Holy Week/Workplace Dilemna

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I have a dilemna coming up next week with Holy Thursday. I just received word that I have to be out of town (AZ, I live in So Cal) on business from Monday through Thursday. The bottom line is that I won’t arrive back home until sometime Thursday night, which means I will miss Holy Thursday Mass. Holy Week for me and my family is a Big Deal, and we faithfully participate in Triduum activities every year. For my part I messed up and didn’t request these days off in advance. I let myself get too busy and wrapped up with work and just let it slip. Shame on me.

Here’s my question: Should I attempt to leave the job half day thursday to come home in time for the Mass of the Lord’s Supper? I can ask my boss, and there’s a decent chance I can get permission, but I risk giving the impression that I’m not a “team player” (the farthest from the truth btw), and in this economic climate I need to do whatever I can to keep my job if/when layoffs occur. I guess I can forgo the Mass this year in light of these circumstances (God will understand and He knows my heart), and since it’s not a Holy day of obligation, but like I already stated, it’s a big part of our spiritual life. What should I do???

Thanks for your thoughts, advice, and prayers in advance.
 
What about finding a local Catholic Church at the location of your trip? I know it wouldn’t be your own parish, but at least you could attend Mass, right? If you’ll be on the road traveling then map out the Churches along the way and call about Mass times!
Just an idea! 🙂
 
This seems like a good suggestion if you don’t think you’ll make it back in time. You can check out this site for times and locations.

masstimes.org/dotnet/Default.aspx
Em_in_FL said:
What about finding a local Catholic Church at the location of your trip? I know it wouldn’t be your own parish, but at least you could attend Mass, right? If you’ll be on the road traveling then map out the Churches along the way and call about Mass times!
Just an idea! 🙂
Click to expand...
 
That’s an idea worth looking into. The only trouble I see with that is that the Lord’s Mass is at 7pm (in our home parish) and I’m sure it’s at a similar time everywhere else. If I attend it in the city I’ll be in, I risk missing the last flight home that evening and will be stuck overnight. Right now it looks like my day will end around 5 - 5:30pm, with the next flight at 7 or 7:30. But hey, it doesn’t hurt to look into! Thanks again!
 
Sakoman said:
I have a dilemna coming up next week with Holy Thursday. I just received word that I have to be out of town (AZ, I live in So Cal) on business from Monday through Thursday. The bottom line is that I won’t arrive back home until sometime Thursday night, which means I will miss Holy Thursday Mass. Holy Week for me and my family is a Big Deal, and we faithfully participate in Triduum activities every year. For my part I messed up and didn’t request these days off in advance. I let myself get too busy and wrapped up with work and just let it slip. Shame on me.

Here’s my question: Should I attempt to leave the job half day thursday to come home in time for the Mass of the Lord’s Supper? I can ask my boss, and there’s a decent chance I can get permission, but I risk giving the impression that I’m not a “team player” (the farthest from the truth btw), and in this economic climate I need to do whatever I can to keep my job if/when layoffs occur. I guess I can forgo the Mass this year in light of these circumstances (God will understand and He knows my heart), and since it’s not a Holy day of obligation, but like I already stated, it’s a big part of our spiritual life. What should I do???

Thanks for your thoughts, advice, and prayers in advance.
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I would explain to your boss the critical importance of the Holy Week to you and your family. Do whatever is necessary to complete the work early on Thursday (ie work 24/7 before then) and convince him the job will be done so you can come home in time for the Mass of Our Lord’s Supper.

Don’t employers have to make reasonable accommodations for religious beliefs? (ie taxpayer funded foot washes for Muslims in Michigan?)

I would rather be a “team player” on the Eternal Team Jesus organized, than on any other team, no matter what the cost!

I’m not saying the job is unimportant, but so many martyrs died for the Faith, including Our Lord Jesus Christ, the only one who had no sin.

If your boss fires you over this, you don’t want to work for him anyway! Losing your job is a small price to pay, I bet the Lord will reward you 1000 fold and provide you a much better way for you to support your family and serve the Lord!

Sancta Maria, Mater Dei, Ora Pro Nobis Peccatoribus!

Mark
 
Ask your boss, apologizing that you meant to ask earlier. By body language, if he is ok with it, then take 1/2 the day. The worst thing he can say is no. :o
 
Check the airport where you will be flying out of. When I was flying home from DC a couple of weeks ago they made announcement that mass would be heard at such and such a time int he airport chapel. While not ideal, it might be a way that you could at least attend mass on Holy Thursday.
 
Should you be working, you might offer up the sacrifice of missing this Mass for those who have lost jobs and are struggling to find another.
 
kage_ar said:
Should you be working, you might offer up the sacrifice of missing this Mass for those who have lost jobs and are struggling to find another.
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Such a nice thought. And, those who are blessed with the opportunity of attending Mass on Holy Thursday, might think of offering up some prayers to those unable to do so as they labor in the workforce as well as for those who are unemployed or under-employed. All of us need to have each other’s back in these difficult times . . .
 
Mark77 said:
Don’t employers have to make reasonable accommodations for religious beliefs? (ie taxpayer funded foot washes for Muslims in Michigan?)
Click to expand...
The OPs situation has nothing to do with reasonable accomodation for religious beliefs.
.
 
I too will be traveling for work next week, flying home Thursday night.

Personally, I don’t find it to be a major conflict. I have a meeting that I must attend, and I will do so.

I am not violating any precept of the Church. Neither are you.

If you feel that strongly about it, ask your boss. But, don’t feel like you are doing something *wrong *by working during Holy Week and by not attending Holy Thursday Mass. It is misplaced guilt.

You will not always be able to do everything you want to do, and sometimes you have to make choices.
 
kage_ar said:
Should you be working, you might offer up the sacrifice of missing this Mass for those who have lost jobs and are struggling to find another.
Click to expand...
Very good idea!

I’m going to have to work on Good Friday (grocery retail), so I’ll be doing the same. And my job entails lugging lots of heavy things (boxes, bags of groceries, flats of bottled water), so I get a little taste of carrying the cross that day…
 
Matrix_Refugee said:
Very good idea!

I’m going to have to work on Good Friday (grocery retail), so I’ll be doing the same. And my job entails lugging lots of heavy things (boxes, bags of groceries, flats of bottled water), so I get a little taste of carrying the cross that day…
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I’ll be praying for all those who must work on Holy Thursday. Please remember both DH and I as we are un/under employed.
 
This is something you might consider:

Our parish will have Holy Thursday Mass followed by veneration of the Blessed Sacrament at the Altar of Repose from the end of Mass until 11:00 PM … if you flight leaves at 7:00 or 7:30 and is fairly chort [AZ to So Cal] … it could be possible for you to go straight from the Airport to your parish and spend some quality time with our Lord at the Altar of Repose … Our Mass on Holy Thursday usually runs from 7:00 until between 8:30 or 9:00 PM …

In our parish there are lots of people that process down and spend the first 30 minute to an hour … but from 10:00 to 11:00 the numbers are few …

This would seem like a good option if you cannot find an earlier Mass at your work location [and If I found one there to attend - I might consider staying over another night to attend Mass and then fly home early the next morning - rather then have the Mass be lost in the hurry and stress of rushing thinking about this and that … ]

And at times - the contemplation before the Lord can be very fullfilling … Time to let our Lord speak to our hearts and enter into our souls in a different way …

Just a thought … Have a Blessed Holy Week …

If you offer up your issing Mass for work for those in need a a job … I am one of those so think of me … I will offer prayers for you at our Holy Thursday Mass 😉 God Bless you for your love of our Lord - Jesus Christ
 
Dear OP,

Try to find some quiet time to spend in Church, either before your work day begins, or on your lunch break. Your employer needs to respect your religious beliefs, but with Holy Thursday being only a week away, you haven`t given them much notice. Do your best to find a way to go Church on Holy Thursday, but if you are not able to, pray quietly on your own. Next year, it will remind you to ask for the day off in advance.

I dont mean to sound harsh, and your faith needs to come first. But Holy Thursday is not a holy day of obligation. And you havent given your boss a lot of time to find another employee to cover the work for you.

I dont mean to sound harsh, and I do understand how you feel. I often have to work weekends, and cant usually attend Mass during the week do to my work schedule and commuting time. I know it is difficult.

Sincerely,

Maria1212
 
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