Cell phone use during mass

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maryelizabeth1

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Happy Lent!!

I hope that everyone is starting out on the righ track to the Lenten season.

Anyway…
Tonight I was at mass and I noticed a light to the left of where I was setting. To my surprise I saw a women on her cell phone sitting in the second row possibly checking her voice. Granted that mass had not began yet, but I was just couldn’t believe this was going on. Not only was she listening but she passed the phone to her daughter. Later in the mass as it was almost over with I heard a cell phone ringing. I wasn’t able to go to my usual mass this weekend, and now I remember why I don’t go to this mass anymore.
Has anyone ever seen this going on?

Thanks
 
No, I havent seen it during mass. However I remember the one time I left my phone on (I forgot it was in my pocket). Half way through mass I realized it was in my pocket and I spent the rest of mass praying it wouldn’t ring. I couldn’t shut it off because it makes loud beeping noises every time you press a button. Thank goodness noone called!😃
 
This happened to me, a lady in front of me bent over and answered her phone and talked for a few minutes.
Maybe someone was dying or something.

I just closed my eyes and prayed that it wasn’t important enough and hoped that she would get off the phone.
I isn’t as bad as the girl last week dancing around, tripping and dropping the hosts in front of the Bishop. I am sure this wont stop soon, irreverance is the “in thing” here in California.

Irreverance is common these days and just needs to be fought against with charity, it is difficult but we just need to be involved and faithful.

In Christ
Scylla
 
I’ve very rarely seen any cell phones at Mass, other than the occasional situation where someone has forgotten to turn it off, and it rings. This is usually followed by a mad scramble to find the phone and turn it off as quickly as possible.

But a few weeks ago, at the Cathedral, a cell phone started ringing. The owner rushed to turn it off – at least, I thought she was turning it off, but she apparently just rejected the call, because a few minutes later, it rang again. Sheesh! Why didn’t she just turn it off the first time?
 
The parish that I go to has an announcement before every Mass to turn off the cell phones, Does not always work. :mad:

Of course, if you saw me before Mass on Saturday with my phone, you would think I was checking my eMail. I was not. I was putting the parish’s number in my contact list before I forgot again :o
 
WanderAimlessly said:
The parish that I go to has an announcement before every Mass to turn off the cell phones, Does not always work. :mad:

Of course, if you saw me before Mass on Saturday with my phone, you would think I was checking my eMail. I was not. I was putting the parish’s number in my contact list before I forgot again :o
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I wish our parish would do the same. Last Saturday during the homily, someone’s cell went off, not once but twice. I so wish the priest would have said something.

Kathy
 
In the last few years I think I have heard a cell phone go off once during Mass. That could have been an accedent. I’ll call it one anyway.

I do not understand folks that can’t leave it behind for an hour. Threre is something far more importiant than that phone call going on, knowwhatimean?🙂
 
There are people who legitimately need to have a cell phone with them at all times–fire fighters, priests, doctors on call or rotation, etc. Yes, the phone should be set to ‘vibrate’ but we have all had the occasional times where we forget, set it wrong, thought we had it set, etc.

(I say ‘we’ but I don’t mean ‘me’–I’ve never had one, but once or twice I have had to handle one for a relation. Never at mass though).

I have heard from people who have had the above situations happen because of their mistakes and they have always been upset and apologetic at the disruption. I guess I’ve been lucky–never have I met someone who ‘didn’t care’!

I think, though, that it would be rare indeed that the individual who does not realize or care about the disruption to others (as opposed to the one who DOES realize and is sorry) would be inclined to ‘hear’ or to obey the guidelines for proper etiquette–not just at Mass but anywhere else. The people carrying on a conversation during the consecration are the same people, most likely, as the ones carrying on conversations in a movie theater during the show, on public transport, in libraries, etc. Often it isn’t done for spite or to disturb, but simply because the person’s sense of self-entitlement or understanding of common social boundaries is out of whack. Cell phone ignorance or other behavioral ignorances are symptoms of the problem even more than they are ‘problems’ in themselves.

It’s so hard to know the mind of another. One can only pray, model good behavior, and trust in God. He will always show the way–we have only to follow Him.
 
This reminds me of a horrible incident a couple months ago at my parish. We are running at far above capacity b/c we have amalgamated 3 parishes into one building. So at every mass there are chairs set up to the left and right of the altar, facing it, and in plain view of those in the pews. One guy sitting there- I can’t remember at what point in the Mass- had his cell ring. Instead of being horribly embarrassed and immediately shutting it off, he answered it, started talking, and then got up in front of everyone to go out the side door. UNBELIEVABLE!

I do understand that there may be occasion for someone to forget to put it on vibrate or shut it off, but even then it should be shut off and answered later, if not after mass then after discreetly leaving and calling back. it’s only 45-60 minutes- the world can wait (unless you’re expecting an organ for transplant 😉 )
 
1.) Get in car
2.) Drive to Church
3.) Park car
4.) Grab phone
5.) TURN OFF PHONE
6.) Go in Church — note that step 5 happens BEFORE step 6
7.) Spend one hour with Christ
8.) Leave Church
9.) Return to life as needed

It doesn’t need to be any more complicated. Just turn off the darn phone.

~Liza
 
I recommend using the ear-piece, the hands-free set. That way you can hold the missalette and you aren’t tied up with holding a phone. Speak semi quietly or use the phone during the hymns so no one notices your talking.
Of course I am kidding. In the parishes I have been to I would imagine the priest would give a person who used a cell phone during mass a stern talk or at least print a blurb about it in the bulletin for several weeks.
 
There is a sign at the entrance to our church reminding people to turn off their phones and pagers. It is also announced before every Mass.

I normally leave my cell phone in the car. That way I’m sure it won’t disturb anyone during Mass. Yesterday I did have it with me, set to vibrate, because my aunt has cancer and isn’t expected to live much longer, and I needed to be available.
 
mgy100 said:
I recommend using the ear-piece, the hands-free set. That way you can hold the missalette and you aren’t tied up with holding a phone. Speak semi quietly or use the phone during the hymns so no one notices your talking.
Of course I am kidding. In the parishes I have been to I would imagine the priest would give a person who used a cell phone during mass a stern talk or at least print a blurb about it in the bulletin for several weeks.
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You had me REALLY worried there for a minute!!! :eek:

~Liza
 
My sister told me she was at a mass and someone’s cell phone was ringing during the homily. She said the priest walked up, answered her phone and said, “Hello, this is God.”

Classic.

Anyway, leave your phone in the car. It is so easy.
 
Tantum_ergo said:
There are people who legitimately need to have a cell phone with them at all times–fire fighters, priests, doctors on call or rotation, etc. Yes, the phone should be set to ‘vibrate’ but we have all had the occasional times where we forget, set it wrong, thought we had it set, etc.

(I say ‘we’ but I don’t mean ‘me’–I’ve never had one, but once or twice I have had to handle one for a relation. Never at mass though).
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My mom has to take calls all weekend for her nursing staffing job. This makes her extremely anxious about having her phone with her at Mass, but she refuses to miss Mass on the weekends she has to work!
So she’s very cautious about having it on vibrate, she sits at the end of the pew, and runs to the vestibule to take the call without disturbing the Mass.

So there ARE ways to handle things like this properly. We have a friendly reminder to “silence our ringers” at the beginning of Mass, which is nice…
Of course there are always mistakes and you hear a ring or two from some parishioners… but usually those people are so embarassed it never happens (to them!) again…
 
I understand some people’s hate of cell phones, but as a college student and friend and daughter I get why some people would need theres.

My cell “phone book” is extrememly limited to only a few people. Two of wich are friends with severe medical conditions, who’d be calling me to drive them to the hospital immediately. Sure, they could get someone else, but it would take precious minutes. I could always go to Mass again.

Another is becuase I have a close relative who’s dying. Now, I suppose I could wait until after Mass to know, afterall its “just” an hour, but as a person, I’d rather know and lend an ear, or just leave and be there. An hour dosn’t really make much difference but in some ways it does.

Third, I work at a cafeteria, they need a min number of workers or they can’t open. They haven’t ever called me before, and I don’t believe they’d ever call me, but in an emergency situation I have to be ready to be called in. (I have more experance than most other student workers) The cafeteria is the only one on campus, so in that extreme case it would be a civil duty, I believe.

Finally, a couple people in my phone book are people I support mentally. If they called me and needed to talk because they were in danger (mostly of themselves) I’d leave Mass. Again, maybe not the “right” thing to do, but I’d be devistated if someone called me ten minutes into Mass, I didn’t answer and they wound up dead by the end of Mass.

This, of course, means on vibrate, not ringer.

So, while there are some obnoxious people, I think that for the most part its best not to judge.
 
I have heard cell phones ring at Mass literally hundreds of times over the years. Most people scramble to turn them off, but on any number of occasions the same phone has gone off more than once.:mad: Several times I have heard people answer them, some loudly, always saying something like “I am at church right now.” :eek:

Some of these people have said that they would readily set the phone on vibrate, but do not know how to do so.:tsktsk: To me one should learn to do this immediately, or else do not bring the phone into the church.

This is despite the fact that there are announcements made before Mass, and that every door leading into the church has a sign says PLEASE TURN OFF CELL PHONES.

This is a major irritation to me. :banghead:
 
Only heard a cell phone once, but have wondered why the youngsters are using their GameBoys during Mass.
 
maryelizabeth1 said:
Happy Lent!!

Anyway…
Tonight I was at mass and I noticed a light to the left of where I was setting. To my surprise I saw a women on her cell phone sitting in the second row possibly checking her voice. Granted that mass had not began yet, but I was just couldn’t believe this was going on. Not only was she listening but she passed the phone to her daughter. Later in the mass as it was almost over with I heard a cell phone ringing. I wasn’t able to go to my usual mass this weekend, and now I remember why I don’t go to this mass anymore.
Has anyone ever seen this going on?

Thanks
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At our First Communion Mass last year, cell phones rang FOUR times during Mass - one time, the person went and talked on the phone for a couple of minutes!

I personally hate having a First Communion take place during one of our weekend Masses. Yes, it is beautiful to see young 2nd graders receive their First Communion, but it is bothersome to see members of their family, some of whom haven’t been to a church in ages, acting very inconsiderate.

My Parish is in the central city, where the number of Catholics in the Parish School is dwindling - so to see the tradition of First Communion is a real pleasure. But it seems lately that the visitors to the Parish during that time left their manners in the parking lot.
 
CarolAnnSFO said:
I’ve very rarely seen any cell phones at Mass, other than the occasional situation where someone has forgotten to turn it off, and it rings. This is usually followed by a mad scramble to find the phone and turn it off as quickly as possible.

But a few weeks ago, at the Cathedral, a cell phone started ringing. The owner rushed to turn it off – at least, I thought she was turning it off, but she apparently just rejected the call, because a few minutes later, it rang again. Sheesh! Why didn’t she just turn it off the first time?
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Maybe it was a new phone & she didn’t have it figured out yet.
I’m not kidding. I just got my first cell phone and I thought there would be a switch or button on it somewhere for turning it off. No such luck. You have to go Menu> Settings> Something Else> Ringtones> Off

Sheesh!
 
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