Am I being too Scruplous?

[scapularkid8]

I’m on the Model UN team at my college and we go to conferences to compete against other schools. The thing is, these competitions occur over the weekend and usually in another state. This means I would have to be at them instead of going to Mass on a Sunday, or even a Saturday Anticipatory. Would it be wrong for me to go on these conferences if I know that I would not have the opportunity to go to Mass?

( which is ironic becuase I go to a Catholic school )

Maybe I can insist on being put in a double delegation (which means two of us attend one simulation) and that way I can be at Mass on Sunday morning and our school can still be represented at the committee?

I want to be in the club, but I can’t really enjoy the full experience if I don’t go on these conference trips. But I’m willing to just go to the meetings to socialize and have fun regardless of if I’m attending a conference or not.

 

[Truarchs]

Try to get to a mass while you are traveling. This website is excellent for helping traveler’s find a mass: masstimes.org/.

May God bless your good work!

 

[PhilotheaZ]

Yes, try to get to Mass if you can. If you think it will be absolutely impossible, you should ask your pastor ahead of time for a dispensation from the obligation to attend Mass. Since these competitions are always scheduled in advance, you will certainly have an opportunity to clear it with your pastor ahead of time.

 

[CarrieH]

Do try to get to Mass, you are not being too scrupulous! As others have said, if you absolutely can’t make it to Mass, see your priest for a dispensation. And look around – maybe there is a church near you which has a Sunday evening Mass that you could attend after you get home on your travel weekends. Good luck and God bless.

 

[puzzleannie]

model UN is great, did in in HS, helped run it in college (met DH that way) ours was at a Catholic college so they had Mass for us on weekend meetings, ask around, maybe others are in the same situation and you can carpool or otherwise get transport to Mass. Even non-Catholic colleges may have campus ministry with Catholic Mass available.

 

[scapularkid8]

I guess I wasn’t clear (sorry, a bad habit I’m in lately!). The issue is that all day on Saturday and Sunday we have basically like a board room meeting that we have to be at (with roll call and everything). So I would be discrediting my team by, instead of competing, attending Mass when I’m supposed to be in committee. My logic is: why even go compete if they can just send someone instead of me that can be there the whole time debating?

Does that make sense?

 

[PhilotheaZ]

I guess I wasn’t clear (sorry, a bad habit I’m in lately!). The issue is that all day on Saturday and Sunday we have basically like a board room meeting that we have to be at (with roll call and everything). So I would be discrediting my team by, instead of competing, attending Mass when I’m supposed to be in committee. My logic is: why even go compete if they can just send someone instead of me that can be there the whole time debating?

Does that make sense?

In many large communities with multiple churches, if you “shop around” you will find Masses available from 4-7pm on Saturday, from 7am-noon Sunday, and an evening Mass or two on Sunday. The college campuses I am familiar with have Masses at 9pm or 10pm on Sunday (I guess students like to wait until the last minute). Are you really in debate that much of the time? Have you checked thoroughly to make sure no Mass times are available to you?

If truly none are available, get a dispensation from your pastor ahead of time, and if you are able attend a weekday Mass (not required unless he tells you to, but I wouldn’t want to go without the Eucharist for a whole week).