Christmas Eve Vigil and Christmas Day Mass

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I agree. This is what our Bulletin says.

CHRISTMAS MASS SCHEDULE

Christmas Eve Masses

Saturday December 23rd - 5pm
Sunday, December 24th - 8:30am & 11am
(fulfills the Sunday obligation)

Sunday, December 24th - 5pm & Midnight
(fulfills the Christmas obligation)

Christmas Day Mass
Monday, December 25th - 10am

New Year’s Day Mass
Monday, January 1st - 10am
 
There are some churches that hold a 3pm and 4pm Mass on “double obligation” days so people can do just that.
 
lilypadrees said:
I agree. This is what our Bulletin says.

CHRISTMAS MASS SCHEDULE

Christmas Eve Masses

Saturday December 23rd - 5pm
Sunday, December 24th - 8:30am & 11am
(fulfills the Sunday obligation)

Sunday, December 24th - 5pm & Midnight
(fulfills the Christmas obligation)

Christmas Day Mass
Monday, December 25th - 10am

New Year’s Day Mass
Monday, January 1st - 10am
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Except for the fact that some of that is not entirely true.

A person might plan to attend Christmas morning Mass at 10:00 AM.

That same person might (I say might) be in a situation where the only possible time to fulfill the Sunday obligation is at 5 PM on Sunday evening.

That person could fulfill the Sunday obligation at 5 PM on Sunday, and fulfill the Christmas obligation at 10 AM on Monday.

A bulletin should not say “fulfills the obligation” unless that’s canonically accurate. It is inaccurate because it omits the possibility of attending on Sunday evening or night for Sunday.

Instead, it should identify the Mass (Sunday Mass or Mass for 4th Sunday of Advent, etc.) chosen for that time instead of giving incomplete thereby inaccurate information about fulfilling the obligation.
 
Thank you for sharing this, Father.

Would I be out of line if I shared the information you gave, without mentioning your name, of course, unless you allow me to do so. If you feel it wouldn’t be out of line for me to do this, to whom should I direct the information? My parish priest or the person who puts the Bulletins together?

Thank you again.
 
I will bet you a ham sandwich that there will be no one in the parish office tomorrow, that the bulletins have all been printed.
 
TheLittleLady said:
I will bet you a ham sandwich that there will be no one in the parish office tomorrow, that the bulletins have all been printed.
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It will depend on the parish, but I would think a lot of churches are getting jazzed up for the big weekend, a lot of new and infrequent visitors coming over. But you’re right, the bulletins are already printed almost everywhere, ready to go.
 
Even our Diocese offices were closed today and tomorrow. The jazzing up for admin staff was done over the past few weeks. Now, a few days to rest.
 
The Christmas Vigil fulfills the CHRISTMAS obligation, but MONDAY too is a Holy Day of Obligation that must be fulfilled.

See your parish bulletin for the details, OR call the Parish for the MAss Schedule

GBY

Patrick
 
PJM said:
The Christmas Vigil fulfills the CHRISTMAS obligation, but MONDAY too is a Holy Day of Obligation that must be fulfilled.
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The Christmas obligation and the Monday (this year) obligation are one-and-the-same. There is no “too.” It’s one obligation.

Anyone who attends a Mass on Christmas eve (December 24 beginning at evening) is fulfilling the entire Christmas obligation.

I’m not addressing Sunday in this post.
 
But shouldn’t the person who approves the church bulletin know Canon Law better than the congregation, especially when the bulletin is only passing on what the diocese says on stuff like that? Do we need to check Canon Law every time our parish makes an announcement?
 
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jfz178 said:
But shouldn’t the person who approves the church bulletin know Canon Law better than the congregation,
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Not really. Just because someone works in the parish office or even is the priest of the parish, doesn’t make them an expert at canon law. Further, mistakes are made all the time, that’s why pencils have erasers.
 
jfz178 said:
But shouldn’t the person who approves the church bulletin know Canon Law better than the congregation, especially when the bulletin is only passing on what the diocese says on stuff like that? Do we need to check Canon Law every time our parish makes an announcement?
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Everyone should know that it is not the choice of the Mass texts that determines if the obligation has been met; it is, instead, the time that the Mass occurs.

So yes, people who write or edit parish bulletins should either make that distinction or avoid implying that the text of the Mass (not the time) fulfills the obligation.
 
A vigil is a vigil. Simple, it counts.

Also, I write the pulpit announcements. We’ve been informing the people of the 2 obligations for a couple of weeks. They get it.
 
this weekend is going to be a “Mass” marathon; this congruence of Sunday obligation & Christmas has not occurred since 2006; i can’t even remember that far back…

to be honest; i am not looking forward to 3 masses in 2 days; Mass w/ the “Christmas & Easter” crowd; jammed parking lots, a packed church and lots of corny hymns from the mediocre (at best) choir in my parish

maybe i’ve become too cynical
 
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My parish avoided giving out misleading info by simply not mentioning anything about dual obligations – dual obligations which exist for us for this weekend and next.

When I questioned why Sunday morning Mass had been cancelled the response I got from the person who does the bulletin was, “You know very well that nobody is going to Mass on both Sunday AND Christmas!”
 
Rasoleil said:
Here’s my Christmas Mass schedule between my Church obligations and my wife’s Lutheran divine services which I am obligated to attend by the commands of she who must be obeyed: Sunday: Lutheran services at 9:00 A.M. then Mass my my church at 4:00 P.M., then after Mass I will bring Holy Communion to a parishioner, then attend my wife’s services at 6:00 P.M. Monday I will be attending my wife’s church services at 9:00 A.M. then Christmas Mass at my church at 10:30 A.M. Afterwards, we will be going to her parents home to celebrate Christmas. I absolutely have no choice to attend her church services as the entire situation has made her furious and thinks that my Catholic obligations are foolish and interferes with the family ( her family, as all of mine are deceased)*** I cannot abandon my faith, even for her. Is this not a form of persecution? She can be very hurt full.
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This is a very demanding schedule, and I will pray for you and your situation. Others who complain should be realizing that some have it worse.
 
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that is darn interesting

i’ve got a bunch of “envelopes” that my pastor is expecting me to hand into the “basket”

12/24 sunday; “priest’s retirement fund” " flowers for the altar", “my special” parish Christmas donation; ie “cough up 3 figures”

if i didn’t have so much family entanglement; i’d sleep in on Christmas Day; go to the local Marian Shrine for their 12 nooner; put $20 in the basket there and call it a day
 
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You have to go to 3?
I believe only Christmas and Sunday are obligatory, though.

On the other hand, look how much you get to go to Church and witness the Eucharist!
 
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