How can i stay in union with the church?

[Sam_Morgan]

I have recently returned to the Church after several years away. It feels good to be back home again.

I want to know what I should do about being unable to attend mass on Sundays while at work. I work offshore in the oilfield ( where I am right now actually,) Sometimes I am gone for 3 or 4 weeks at a time. Also there is not much fellowship out here with a lot of the people i work around very crude and into pornography. I spend more time praying and watching the waves than I have ever done.

Oh and I get time to read this forum.

 

[lak611]

I have recently returned to the Church after several years away. It feels good to be back home again.

Welcome back!

I want to know what I should do about being unable to attend mass on Sundays while at work. I work offshore in the oilfield ( where I am right now actually,) Sometimes I am gone for 3 or 4 weeks at a time. Also there is not much fellowship out here with a lot of the people i work around very crude and into pornography. I spend more time praying and watching the waves than I have ever done.

Oh and I get time to read this forum.

Ask your pastor for a dispensation from your Sunday Mass obligation after explaining your work situation to him. Try to make a spiritual communion on the Sundays that you are unable to attend Mass. You might want to bring a Bible and a rosary with you too, or a favourite prayer book.

 

[dbacks5439]

I have recently returned to the Church after several years away. It feels good to be back home again.

I want to know what I should do about being unable to attend mass on Sundays while at work. I work offshore in the oilfield ( where I am right now actually,) Sometimes I am gone for 3 or 4 weeks at a time. Also there is not much fellowship out here with a lot of the people i work around very crude and into pornography. I spend more time praying and watching the waves than I have ever done.

Oh and I get time to read this forum.

Welcome home. Go with Lak’s suggestion, that is best.

You work on an oil rig right? So we can we expect the prices to go down?

 

[Seatuck]

You can watch Mass on the internet or listen to it or download a podcast. It isn’t equal to a Mass or satisfy an obligation but it is a comfort sometimes.

I pretty much think your work is a grave reason to miss Mass and a short discussion with a priest should satisfy you of that.

Reading edifying books or movies might help fill your downtime.

Praying you are able to stay strong despite these times in the desert(ok, in the water , lol) you must endure.

 

[1ke]

I have recently returned to the Church after several years away. It feels good to be back home again.

I want to know what I should do about being unable to attend mass on Sundays while at work. I work offshore in the oilfield ( where I am right now actually,) Sometimes I am gone for 3 or 4 weeks at a time. Also there is not much fellowship out here with a lot of the people i work around very crude and into pornography. I spend more time praying and watching the waves than I have ever done.

Oh and I get time to read this forum.

Talk to your priest. He can give you suggestions, and likely has other offshore parishioners. Perhaps pray the Liturgy of the Hours, make private devotions like the Rosary, etc, while offshore.

Your priest will guide you.

God bless you for coming back to the church.

 

[jonnyws]

A Missal might help as well. At least that way you can read the readings for Mass. Divine office is also good and when I can’t get to mass I tend to watch one off of the internet.

 

[Unexpected_Dawn]

Welcome back home! I recently passed my 2nd anniversary of rejoining the Church! It’s soooo wonderful to be back!

As the other commenters have said, it is certainly not a moral problem for you to miss Mass under your circumstances. I would think that working on an oil rig would be a sacrifice that not just anyone can make, especially when you can’t really relate to the other people around you.

So, in addition to the other good suggestions you have been offered, you can also offer up your work and your situation to God as a personal sacrifice. I know He would not look unkindly upon that!

 

[felicity1]

Hi

I also work offshore - at sea, am in the merchant marine and am often away 3 - 3/12 months at a time. I am, let’s say, ‘in the process’’ of returning to the church, or trying to.
But some of the moments when i have felt God closest to me is when I am at sea and surrounded by the beauty of the ocean, it can be so peaceful and calming (and of course wild and violent!) - those are the times I could actually prayer, i find it difficult to do so at home.
So like what all the other people said, but also, I think we are both lucky in that we get to experience the peacefulness and beauty of being at sea that not many others do -think of all those sunrises you have seen and even the powerful strength the ocean can have!! All these things can make God seem even more close. And helps me to appreciate the beauty of the world around us.

 

[John_Lilburne]

A document on this is the 1988 Directory for Sunday Celebrations in the Absence of a Priest, by the Congregation for Divine Worship. Copies of it are on the internet and could be found at google.com. Perhaps this section is most relevant:

"32. When on a Sunday a celebration of the word of God along with the giving of holy communion is not possible, the faithful are strongly urged to devote themselves to prayer “for a suitable time either individually or with the family or, if possible, with a group of families.” [30] In these circumstances the telecast of liturgical services can provide useful assistance.

1. Particularly to be kept in mind is the possibility of celebrating some part of the liturgy of the hours, for example, morning prayer or evening prayer, during which the Sunday readings of the current year can be inserted. For “when the people are invited to the liturgy of the hours and come together in unity of heart and voice, they show forth the Church in its celebration of the mystery of Christ.” [31] At the end of such a celebration communion may be given (see no. 46)."

There is a stong emphasis on a group of people gathering.

 

[Sam_Morgan]

Thank you all for your advice. I will definitely speak with my pastor, when i get of this rust bucket. I had not thought of the Liturgy of the Hours but that seems like a great idea.

I would love to watch the mass but the computer i use has no sound and often i am sharing a internet connection with others.

I tried yesterday to watch EWTN in the TV room and, … well you should have heard the moans of the others aound.

I guess maybe there needs to be some outreach to workers out here.

I will continue to pray and be vigilent of my beliefs.

 

[water]

Thank you all for your advice. I will definitely speak with my pastor, when i get of this rust bucket. I had not thought of the Liturgy of the Hours but that seems like a great idea.

I would love to watch the mass but the computer i use has no sound and often i am sharing a internet connection with others.

I tried yesterday to watch EWTN in the TV room and, … well you should have heard the moans of the others aound.

I guess maybe there needs to be some outreach to workers out here.

I will continue to pray and be vigilent of my beliefs.

Sam, welcome home!

While you are asking for the priest’s permission, it would be great if you keep on praying to be able to attend Mass and be able to receive the Communion. Pray to have great desire for His Body and Blood, and He will provide you.

God bless.

PS; Catch me a Salmon while you are still out there.

 

[myers]

Dear Sam,
Welcome home! Just thought I’d let you know about another terrific website that was constructed for people as yourself. It’s called www.savior.org and is run by the Holy Spirit Sisters ( I think) in Pennsylvia. Anyway, they have a webcam set up in their perpetual adoration chapel so that Jesus’ eucharistic presence can be broadcast throughout the world especially people who do not have access to adoration. I know the site has been a blessing to me personally. I hope the Lord sends other committed Catholics into your life so that you can have some Christian fellowship. If you can’t get to mass, do speak to a priest about a dispensation, but try to make Sunday as holy a day as possible through extended prayer and defininately reading the Church’s Mass readings for the day. God Bless!!

 

[Sam_Morgan]

Dear Sam,
Welcome home! Just thought I’d let you know about another terrific website that was constructed for people as yourself. It’s called www.savior.org and is run by the Holy Spirit Sisters ( I think) in Pennsylvia. Anyway, they have a webcam set up in their perpetual adoration chapel so that Jesus’ eucharistic presence can be broadcast throughout the world especially people who do not have access to adoration. I know the site has been a blessing to me personally. I hope the Lord sends other committed Catholics into your life so that you can have some Christian fellowship. If you can’t get to mass, do speak to a priest about a dispensation, but try to make Sunday as holy a day as possible through extended prayer and defininately reading the Church’s Mass readings for the day. God Bless!!

Thank you so much this will be a great benefit to me. It is just what I was looking for.