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ADiosgracias

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Can I take a cruise for vacation knowing that it will be not mass on sundays on board?
 
You may find that the ship is in port on Saturday nights or Sundays throughout your trip. In that case, you are likely to be able to find somewhere on shore to attend Mass. No problem. If there is only one Sunday that would have to be missed, you might ask your pastor if he thinks a dispensation would be OK for that Sunday (before you make a reservation).

If you’re just looking for “a cruise”, rather than a particular cruise, check with your chancery office. In some dioceses, there are regularly trips where diocesan priests go along to say Mass every day, including Sundays, for their private party (rather than for the whole ship). If you are interested in a particular cruise, such as for a family reunion, your pastor may think a dispensation for more than one Sunday would still be fine.
 
Fifteen years ago, I was on an overnight ferry in Europe with other tourists. One turned out to be a priest. He said Mass, the only one being said, in his cabin Sunday morning but did not invite the Catholics to join him. Often wondered what was with that. :confused:
 
At least one cruise line - Holland America - typically has a priest on board at all times to meet the needs of their Filippino staff as well as for passangers. I believe that’s part of the contract they make with their Filippino staff. And, as noted by another poster, you might find yourself in port on a Sunday. We attended Mass during a cruise at the cathedral in Monaco (while most everyone else on the ship was headed to the Casino) !
 
Tape the Mass on EWTN and watch it , if not. Personally I think you’d be fine missing one Sunday.
 
aicirt said:
Fifteen years ago, I was on an overnight ferry in Europe with other tourists. One turned out to be a priest. He said Mass, the only one being said, in his cabin Sunday morning but did not invite the Catholics to join him. Often wondered what was with that. :confused:
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Probably b/c there was not space for everybody in his cabin?
 
I have been on two Holland America cruises. The most recent in November, 2011. There was a Priest on board both times and both daily and Sunday Mass was offered. Sunday Mass was very well attended.
Enjoy!
 
GEddie said:
Probably b/c there was not space for everybody in his cabin?
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He never offered. There were other areas available like the theatre which would not have been in use on a Sunday morning. I’m sure the ship’s captain would have had this request before. And there were not that many Catholics on this tour.
 
I took a lovely cruise to Alaska, there was nothing quite as beautiful as celebrating Mass in the middle of the ocean! Have fun!
 
aicirt said:
He never offered. There were other areas available like the theatre which would not have been in use on a Sunday morning. I’m sure the ship’s captain would have had this request before. And there were not that many Catholics on this tour.
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The captain is not the one who needs to authorize it so much as the bishop.

The priest may not have had permission from the local ordinary to offer Mass in that jurisdiction. A priest is usually allowed to say private Masses when on vacation outside his diocese, but needs to get specific permission for public Masses to which all of the faithful are invited.
 
EasterJoy said:
The captain is not the one who needs to authorize it so much as the bishop.

The priest may not have had permission from the local ordinary to offer Mass in that jurisdiction. A priest is usually allowed to say private Masses when on vacation outside his diocese, but needs to get specific permission for public Masses to which all of the faithful are invited.
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Didn’t know that. Thanks. I can see the necessity for permission if he’s on land when there is a church offering Mass anyway. There was an alternative. There would not be the necessity of him saying a Mass. However, in this case, the priest is on a ship in the middle of the ocean on Sunday with no possible way of the Catholics attending Mass except by him. We were very surprised he didn’t extend himself knowing we were there.
 
ADiosgracias said:
Can I take a cruise for vacation knowing that it will be not mass on sundays on board?
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a) Yes. You can go on a cruise. If there is no way to attend mass, you don’t have an obligation. You can also ask your priest for a dispensation before you leave if it will make you feel better.

b) Often times there are priests on cruises. On our Alaska cruise we had mass every day. Check with the cruise line to see if there will be one aboard.
 
EasterJoy said:
The captain is not the one who needs to authorize it so much as the bishop.

The priest may not have had permission from the local ordinary to offer Mass in that jurisdiction. A priest is usually allowed to say private Masses when on vacation outside his diocese, but needs to get specific permission for public Masses to which all of the faithful are invited.
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When I have been on pilgrimage, Mass has been said in hotel lobbys, parking lots, Roman ruins, airport chapels, etc; and once on shipboard. While in that instance, Fr. did get the Captain’s permission, I doubt it was even possible to apply in advance to the bishops of all the dioceses through which the group passed.

ICXC NIKA
 
1ke said:
a) Yes. You can go on a cruise. If there is no way to attend mass, you don’t have an obligation. You can also ask your priest for a dispensation before you leave if it will make you feel better.
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I don’t agree that I am automatically dispensed of the obligation to go to Mass on Sunday just because I want to go on a cruise where I would have to miss Mass to go. This is not a case where there is no way to attend Mass, there is, just choose a different cruise, a different trip, or don’t go at all. Find out if there will be Mass, maybe there is a Mass you don’t know of. Find out if you will be docked somewhere Sat or Sun where you can go to Mass. I had this conversation with a very good priest, he said to not go on the trip if it meant missing Sunday Mass.
 
12345678 said:
I don’t agree that I am automatically dispensed of the obligation to go to Mass on Sunday just because I want to go on a cruise where I would have to miss Mass to go. This is not a case where there is no way to attend Mass, there is, just choose a different cruise, a different trip, or don’t go at all. Find out if there will be Mass, maybe there is a Mass you don’t know of. Find out if you will be docked somewhere Sat or Sun where you can go to Mass. I had this conversation with a very good priest, he said to not go on the trip if it meant missing Sunday Mass.
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I have always understood that while travelling, one is dispensed from Sunday obligation, if there is no time to attend Mass or no knowledge of where to do so.

One can find a priest to say anything. Is there an authoritative Church statement on the issue?

N.B. There are Catholic cruises available, including to such non-“pilgrimage” areas as AK and MX. These excursions have onboard priests and daily Mass. Do a search.

God Bless, ICXC NIKA
 
12345678 said:
I don’t agree that I am automatically dispensed of the obligation to go to Mass on Sunday just because I want to go on a cruise where I would have to miss Mass to go. This is not a case where there is no way to attend Mass, there is, just choose a different cruise, a different trip, or don’t go at all. Find out if there will be Mass, maybe there is a Mass you don’t know of. Find out if you will be docked somewhere Sat or Sun where you can go to Mass. I had this conversation with a very good priest, he said to not go on the trip if it meant missing Sunday Mass.
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1ke is correct. There is no obligation to attend Sunday Mass if there isn’t one availible.
 
GEddie said:
I have always understood that while travelling, one is dispensed from Sunday obligation, if there is no time to attend Mass or no knowledge of where to do so.

One can find a priest to say anything. Is there an authoritative Church statement on the issue?

N.B. There are Catholic cruises available, including to such non-“pilgrimage” areas as AK and MX. These excursions have onboard priests and daily Mass. Do a search.

God Bless, ICXC NIKA
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2181 The Sunday Eucharist is the foundation and confirmation of all Christian practice. For this reason the **faithful are obliged to participate in the Eucharist on days of obligation, unless excused for a serious reason (for example, illness, the care of infants) or dispensed by their own pastor.**119 Those who deliberately fail in this obligation commit a grave sin.
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2182 Participation in the communal celebration of the Sunday Eucharist is a testimony of belonging and of being faithful to Christ and to his Church. The faithful give witness by this to their communion in faith and charity. Together they testify to God’s holiness and their hope of salvation. They strengthen one another under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
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2183 "If because of lack of a sacred minister or for other grave cause participation in the celebration of the Eucharist is impossible, it is specially recommended that the faithful take part in the Liturgy of the Word if it is celebrated in the parish church or in another sacred place according to the prescriptions of the diocesan bishop, or engage in prayer for an appropriate amount of time personally or in a family or, as occasion offers, in groups of families."120
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Exactly, one can find a priest that will say anything, so is there an authorative Church statement that suggests one can purposefully choose to miss our Sunday Obligation by going on an unnecessary vacation that is not compatible with our Sunday obligation, when there are other vacation options out there that are compatible?
 
12345678 said:
Exactly, one can find a priest that will say anything, so is there an authorative Church statement that suggests one can purposefully choose to miss our Sunday Obligation by going on an unnecessary vacation that is not compatible with our Sunday obligation, when there are other vacation options out there that are compatible?
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Can. 1245 Without prejudice to the right of diocesan bishops mentioned in can. 87, for a just cause and according to the prescripts of the diocesan bishop, a pastor can grant in individual cases a dispensation from the obligation of observing a feast day or a day of penance or can grant a commutation of the obligation into other pious works. A superior of a religious institute or society of apostolic life, if they are clerical and of pontifical right, can also do this in regard to his own subjects and others living in the house day and night.
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Travel would be a valid reason to miss mass.
 
Rascalking said:
1ke is correct. There is no obligation to attend Sunday Mass if there isn’t one availible.
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I wonder. Does this mean I can take out the boat for the weekend and miss mass? Last time I checked there is no mass offered in the Gulf of Mexico.
 
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