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baltobetsy
Guest
It’s that important to me, too, but it’s a personal preference and not a requirement of the Church.
Betsy
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Betsy
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Rockymom
Guest
I have an article that tells about all of this. It states that Celebrity and Holland America are ok, where other lines use Rentapriest. Here is the link:
theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20050129.PRIESTS29/TPStory/Travel
theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20050129.PRIESTS29/TPStory/Travel
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NewGuyInChurch
Guest
That’s not the case with this organization. This is directly from their website:
“Who are we?
CITI is a lay organization that locates, recruits, and promotes the availability of married and other resigned Roman Catholic priests to fill the spiritual needs of God’s people. According to church law (canon law), “Once a priest, always a priest.” Therefore, married priests are not “ex” or “former” priests, they are still priests. In fact, Canon Law says they cannot refuse to ministry to someone who asks (Canon 843).”
Too bad they forgot that laicized priests are not authorized to perform masses. I’d skip it if I were you and not worry about it at all. If you’re still in doubt though, I’d suggest talking to your parish priest.
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MGEISING
Guest
I absolutely agree … when we plan our vacations, Mass is always on the compass … If one really and truly believes they are receiving our Lord and Savior in the Eucharist, why would anyone not plan appropiratley to meet him?
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the_phoenix
Guest
What I’ve heard is that if because of travel you are in an area where you are unable to attend Mass due to no Mass being available in that location, it is not a sin to miss Mass in that circumstance.
That said, I always go to Mass while on vacation, and have been ABUNDANTLY REWARDED for it!
Once for example, on Kelleys Island during fall warbler migration in October, Mass was being held Sunday morning when it would have been just glorious to go birdwatching instead. Of course I went to Mass, and I offered the Mass intention in honor of my guardian angel. Well, imagine my joy when later that same day, at around 4:45 p.m. in the afternoon, I saw a RARE Kirtland’s Warbler, which is an endangered species !!! Any serious North American birder east of the Rockies will understand the significance. I believe my guardian angel led me to that bird. * jumping up and down still happy! *
My attitude towards vacation is that as long as I am able to attend Mass to fulfill my Sunday obligation, then the vacation is a success and I am satisfied and happy, whatever else happens or does not happen.
~~ the phoenix
That said, I always go to Mass while on vacation, and have been ABUNDANTLY REWARDED for it!
Once for example, on Kelleys Island during fall warbler migration in October, Mass was being held Sunday morning when it would have been just glorious to go birdwatching instead. Of course I went to Mass, and I offered the Mass intention in honor of my guardian angel. Well, imagine my joy when later that same day, at around 4:45 p.m. in the afternoon, I saw a RARE Kirtland’s Warbler, which is an endangered species !!! Any serious North American birder east of the Rockies will understand the significance. I believe my guardian angel led me to that bird. * jumping up and down still happy! *
My attitude towards vacation is that as long as I am able to attend Mass to fulfill my Sunday obligation, then the vacation is a success and I am satisfied and happy, whatever else happens or does not happen.
~~ the phoenix
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Linuse
Guest
I have been a chaplain on a cruise ship and plan on doing so again in the future. To be the chaplain, one first has to get their name as a priest in good standing. This is done through a national office of Maritine chaplaincy. This is done each year. It requires a letter from your bishop or religious superior assuring the office that you are a priest in good standing. Then you apply for the chaplaincy for whatever cruise you will be taking. Some positions fill up very fast–some never fill. But I do believe that the cruise line try to have a chaplain whenever possible. Sometimes the chaplain may be part of a larger tour group of which the cruise line recognizes and uses the services of the chaplain.
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barbfromtucson
Guest
Hi everyone,
Just wanted to give you all the update…
There was a Saturday evening anticapatory (spelling??) Mass that did NOT conflict with any of the Michael W. Smith events. I was also able to make it to two of the daily Masses.
At least 2/3 of us at Mass were part of the MWS group (half the ship, approx 900 of us, were there for MWS).
I had an awesome time. I ran into Michael a number of times on the ship, as well as during the official ‘meet-and-greet’ and had front-row center during a couple of his shows.
Take Care,
Barbara
Just wanted to give you all the update…
There was a Saturday evening anticapatory (spelling??) Mass that did NOT conflict with any of the Michael W. Smith events. I was also able to make it to two of the daily Masses.
At least 2/3 of us at Mass were part of the MWS group (half the ship, approx 900 of us, were there for MWS).
I had an awesome time. I ran into Michael a number of times on the ship, as well as during the official ‘meet-and-greet’ and had front-row center during a couple of his shows.
Take Care,
Barbara
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mdgspencer
Guest
I would go to mass and afterwards ask the priest which parish he has. Then I would not be asking outright if he is a priest in good standing and could still find out.
If he is one of these rent-a-priests this raises large questions about going to a priest not in good standing with the Church. For example, there are goverment controlled priests in communist China. Should a Chinese citizen go to one if he is the only one priest available? In the 1940s the Orthodox took control of the Eastern rite Catholic parishes and monasteries in the Ukraine. Should Catholics have gone to mass to an Orthodox priest in these circumstances? And I can’t help thinking of the situation of Catholics in the Roman Empire, when groups with strange beliefs who still had the priesthood took over large tracts of Catholic territories, such as the Arians. Should the Catholic have gone to mass in the Churches of such groups if they are the only priest available? Perhaps there are no simple answers, and they depend on the exact situation.
Whether I would go to sunday mass givewn by such a priest, I don’t know. Though if I did, I wouldn’t like having to do so.
If he is one of these rent-a-priests this raises large questions about going to a priest not in good standing with the Church. For example, there are goverment controlled priests in communist China. Should a Chinese citizen go to one if he is the only one priest available? In the 1940s the Orthodox took control of the Eastern rite Catholic parishes and monasteries in the Ukraine. Should Catholics have gone to mass to an Orthodox priest in these circumstances? And I can’t help thinking of the situation of Catholics in the Roman Empire, when groups with strange beliefs who still had the priesthood took over large tracts of Catholic territories, such as the Arians. Should the Catholic have gone to mass in the Churches of such groups if they are the only priest available? Perhaps there are no simple answers, and they depend on the exact situation.
Whether I would go to sunday mass givewn by such a priest, I don’t know. Though if I did, I wouldn’t like having to do so.
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1ke
Guest
Awesome. Glad you had a good time.
Alaska is great. I went with my family in 2001, on Holland America, and we had a great time and were able to attend Mass.
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lak611
Guest
From Ask an Apologist, one should not go to an underground church if travelling to China.
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puzzleannie
Guest
why ask us? why not ask the cruise line for the name of the priest and his diocese and call to verify his credentials. If you find he has none, it would be an act of charity to inform the cruise line of that fact.
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barbfromtucson
Guest
In my original post, I had mentioned that I had heard that a lot of cruise ships got their priests from an organization called ‘rent-a-priest’ which are priests who are not in good standing with the church. I found out through subsequent posts and such that Holland America is one of the two cruiselines who do NOT use this service–that they go through official channels and the priests on their cruises were either retired priests or active priests on vacation.
One of my first responders suggested that I contact the cruise line, which I did, but they wouldn’t/couldn’t give me any specific information at the time.
Thanks,
Barbara
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pyropam
Guest
This is seriously wrong!!! What do you mean??? “Why would the availability of mass be your #1 consideration for holidays?” This almost makes me ill… CHRIST DIED FOR YOU!!! GOING TO MASS ONCE A WEEK SHOULD BE YOUR #1 CONCERN…
HOW WOULD YOU FEEL IF JESUS TOOK A HOLIDAY AWAY FROM YOU FOR A WEEK??? WOULDN’T BE PRETTY NOW WOULD IT???
I’M A NEW CATHOLIC BUT I BELIEVE THAT IT IS A MORTAL SIN TO MISS MASS…
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mamar
Guest
well…i just got back from a royal caribean cruise that ran from sunday to sunday…so we went to mass the saturday night before but they had us off the boat by 7 am the following sunday…they did not offer mass…we sat in the airport and read the readings and reflected. i am quite certain that this was not a sin…we were unable to get to mass…we had no car, we were shuttled from the boat in miami to the airport…did not arrive back to our home until 7 pm that same sunday…and we always go to mass on vacation…but was really impossible this time…so i would not worry about it.
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bankerdavid
Guest
On the issue of attending Mass to fulfill the Sunday obligation, you will be making port calls during your cruise, and can certainly find a Mass on Saturday or Sunday in the port. Check that out first.
From an article in Time magazine, posted on Rentapriest’s website:
rentapriest.com/web/?_p=1018&newsId=1
I personally would not attend mass on a cruise ship, but would look to doing so in port. If there was no way I could go to mass, I would ask for dispensation, and would spend time in prayer and reflection. So far, in my world travels, I have never been anywhere there wasn’t a Catholic Church. (FYI, I’ve been to Rome, and the Bahamas since becoming Catholic, and plan on visiting Tahiti sometime in the near future) I’ve stated that it’s wrong to go to Disneyworld and miss Mass due to wanting to be in the park early, but it’s a different situation if you are somewhere where there isn’t a Mass available, or if you’re traveling. My priest agrees.
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bankerdavid
Guest
I think he stated that he makes every effort! Personally, when I plan a vacation, my first concern is where, my second concern is how accessible is a Church. Then comes logistics and cost. I have never missed a Mass (daily or Sunday) since I became a Catholic, and, like the poster you’re criticising, would always make every attempt to not miss a Mass. God knows our hearts, and if I’ve made every effort, He knows. I don’t believe God would not want us to see the splendor of His creation (every inch possible) just because there are no clergy or church there. It is still God’s creation!:twocents:
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OutinChgoburbs
Guest
Glad you had a great time!
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FrCorey
Guest
my first bishop worked for a cruise line, the company would only give him 1 hour to do the full mass.
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coeyannie
Guest
Why would a Catholic plan a cruise on a cruise ship that does not offer Mass. I have perused many cruise lines and nothing is ever said about Sunday Mass, therefore I will not book a cruise. 
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cameron_lansing
Guest
Catholics should contact the Apostleship of the Sea in the U.S. It conducts an authorized maritime ministry affiliated with the USCCB. It would maintain a list of Catholic priests in good standing who serve on cruise ships. www.aos-usa.org
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