All Saints Day

[MSParrott]

I think this might be in the wrong forum, so if it is feel free to move it.

I just started a new job and it occured to me that I will not be able to go to Mass on All Saints Day. I just started going back to Church and I don’t want God to think I am disrespecting Him in any way. Do I need to speak with my Priest about this? Also, I will have to work on Saturdays and know I will have to make a weekday appt to go to Confession at least monthly.I’m worried, and like I said I don’t want God to think that now that He has found me a job I have forgotten about Him, because that is not the case. I guess I’m being scrupulous, but any (name removed by moderator)ut will be helpful. Thanks!

 

[CarrieH]

Are you by chance working 12-hour shifts, so you won’t be able to make the Vigil the evening before, or go to Mass that night? If so, you are excused because of doing necessary work. You can get a dispensation from your priest if it would make you feel better, but it’s not necessary. However, if you are working “normal” hours, there is probably an evening Mass somewhere nearby, unless you live in a remote area with few churches. I worked 12-hour shifts for 14 years, so I know this situation only too well.

 

[Corki]

Chances are that some parish near you will have either a vigil Mass on the 31st or a Mass on the evening of the 1st. You might also check to see if some parish has a early morning Mass for All Saints that you could go to before work. When I worked in a downtown area, one of the local parishes even sent a priest to say a noon time Mass on Holy Days for all us commuter rats. It was in a Baptist Church building (with permission) that was right in the middle of all the high rises.

As for Confession, while Sat. afternoon has become very common, chances are there are Confessions at other times in nearby parishes. I can hit a Tues. evening, a Wed. evening, a Saturday morning as well as several Sat. afternoon times within a half hour drive.

Try Mass Times or the diocisan web site and then just call the offices of each parish.

Good luck to you.

 

[ArAnMike]

First of all, welcome back! Definitely talk to your priest about your situation. I am sure there is something that can be worked out, as the previous poster mentioned. Remember that there are two reasons for doing things; one out of obedience, the second out of love for God. Psalm 51 states:

[17] The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

Try to get to Mass. If you can not, talk with the priest. The mere fact that you talk before the said day shows that you want to go to Mass, or a contrite heart.

 

[MSParrott]

Thank you everyone for your responses. It never seems to amaze me how much I learn from kind-hearted people such as yourselves, and I thank God I have found this forum.

I am working 9a-5p for the first month while I am still in training and then after that, 4 weekdays and Saturday (I should have the same day off during the week, but as of now I don’t know which day that will be). I would definitely go to a vigil Mass, but right now DH and I have one vehicle and he works nights - his shifts start at 5:30pm, but thankfully it is close to home so he is on time.

I am going to now check out my Diocese website and see if anyone is going to have an early morning Mass that day and possibly offer Confession during the week. If nothing is available, I will speak with my Priest about this and also set up a monthly appt for Confession for the days I will have off.

Thanks again everyone for your suggestions, and God Bless and keep each of you.

 

[lak611]

Thank you everyone for your responses. It never seems to amaze me how much I learn from kind-hearted people such as yourselves, and I thank God I have found this forum.

I am working 9a-5p for the first month while I am still in training and then after that, 4 weekdays and Saturday (I should have the same day off during the week, but as of now I don’t know which day that will be). I would definitely go to a vigil Mass, but right now DH and I have one vehicle and he works nights - his shifts start at 5:30pm, but thankfully it is close to home so he is on time.

I am going to now check out my Diocese website and see if anyone is going to have an early morning Mass that day and possibly offer Confession during the week. If nothing is available, I will speak with my Priest about this and also set up a monthly appt for Confession for the days I will have off.

Thanks again everyone for your suggestions, and God Bless and keep each of you.

One other thing you might want to do is to check the bus schedules. Even if you do not have use of a car, there might be public transportation available.

 

[MSParrott]

One other thing you might want to do is to check the bus schedules. Even if you do not have use of a car, there might be public transportation available.

That’s a great idea, too! I just checked out our Diocese website and found a parish that has a Mass at 7am on Holy Days of Obligation, so thankfully I will be able to go to that. Now I just need to contact my parish’s Priest and set up a monthly appointment for Confession.

 

[lak611]

That’s a great idea, too! I just checked out our Diocese website and found a parish that has a Mass at 7am on Holy Days of Obligation, so thankfully I will be able to go to that. Now I just need to contact my parish’s Priest and set up a monthly appointment for Confession.

That’s great that things are working out for you! The monthly appointment for Confession sounds like a great idea too. It will definitely keep you on track since you will have it scheduled. If you like your priest, you could probably even have him as your spiritual director. If you have an appointment for Confession, the priest will usually have more time to do spiritual direction, since he won’t have a long line.

 

[bpbasilphx]

<<I just started going back to Church and I don’t want God to think I am disrespecting Him in any way. … I’m worried, and like I said I don’t want God to think that now that He has found me a job I have forgotten about Him, because that is not the case.>>

Don’t you think God has enough sense to know what’s in your heart and why you can do and can’t do certain things?

 

[PaulJason]

As for confession you can always make an appointment. Maybe get to Mass a little early on Sunday and ask if they can hear your confession.

Good Luck

Welcome Back

 

[quiet52]

In my experience priests aren’t usually available to hear confessions outside of the normal daytime hours (9-5) during the week. One reason may be that they need to pace themselves physically and emotionally. But another may be to protect themselves from false accusations and to avoid any potential legal, financial and other burdens which can result. Meeting with people privately, with no office staff around, might be considered too risky in these times.
I go to confession at a neighboring parish because the presiding priest hears confession half an hour before its weekday masses.

 

[MSParrott]

Don’t you think God has enough sense to know what’s in your heart and why you can do and can’t do certain things?

Ouch! If I am taking this the wrong way I apologize.

Of course I know God “has enough sense” to know what is in my heart, after all He is all knowing! But I also know I have to do everything I can to ensure all avenues are persued to make it to Holy Days of Obligation. I was only looking for a little guidance from other members in the Church…

 

[MSParrott]

In my experience priests aren’t usually available to hear confessions outside of the normal daytime hours (9-5) during the week. One reason may be that they need to pace themselves physically and emotionally. But another may be to protect themselves from false accusations and to avoid any potential legal, financial and other burdens which can result. Meeting with people privately, with no office staff around, might be considered too risky in these times.
I go to confession at a neighboring parish because the presiding priest hears confession half an hour before its weekday masses.

Very true. That is why I am going to wait until I find out what day during the week I will have off to make sure I can set up appointments during business hours.

 

[puzzleannie]

I think this might be in the wrong forum, so if it is feel free to move it.

I just started a new job and it occured to me that I will not be able to go to Mass on All Saints Day. I !

If you new shift requires you to work both the evening before the holy day, and for at least 12 hours on the day itself, yes it is likely you will miss Mass for reasons beyond your control, so you have no obligation. If with a minimal amount of research on your diocesan website you can locate a Mass at a parish offered outside your work hours, and do have the transportation resources to get there, you will then have to prudentially weigh your choices. the same websearch should uncover churches with confession times convenient for you.

God does not judge us in the petty narrow weigh we judge ourselves or each other, and he does not cherish the petty feelings of resentment and hurt we do with each other.