End-of-pew blockers

[Deo_Gratias42]

My church arranges chairs in a circle, so everyone is happy.

Jala

That’s not an appropriate seating arrangement for a Catholic Church. We’re supposed to be facing the East towards the resurrection and coming of Jesus. That’s why we’re called “Easter People” because we face east. Churches that do the closed in happy clappy circle thing make me mad.

 

[Mrs_Sally]

Being late for Mass has not been the topic of discussion.

I know. But it was part of the discussion - the “end of pew blockers” having arrived earlier than the family and so being already seated when the family comes along.

We also veered off into noisy babies, poopy babies, recalcitrant teenagers and grumpy seniors. As usual.

 

[Lormar]

We also veered off into noisy babies, poopy babies, recalcitrant teenagers and grumpy seniors. As usual.

That’s about sums up the People of God!

Isn’t our Church wonderful? So many opportunities Our Lord gives us to smile instead of frown, to give a kind look instead of a withering glare, to be gracious and charitable instead of nasty and mean! If only we all made use of each and every opportunity, this section of CAF might go out of business!!!

 

[zab]

I know. But it was part of the discussion - the “end of pew blockers” having arrived earlier than the family and so being already seated when the family comes along.

We also veered off into noisy babies, poopy babies, recalcitrant teenagers and grumpy seniors. As usual.

I am still not understanding your question of why getting on time for Church should be any different than getting to other places on time. Just because the family didn’t get there “early enough” doesn’t mean they are late.

 

[maltmom]

I know. But it was part of the discussion - the “end of pew blockers” having arrived earlier than the family and so being already seated when the family comes along.

We also veered off into noisy babies, poopy babies, recalcitrant teenagers and grumpy seniors. As usual.

But we haven’t veered off to holding hand during the Our Father, running around during the Sign of Peace, music or receiving communion in the hand vs communion on the tongue.

I’ve read this thread in amazement. We never had these types of discussions when I was a Protestant.

 

[Lormar]

But we haven’t veered off to holding hand during the Our Father, running around during the Sign of Peace, music or receiving communion in the hand vs communion on the tongue.

I’ve read this thread in amazement. We never had these types of discussions when I was a Protestant.

In all sincerity, Maltmom, forgive us for scandalizing you. It really is all so trite - how Satan grabs us with little nothings that we turn into mountains.

This thread has opened my eyes, and I thank the person who started it.

 

[centurionguard]

I find the OP’s term End-of-pew blockers has an inscrutable obscurity about it.
OK I’m guilty of falling in that category as deemed by some perhaps. But if I am its not that its intentional. And I have no dilemma in availing myself to common courtesy of other parishioners asking to sit in the same pew. Admittingly most don’t ask though.
Perhaps I’m too tall and ugly…who knows?

I walk with a cane due to numerous health reasons some of which restrict movement others due to dizziness from vertigo and medications.
Because of such health reasons if I need to exit the Church unheeded if necessary without tripping. I also sit where most don’t choose to at the very back of the Church with the Crying Room glass panel in back of me.

My big question is why do others always assume the worst by judging those whom they label as End-of-pew blockers?

 

[LucyLight]

So it seems that most of the people who have responded that they need to sit on the end have a medical condition. I doubt that this is the case for most of the people in church who do this. Those people probably aren’t interested in this thread and/or have never realized that this is an issue. Which I completely understand, this issue never occured to me until I had kids.

It also seems that the end of the pews are the most desirable seats for everyone at Mass.

For those people who were not aware that this is an issue I hope their takeaway from all of this would be:

• Unless you have a medical need for the end of the pew the considerate thing to do is to scoot over for someone who is elderly, has a visible handicap or has small children.

 

[zab]

I find the OP’s term End-of-pew blockers has an inscrutable obscurity about it.
OK I’m guilty of falling in that category as deemed by some perhaps. But if I am its not that its intentional. And I have no dilemma in availing myself to common courtesy of other parishioners asking to sit in the same pew. Admittingly most don’t ask though.
Perhaps I’m too tall and ugly…who knows?

I walk with a cane due to numerous health reasons some of which restrict movement others due to dizziness from vertigo and medications.
Because of such health reasons if I need to exit the Church unheeded if necessary without tripping. I also sit where most don’t choose to with the Crying Room glass panel in back of me.

My big question is why do others always assume the worst by judging those whom they label as End-of-pew blockers?

The same reason why anyone judges anyone else- human frailty. But as for the OP, he has repeatedly repented of his rant and has admitted to learning a few things. Have mercy.

 

[maltmom]

In all sincerity, Maltmom, forgive us for scandalizing you. It really is all so trite - how Satan grabs us with little nothings that we turn into mountains.

This thread has opened my eyes, and I thank the person who started it.

Thank you Lormar, but I don’t feel scandalized. As a new convert I’m not sure how that would feel in this context or I just don’t understand the concept in general. I do appreciate your concern. This has turned into a very interesting discussion.

I agree with your comment about Satan. I was telling a friend about one of the threads here. I don’t remember the topic, but I do remember telling her that Satan was laughing b/c everyone was on the brink of fighting. It was one of those topics that makes a mountain out of a molehill.

 

[centurionguard]

So it seems that most of the people who have responded that they need to sit on the end have a medical condition. I doubt that this is the case for most of the people in church who do this. Those people probably aren’t interested in this thread and/or have never realized that this is an issue. Which I completely understand, this issue never occured to me until I had kids.

It also seems that the end of the pews are the most desirable seats for everyone at Mass.

For those people who were not aware that this is an issue I hope their takeaway from all of this would be:

• Unless you have a medical need for the end of the pew the considerate thing to do is to scoot over for someone who is elderly, has a visible handicap or has small children.

But why the need to necessarily scoot over. One can politely move out of his or her place to let others in.

 

[Sarabande]

Can we compare getting to school, work, piano lessons, sports practices, etc. five or ten minutes early with getting to Mass five or ten minutes early as if they are not there on time?

That’s true. I personally consider myself late if I’m not at church at least 15 minutes early. When I’m working at mass and have the psalm to review, I like to arrive between 20-30 minutes early, unless it’s a special mass, then I want to be there at least an hour before. It drives my husband crazy because he considers himself on time if we arrive anywhere (not just at mass) when the mass/event/dinner etc is supposed to start. For me, that’s late.

I know I’m like this because my mother was perpetually late for everything and it caused so much stress and anxiety for me growing up. So, I grew up knowing I never wanted to be that way. Wonderful, loving and selfless person, but just can’t get anywhere on time. She has gotten much better about getting to mass on time, though, since we all grew up.

But in reality, people who arrive 5-10 minutes early are not late and shouldn’t be considered such.

 

[nickybr38]

Because I get claustrophobia if I’m stuck in the middle of a pew. I HAVE to sit on the end if I want to have a pleasant experience.

Otherwise I start having serious anxiety attacks and I’ve even been known to faint.

 

[Seeker1961]

No, but thoughout life, including while at church, the children themselves, as children, NEED special consideration (which doesn’t necessarily require their parents having the aisle seat, but might be greatly helped by it, especially when the person who would be giving up the aisle seat has no particular requirement for one).

My neighbor has EIGHT children, my cousin has five, and I’ve never heard anything from either of them about their NEED to have special consideration at church or anywhere else.

There is no NEED, it’s desire. I WANT what I WANT I am using my children as an excuse to get it rather than make any effort on my own.

The church seating is just one minor symptom of a larger problem of entitlement. Those without children and those whose children are grown are just simply not as important as those parents who think they’re the first to ever bear or raise children.

 

[Seeker1961]

But why the need to necessarily scoot over. One can politely move out of his or her place to let others in.

It seems that is not good enough, one MUST slide to the middle!

 

[Bruised_Reed]

But why the need to necessarily scoot over. One can politely move out of his or her place to let others in.

That’s what I want to know, too.

If I’m on the end of a pew, I know I might have to move to let other people in or out. If I were elderly or had mobility issues I would probably sit where I wouldn’t have to move again and again. If I am sitting at the end of a pew I will cheerfully get up as many times as needed. I’d even help wrangle the kids, retreive dropped toys or what-have-you. Okay, I’d do this in the middle of a pew but might be less cheerful about it and I know that. I don’t like being hemmed in.

 

[zab]

It seems that is not good enough, one MUST slide to the middle!

Slide to the left,
Slide to the right,
Stand up, sit down
:slapfight:

The OP has left the building.

 

[Bruised_Reed]

It seems that is not good enough, one MUST slide to the middle!

There’s no sliidng at the closest church to me - it has padded fabric seats. And the fabric is not satin which would be easier to slide down than the nice, neutral tweedy material used.

 

[maltmom]

Slide to the left,
Slide to the right,
Stand up, sit down
:slapfight:

The OP has left the building.

He’ll be back.

 

[babochka]

This has been a very interesting thread for me. After reading some of the responses, I’ve kind of changed my opinion about the matter. I will no longer be upset if my family of 7 has to climb over you to get into the pew. I also ask that you not be upset when I have to climb over you to escort my 3 year old to the bathroom, nor when I return. I ask you not to grumble or glare when I have to walk to the back of the church with my fussy toddler. I might have to leave in the middle of the Eucharistic Prayer, maybe even right during the words of Consecration. I do know that it is the most important moment in the Mass, but it can be very difficult to make an unobtrusive and quick exit when there is no easy way out of the pew. Don’t worry, I won’t return until after the prayer is finished.

By the way, I am, barring an emergency, always on time for church. Occasionally we arrive a few minutes early, but I try not to enter the pew until just before Mass begins. I have very young children, and they get restless sitting in church. If we arrive 10 minutes early for “good seats” , that’s 10 minutes less that they’re going to last before we need to remove them. Sometimes, my husband will go in with the older children in order to pray and recollect themselves before Mass beings, but we usually avoid that because we need to sit together and consider it rude to ‘save seats’ at Mass.