How bad does the weather need to be to miss mass?

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My family is in the midst of a big argument at the moment, and I thought I would ask for advice.

It’s Saturday afternoon, and there is about half an inch of brand-new ice covering everything. It’s very slippery and very dangerous to drive.

My mother is insisting that we have to get to mass tonight, because who knows what the weather will do tomorrow.

The weather forecast for tomorrow is calling for ice/sleet all night, followed by a couple inches of snow on top. And all of the weather bulletins are urging people to stay off the roads.

Am I wrong to think that weather like this is bad enough to miss mass? Because…you know…I don’t WANT to miss mass, but it’s a real **mess **out there!!! :confused:
 
People have to use their own judgment about such things…

But the following questions may shed some light on the subject…

How far away is the church? Is it within a distance that could be safely walked? Is public transportation going to be shut down? (This would indicate that the roads probably are too dangerous for driving.)

Does one have any physical disabilities that would make travelling more difficult? Is one responsible for the fulltime care of someone who should not be out in such weather? Might some household members be able to make the trip even if not all should?

Would one normally stay home from work or school because of the weather? Would one cancel scheduled appointments?
 
To the general question, it all depends on how far the church is, what your transportation situation looks like and how bad the weather is. Needless to say, the weather would have to be a lot worse if you lived a block from the church that if it was 10 miles away up a mountain.

From your description, driving icy roads at night, with your opinionated mother in the back seat, you should really consider staying home. Take another look at it tomorrow morning.
 
Tif, I’m here in Vermont too, and right now as you say there is at least 1/2 inch of ice. I see cars out there, true, but maybe they have chains, maybe they’re only going a mile or so, maybe they’ll wind up in the ditch, who knows?

But just because some people are prideful (or foolish) enough to think that THEY can do as they please (and may be lucky enough to 'get away with it) doesn’t mean that we should do the same.

We’re waiting for tomorrow. And if we can’t get out, so be it. We don’t want to miss Mass but it isn’t even just ourselves we’d put in danger, but others. I’d feel awful if I ‘insisted’ on going out in a dangerous ice situation and wound up injuring or killing somebody else through my pride.

Let’s hope (also) the power doesn’t go out. . .next door neighbor already had a branch come down with the ice.

God bless and stay safe.
 
TraderTif said:
My family is in the midst of a big argument at the moment, and I thought I would ask for advice.

It’s Saturday afternoon, and there is about half an inch of brand-new ice covering everything. It’s very slippery and very dangerous to drive.

My mother is insisting that we have to get to mass tonight, because who knows what the weather will do tomorrow.

The weather forecast for tomorrow is calling for ice/sleet all night, followed by a couple inches of snow on top. And all of the weather bulletins are urging people to stay off the roads.

Am I wrong to think that weather like this is bad enough to miss mass? Because…you know…I don’t WANT to miss mass, but it’s a real **mess **out there!!! :confused:
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When the travel conditions are beyond your ability to venture out safely.

So you must attend Mass, when the answer is lets go to the Mall instead! Verses ,"We are not going anywhere!
 
lol, I’m in the boonies, so we don’t have public transportation.

The nearest parish is a few miles away (too far to walk), and the road between us is hilly, curvy, extremely full of potholes, and it doesn’t appear to have been sanded yet.

My Dad and I both agree that this weather is too dangerous to drive (currently), but my mother doesn’t seem to understand the concept of weather that could be bad enough to miss mass.

I’m just scared to death that the weather will continue to be bad (or worse) tomorrow, and my mother might try to drive herself (which is dangerous in *good *weather!), or that she’ll convince my dad to drive, and someone will end up seriously hurt!! :eek:
 
What the others said, with a caveat-

Are you a minor, and your mother is in charge? Or are you an adult with an older mother? If it is the former, I guess you are putting on your boots and coat and folderol, and going to Mass this evening. If it is the latter, tell Mom sorry, but you are not driving out in this storm.
 
bad enough to keep you from safely getting to Mass, use your own good judgement. if you could not get to the mall or movie theater in this weather, you can’t get to church, either. If you can get anywhere else, including work, you can get to church.
 
We missed Divine Liturgy today. It is only Saturdays at 4, and though i’m sure Father was there since he lives in the rectory, we’re in Ohio and the huge snowstorm was still dumping on us at 3 (the latest we estimated we could leave and get there, since we drive through the middle of the city to get to church). We decided since the roads were very bad still, and we have three little kids, to stay home.

If i can get out tomorrow i will attend a NO Mass.
 
catherineajt said:
We missed Divine Liturgy today. It is only Saturdays at 4, and though i’m sure Father was there since he lives in the rectory, we’re in Ohio and the huge snowstorm was still dumping on us at 3 (the latest we estimated we could leave and get there, since we drive through the middle of the city to get to church). We decided since the roads were very bad still, and we have three little kids, to stay home.

If i can get out tomorrow i will attend a NO Mass.
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I am in Ohio also. I actually did go to Mass, but my church is right across the street from my apartment and I do not have any children. It was bad enough that my mom’s church cancelled all services and Masses. The malls were closed, as is the airport. That would qualify as being bad enough to miss Mass. Also, some communities have driving bans. In Parma, only emergency personnel are allowed on the roads.
 
It’s not as bad here in New York. At least, the roads arent. Our problem is that we have a LOT of trees in Upstate NY and the ice makes the branches heavy to the point they break, same with the power lines and then you have power outages to worry about.
 
lak611 said:
I am in Ohio also. I actually did go to Mass, but my church is right across the street from my apartment and I do not have any children. It was bad enough that my mom’s church cancelled all services and Masses. The malls were closed, as is the airport. That would qualify as being bad enough to miss Mass. Also, some communities have driving bans. In Parma, only emergency personnel are allowed on the roads.
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Yep, if we were in a different county that had a level 3 emergency, we’d be arrested if we’d have tried to drive to Liturgy! I think most churches cancelled any evening activities here.
 
lak611 said:
I am in Ohio also. I actually did go to Mass, but my church is right across the street from my apartment and I do not have any children. It was bad enough that my mom’s church cancelled all services and Masses. The malls were closed, as is the airport. That would qualify as being bad enough to miss Mass. Also, some communities have driving bans. In Parma, only emergency personnel are allowed on the roads.
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Another Ohioan here. I have seen that some parishes canceled their Vigil Masses around here. I’m going to try and make it to Mass in the morning. But, looking outside I am not sure if I will even be able to make it down the street.

James
 
Imo, if it’s bad enough that the authorities are telling people to stay off the roads unless it’s an emergency, that is a legitimate reason to miss Mass. I don’t believe we are expected to risk our lives to meet our Sunday obligation, and that’s exactly what we are doing going out in these conditions.

I’m not sure if I’ll make it tomorrow. We’ll see how well they have the roads plowed. I don’t even know if I can get my van out of the driveway, it’s BURIED. :eek:

So much for springtime. :rolleyes:
 
James0235 said:
Another Ohioan here. I have seen that some parishes canceled their Vigil Masses around here. I’m going to try and make it to Mass in the morning. But, looking outside I am not sure if I will even be able to make it down the street.

James
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Columbus broke its record for snowfall–16 inches! I read that in your area they were having driving bans. Already my husband is warning me that i won’t be able to drive out to go to a Mass…he took a “test drive” to make sure he could get out to a main road in case of emergency and said the roads were bad…drivable, yes, but very dangerous. He nearly got hit by a snowplow that was backing up once and a car that was “sliding” another time.
 
catherineajt said:
Columbus broke its record for snowfall–16 inches! I read that in your area they were having driving bans. Already my husband is warning me that i won’t be able to drive out to go to a Mass…he took a “test drive” to make sure he could get out to a main road in case of emergency and said the roads were bad…drivable, yes, but very dangerous. He nearly got hit by a snowplow that was backing up once and a car that was “sliding” another time.
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More snow than the famous blizzard of '78 but this was not considered a blizzard because of a technicality regarding wind speeds. lol

My roommate saw a tow truck get stuck down the street while attempting to get a car out of the snow. A 2nd tow truck showed up to tow the 1st and ended up getting stuck itself.

Hopefully things will clear up all around the state a little bit by the morning.

James
 
masondoggy said:
Imo, if it’s bad enough that the authorities are telling people to stay off the roads unless it’s an emergency, that is a legitimate reason to miss Mass. I don’t believe we are expected to risk our lives to meet our Sunday obligation, and that’s exactly what we are doing going out in these conditions.

I’m not sure if I’ll make it tomorrow. We’ll see how well they have the roads plowed. I don’t even know if I can get my van out of the driveway, it’s BURIED. :eek:

So much for springtime. :rolleyes:
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Wow I missed it! I was supposed to be winter camping up at Punderson SP this weekend, with a little X-country sking for a couple of days. Was going to head up Thursday and come back Monday. My cousin lives in Conneaut, talked with him yesterday. He said that they were without power and had ICE and were expecting 14 -20 inches of snow today.
 
catherineajt said:
Columbus broke its record for snowfall–16 inches! I read that in your area they were having driving bans. Already my husband is warning me that i won’t be able to drive out to go to a Mass…he took a “test drive” to make sure he could get out to a main road in case of emergency and said the roads were bad…drivable, yes, but very dangerous. He nearly got hit by a snowplow that was backing up once and a car that was “sliding” another time.
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If you got sixteen inches of snow, stay in the house and PRAY that the electricity and gas doesn’t go out…by praying you will keep holy the sabbath, and hopefully the utilities on 👍
 
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