masses around there? In Chicago, some of the universities have student Masses after 9PM on Sunday.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

CatholicNerd:

Calling all canon law experts!!! Can a bishop permit a large group of people (over one-thousand) to fulfill their Sunday obligation by attending a votive Mass offered at 1:30 on a Saturday afternoon and then bar people from that parish community from attending what essentially is a parochial Mass?

I’m asking this ridiculous question because I’ve found myself in a bit of a jam. There’s a performance of the opera I’m in on Sunday at 3pm, and I’ll need to be at the theater at around 2. It takes an hour to get there, and I am unfortunately committed to playing for Methodists at 8 am and noon (thought I’m tempted to cancel that engagement). There is, however, a graduation Mass at Gonzaga University being celebrated at 1:30 pm on Saturday afternoon. Bishop Skylstad has granted dispensation allowing them to fulfill their Sunday obligation by using the Sunday readings and propers. Yet the long-standing policy of the University is that the Mass is by invitation only. Since I cannot attend the 5:30 Mass at the same parish (again, opera performance), I feel a bit stuck and slightly offended that one-thousand people can attend a Mass and fulfill their Sunday obligation and I cannot do so. Isn’t a Sunday Mass, by its very nature, parochial? I can understand turning people away from a Saturday votive Mass, but not a Sunday Mass celebrated using the propers for Sunday morning!!!

Am I correct to be slightly concerned or am I just looney?

You can attend Sunday Mass by canceling the comittment to playing for Methodists at 8 am and noon on that weekend.

Another key piece here is “Yet the long-standing policy of the University is that the Mass is by invitation only.” This is not the policy of the diocese or the Church. Which should be that all Masses are public events of the Church. Other things may effect access like fire codes, space, etc. But the Church says “no ticket required” to attend Mass in the general understanding of the Canons on access to the Sacraments.

 

[contemplative]

It sounds like you just want to go to Mass and don’t like being barred from an invitation only Mass. I would feel the same way too. Invitation only for Celebration of the Eucharist is just terrible. Everyone should be invited!

I bet if you showed up at the church doors no one would turn you away. You might also try going to another church for Mass.

 

[CatholicNerd]

Br. Rich SFO:

You can attend Sunday Mass by canceling the comittment to playing for Methodists at 8 am and noon on that weekend.

Another key piece here is “Yet the long-standing policy of the University is that the Mass is by invitation only.” This is not the policy of the diocese or the Church. Which should be that all Masses are public events of the Church. Other things may effect access like fire codes, space, etc. But the Church says “no ticket required” to attend Mass in the general understanding of the Canons on access to the Sacraments.

You’re quite right, and that’s what I’ve gone ahead and done. It was terribly foolish of me to take on a job that would make getting to Mass much more difficult.