Do Catholic priests get some Sundays off?

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phil19034 said:
Now, that’s not to say there not times when a priest isn’t on vacation on a Sunday. But many do their best to avoid that because they typically have to find another priest to cover for them when they take a Sunday off. And depending on the time of year, that may not always be easy to do.
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Right. Most of the times the priests are gone in my parish, it is during the week and they are back by Sunday. But sometimes for their vacations, they are also gone on Sunday. It’s not 5 or 6 times a year, though. It’s probably more like 1 or 2.
 
Is a priest required to go to mass on Sunday if he is on vacation??
 
Yes. He can attend any mass. If the diocese approves he can say a private mass.
 
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PatK63 said:
n attend any mass. If the diocese approves he can say a private mass.
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I think that is it right there. A priest on vacation can celebrate a mass all by himself, thus fulfilling obligation.
 
Officially I’m entitled to a month’s holiday each year plus retreat time. I also take Monday’s off (after the morning mass). and, from time to time, will be away from the parish for out of town events, family commitments, etc. I try not to be away on a Sunday because, besides the commitment I have to my parish, arranging cover is difficult.

My vocation doesn’t cease; I’ll remain a priest until the day I die of course but on a more mundane level, I still get calls about funerals, anointing etc on a Monday and even when I’m away and this is one of the difficult parts of priesthood - trying to detach and allow enough time for myself and this is important because priests can give too generously of themselves at the expense of their own mental and physical well-being. The functions of the priesthood vocation cease on a spiritual or a practical level and in some ways that can be a problem when a priest is on his own in a parish.
 
I interpreted this question more to mean “do Catholic priests ever have a Sunday when they do not publicly celebrate Mass?”. The answer is yes. They do not have to say a private Mass, but if they do not, then they must attend Mass celebrated by another priest, just as the rest of us must do.

I have always made it a rule not to bother a priest on Monday unless I absolutely have to. Nobody told me to do this, and I didn’t read it anywhere, I just reasoned that he’s had a busy day on Sunday, didn’t really get to “rest” with having had masses and homilies all weekend, and needs a day not to be bothered.
 
Well, even if it is their day off, that does not mean they should not celebrate mass, and they still have to say the Liturgy if the Hours.
But vacations are important and most priests will be gone from their parish for 2 or 3 Sundays a year due to vacation. Nothing wrong with that.
 
A diocese has to approve a priest to say mass private?
I always was under the assumption they were encouraged to say mass every day.
 
The norm use to be to say a mass every day but I don’t believe that is the norm any more. However some priest try to do that.
I guess it depends on the diocese but technically a priest should ask permission to say a mass outside a church. Private masses used to be discouraged because a mass is a communal prayer. Bishops can and do give dispensations fairly easily. Also a priest generally has facilities in his diocese and needs permission to say mass in another. My information may be out of date so if someone knows better, please speak up.
 
Well you might take a day away from your spouse or your children or at least from your responsibilities. Like a stay at home mom doesn’t always want to be cleaning and cooking and taking care of kids etc. Sometimes she needs a break, even if it’s only a few hours with friends
 
That’s interesting.
I always thought they said mass everyday because of an experience once, we had a blizzard but the priests live at the rectory next door from the Church and I asked the priest the next time I saw him if they still had mass that day and I guess a couple people still went but he said regardless he would have done it because technically even if there is noone there the Church says that there are still many angels present to give glory to God. That always just stuck with me and I thought they said mass alone regardless.
 
Yes, I think there are a lot of private masses said. My uncle was a priest very faithful. When he visited us on vacation, we he did not say mass. He ask the parish priest if he wanted him to say a mass on Sunday and the pastor said no. When he was retired he said mass everyday in his apartment. I am sure the bishop gave him permission to do that.
 
Yah you’re right actually.
Something I just realized is the situation I brought up wasn’t really a private mass as the mass was already scheduled, just weather was inclement. The mass was probably being offered up for someone who had requested it be said for them so it wasn’t like he just said a mass on his own accord so it is different situation.
 
HomeschoolDad said:
I have always made it a rule not to bother a priest on Monday unless I absolutely have to. Nobody told me to do this, and I didn’t read it anywhere, I just reasoned that he’s had a busy day on Sunday, didn’t really get to “rest” with having had masses and homilies all weekend, and needs a day not to be bothered.
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Different priests have different days off, though. At my parish, one has Mondays off, one has Tuesdays off, and one has Fridays off.
 
UpUpAndAway said:
So are you asking if Catholic priests are required to celebrate Mass on Sundays?
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I always thought that being a priest, and if there is no valid reason otherwise, you are required to celebrate Mass every day. But of course there is no obligation to do so publically or in church. A priest can say mass privately, and I assume a priest who is travelling or on vacation does this.
 
Our associate priest was away this Sunday.

He was attending an ordination, on Saturday. And the newest priest’s first Mass on Sunday.

We also have numerous Sundays where we have one priest, not two. The other one is on vacation.
 
Pardon my ignorance. Wouldn’t a priest still be required to attend Mass, not conduct it, once a week on Sunday or Saturday, even if on vacation?
 
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meltzerboy2 said:
Wouldn’t a priest still be required to attend Mass, not conduct it, once a week on Sunday or Saturday, even if on vacation?
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A priest is required to attend Mass on Sunday (or Saturday evening) just like any other Catholic, on vacation or not. If he celebrates that Mass, he fulfills his obligation. If he attends a mass celebrated by another priest, he has also fulfilled his obligation.
 
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