Cancelling Mass, Sunday Obligation

[Kmon23]

Just today due to the snow storm, my Orthodox parish priest cancelled services for today (supposedly the first time in 28 years or something).

Considering Catholicism has Sunday obligation, are there any rules for parish priests concerning the cancelling of services on Sunday, and if they have to have mass (unless really dire circumstances).
And if the local parish is cancelled, is the Sunday obligation waived or should the person go to another parish if possible.

 

[Vico]

Just today due to the snow storm, my Orthodox parish priest cancelled services for today (supposedly the first time in 28 years or something).

Considering Catholicism has Sunday obligation, are there any rules for parish priests concerning the cancelling of services on Sunday, and if they have to have mass (unless really dire circumstances).
And if the local parish is cancelled, is the Sunday obligation waived or should the person go to another parish if possible.

Have readers service at home:

Reader’s Service: assemblyofbishops.org/about/scobaresources/military/readers-service

 

[CatholicHockey7]

You can also check with the Diocese if the Bishop has granted a dispensation. I found out last night after the opening prayer that our Bishop here in Buffalo had sent a letter out to all priests letting them know there was no obligation to have Mass this weekend because of the snow.

We’re not getting nearly as much as you guys are, so I’d be surprised if there wasn’t one there.

 

[powerofk]

I’d use common sense. Usually, if the local parish is closed due to the weather, it’s probably too dangerous to travel to one further away. Of course, a lot of the time, you don’t hear that weekend Masses have been cancelled UNTIL you’re already there.

 

[Vico]

Just today due to the snow storm, my Orthodox parish priest cancelled services for today (supposedly the first time in 28 years or something).

Considering Catholicism has Sunday obligation, are there any rules for parish priests concerning the cancelling of services on Sunday, and if they have to have mass (unless really dire circumstances).
And if the local parish is cancelled, is the Sunday obligation waived or should the person go to another parish if possible.

For Catholics, if there is another parish within, say 30 minutes, that one can go to, then it should be utilized, otherwise there is not church obligation, but there is still an obligation to keep the day without labor. For eastern Catholics there may be a readers service at home:

metropolitancantorinstitute.org/liturgy/ReaderServices.html

 

[PaulfromIowa]

In many Catholic parishes, the pastor lives in a rectory right by the church so he almost never cancels Mass because of the weather. All agree that there is no obligation to risk one’s life or safety to attend Mass.

 

[YADA]

This is from my parish website

Inclement Weather Policy

The programs listed (School, Parish Office, Religious Education and Sacramental Preparation, RCIA, Confirmation and Youth Ministry) will follow the morning snow closure and bad weather directions of the Lake Oswego School District. When the Lake Oswego schools are closed, the programs listed above will be closed.

If there is a sudden change in the weather during the day, or the program meets on a weekend, the Program Director of the respective programs will make the decision as to the closure based upon consideration of the different areas surrounding OLL. The Program Director will also initiate the process of notifying people. If you are not sure if a program is cancelled, please call the office (503-636-7687) for closure information.

Mass—Mass in Church will not be cancelled for weather emergencies. We will celebrate Mass with whatever ministers and people attend. No one should put themselves or their family at risk to fulfill a ministerial assignment or attend Mass. When travel is dangerous, then all are excused from the obligation to attend Mass. Because we have no effective way to inform the entire public that our services have been cancelled, we will provide at least a recited Mass with those that attend.

 

[CatholicHockey7]

I’d use common sense. Usually, if the local parish is closed due to the weather, it’s probably too dangerous to travel to one further away. Of course, a lot of the time, you don’t hear that weekend Masses have been cancelled UNTIL you’re already there.

You mean like me? lol

My priest even texted me that afternoon and asked if I was coming to Mass. He could’ve said something then, but instead offered to buy me dinner. Being a poor, broke, graduate student I definitely wasn’t passing that up.

 

[GEddie]

For Catholics, if there is another parish within, say 30 minutes, that one can go to, then it should be utilized, otherwise there is not church obligation, but there is still an obligation to keep the day without labor. For eastern Catholics there may be a readers service at home:

metropolitancantorinstitute.org/liturgy/ReaderServices.html

I doubt that if weather was too severe to go to Mass locally, that it would be OK for a half-hour drive!

ICXC NIKA

 

[coachdennis]

Just today due to the snow storm, my Orthodox parish priest cancelled services for today (supposedly the first time in 28 years or something).

Considering Catholicism has Sunday obligation, are there any rules for parish priests concerning the cancelling of services on Sunday, and if they have to have mass (unless really dire circumstances).
And if the local parish is cancelled, is the Sunday obligation waived or should the person go to another parish if possible.

Common sense people, common sense. If it is too dangerous to travel to one church it is too dangerous to travel to another church.

Because of the combining of parishes in many areas of the country, priests do not necessarily live next door to every church. It would not be prudent to be on the road in the kind of weather we had yesterday in the Boston area.

Sometimes we have to use our God-given intelligence.

 

[Dorothy]

In many Catholic parishes, the pastor lives in a rectory right by the church so he almost never cancels Mass because of the weather. All agree that there is no obligation to risk one’s life or safety to attend Mass.

Correct!

 

[Hoosier_Daddy]

There would be no obligation if there were no Mass. You can’t attend something that is not happening.

 

[Cat]

For Catholics, if there is another parish within, say 30 minutes, that one can go to, then it should be utilized, otherwise there is not church obligation, but there is still an obligation to keep the day without labor. For eastern Catholics there may be a readers service at home:

metropolitancantorinstitute.org/liturgy/ReaderServices.html

The problem with snow is that it creates necessary labor. It has to be cleared, and this involves much labor, and it can’t wait until Monday because school might NOT be cancelled on Monday, and your work definitely won’t be cancelled unless you are able to work from home. It’s no fun getting up at 4 in the morning on Monday to clear a foot of snow out of your driveway in below zero temps.

Or does everyone else think that shoveling snow is recreation, not work?

I’m grateful that so far, Northern Illinois has only had one major snowstorm. Hope it stays that way. We still have about two feet of frozen snow in our yard.

I feel for the Northeast. They must feel so trapped.

 

[Tarpeian_Rock]

For Catholics, if there is another parish within, say 30 minutes, that one can go to, then it should be utilized, otherwise there is not church obligation, but there is still an obligation to keep the day without labor. For eastern Catholics there may be a readers service at home:

metropolitancantorinstitute.org/liturgy/ReaderServices.html

Do you seriously think that shoveling- out one’s home on a Sunday is a sin (“obligation to keep the day without labor”)? And as others have pointed out, if the storm is so bad that one’s neighborhood church cancels Mass, how is one to travel 30 minutes away?

 

[agnes_therese]

For Catholics, if there is another parish within, say 30 minutes, that one can go to, then it should be utilized, otherwise there is not church obligation, but there is still an obligation to keep the day without labor. For eastern Catholics there may be a readers service at home:

metropolitancantorinstitute.org/liturgy/ReaderServices.html

If it’s too dangerous to go to your local parish, you should drive to one further away?

C’mon, folks, God gave us common sense for a reason.

 

[Oneofthewomen]

For Catholics, if there is another parish within, say 30 minutes, that one can go to, then it should be utilized, otherwise there is not church obligation, but there is still an obligation to keep the day without labor. For eastern Catholics there may be a readers service at home:

metropolitancantorinstitute.org/liturgy/ReaderServices.html

30 minutes is a relative term when you are talking about the weather here in WNY.

I live 2.2 miles from our Cathedral, where I also work. The other day it took me 45 minutes to get home.

Maybe, instead of putting totally absurd and unrealistic options, which are obviously your OPINION out there, maybe you can say a prayer for all of us dealing with the cold & snow.

 

[SMHW]

For Catholics, if there is another parish within, say 30 minutes, that one can go to, then it should be utilized, otherwise there is not church obligation, but there is still an obligation to keep the day without labor. For eastern Catholics there may be a readers service at home:

metropolitancantorinstitute.org/liturgy/ReaderServices.html

Vico, in this case I believe the assumption is that Mass is cancelled at a given parish due to dangerous travel conditions in the the whole region. The travel danger to the parishioners exists even if other parishes in the area are able to hold Mass.

Now there are cases where weather would result in the cancellation of Mass at a particular parish due to a local problem such as a washed out bridge or lack of electrical power. In that case I think we all agree that someone should attempt to attend Mass at another parish if it is reasonable to do so.

But in the case of wide-reaching problems where multiple parishes and/or dioceses are impacted, people have to use their best judgment so as not to put themselves and other people (including first responders) in danger. .

 

[GEddie]

30 minutes is a relative term when you are talking about the weather here in WNY.

I live 2.2 miles from our Cathedral, where I also work. The other day it took me 45 minutes to get home.

Maybe, instead of putting totally absurd and unrealistic options, which are obviously your OPINION out there, maybe you can say a prayer for all of us dealing with the cold & snow.

+1 from latitude 27[sup]O[/sup]

For all of you under this storm, God Bless, and ICXC NIKA.

 

[otjm]

“The problem with common sense is that it is not all that common.”
Voltaire
:doh2:

 

[Vico]

Do you seriously think that shoveling- out one’s home on a Sunday is a sin (“obligation to keep the day without labor”)? And as others have pointed out, if the storm is so bad that one’s neighborhood church cancels Mass, how is one to travel 30 minutes away?

Kmon postulated that it was possible to which I responded with 30 minutes else no: “should the person go to another parish if possible.”

So does it take more than 30 minutes to handle snow and drive there combined? Then don’t go.