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CyrilSebastian
Guest
Does a parish priest have authority on his own to declare no Saturday Vigil Mass?
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Yes. Why wouldn’t he?
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jilly4ski
Guest
A parish priest could decline to celebrate a public vigil mass (though usually it would be with the permission of the bishop or at the recommendation of his parish). He can’t say it doesn’t exist or it doesn’t fulfill the Sunday obligation.
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1ke
Guest
Our parish has one mass a week. It is on Sunday morning at 8 a.m.
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DeniseNY
Guest
Yes. My parish back home has stopped having Divine Liturgy on Saturday evenings due to low attendance. 
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pianistclare
Guest
When our Archdiocese holds it’s annual Eucharistic Congress, we are encouraged to attend that closing Mass for Corpus Christi on Sat. evening. So we cancel our regular Sat. Vigil Mass because Father and most of the parishioners go to that instead.
It’s fine.
It’s fine.
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Corki
Guest
I believe the pastor needs to consult with the Bishop (or his delegate) to add or subtract Masses from the weekend schedule. So, it the priest in question wants to cancel an established Saturday evening Mass, he would need to run it through the chancery. So, it that case, he couldn’t act on his own. It’s not exactly “just” a formality, but close.
But if a pastor doesn’t have a Saturday evening Mass and doesn’t want to have one, that’s entirely his prerogative.
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Barb3
Guest
I wish they had a Saturday Vigil Mass many years ago – my husband was a Fireman and of course he had to work Sundays if his schedule included Sunday. The earliest Mass in our Parish was 7:00 and he had to be at the Firehouse at 8:0 – we tried to get the Parish to have the earliest Mass at 6:30 but were not successful – SO - my husband had to find a Parish close to his Firehouse and of course, he had to take the car – that left me and my three “kids” without a car and having to get to Mass – TOUGH!!!
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InThePew
Guest
Officially, at least, it’s up to a pastor whether he wishes to change existing mass times. IN reality however, he would normally be expected to carry out consultation with his parishioners (and in some cases with the neighbouring parishes) to find out their views.
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Neofight
Guest
Might depend on what the OP and other posters mean.
Isn’t a Saturday evening Mass is just a Sunday Mass held Saturday evening, not a Vigil Mass…isn’t a Vigil Mass an anticipatory Mass the evening before a feast or solemnity?
Just wondering.
Isn’t a Saturday evening Mass is just a Sunday Mass held Saturday evening, not a Vigil Mass…isn’t a Vigil Mass an anticipatory Mass the evening before a feast or solemnity?
Just wondering.
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midori
Guest
My church has two Masses a week— one on Wednesday night, one on Sunday morning. So, if you share a priest with other parishes, or if he has a heavy burden, or if he’s sick/infirm, or if your local congregation doesn’t support the Vigil Mass on Sunday with their attendance-- there are many situations where it would be perfectly understandable.
I wish I had an ordinary Saturday Mass within 100 miles of me. That would be cool.
I wish I had an ordinary Saturday Mass within 100 miles of me. That would be cool.
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jilly4ski
Guest
Yes that is correct, but I feel like the analysis would be the same. The priest who doesn’t have a Saturday anticipatory Mass, could also decline to celebrate public vigil masses for a Holiday. (Again, with the permission of his bishop and/or consultation with his parishioners).
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FrDavid96
Guest
That’s now how it works.
The pastor sets the Mass schedule for the parish. He does not need any kind of permission or approval from the chancery.
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FrDavid96
Guest
A vigil Mass might be any Mass held “in the night” beginning in the evening, even though evening is not-yet night. “Vigil” is simply an adjective that means “to stay awake” or “to be watchful.”
Some Solemnities have a proper Vigil Mass text, e.g. Easter, Pentecost, etc.
Just for example, if it’s 9:00 PM on Saturday, the next calendar day being the 20th Sunday of Ordinary Time, that Mass could be called a “Vigil Mass” even though the Mass texts would be identical to that of Sunday morning.
Again, the word “vigil” is just an adjective. It might or might not be used. It doesn’t make much difference when talking about a Saturday evening or nighttime Mass.
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FrDavid96
Guest
Would posters who claim that a parish pastor needs some kind of “permission” from the bishop to set the parish Mass schedule please cite the relevant canon from the Code of Canon Law or the General Instruction or whatever other source supports that claim?
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Neofight
Guest
Yes. Thank you…however, a “vigil” in a 'vigil mass" is an adjective, but when appearing or referred to as a “Vigil Mass”, it is noun., hence my confusion.
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coachdennis
Guest
Father, welcome to CAF, where facts and the truth mean diddlysquat to armchair theologians and canon lawyers.
I think what Corki means is that while he agrees with your opinion, it might be expedient to do the consultation thing purely for political reasons. Such as not getting the bishop riled up at him and exiling him to the edge of his territory.
Just guessing though; I’m sure Corki can clarify.
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ProVobis
Guest
It would be good in my opinion too. At some point the diocese would want to know the current Mass times of each parish, I would think.
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jilly4ski
Guest
Or as a common courtesy or if the bishop requested that mass time to be offered because of a pastoral need, it might be prudent to consult with one’s bishop or even with the parish when changing mass times or availability.
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