How Far is Too Far to Travel for Mass?

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I’ve heard of people traveling great distances to attend a traditional mass. I’m blessed to have at least four parishes that offer the EF within 1.5 hours of me.

However, I’ve heard so many wonderful things about FSSP parishes, and I want to visit one. This parish is completely devoted to the EF. Also, if possible, I’d like to get confirmed using the older rite and maybe that’s what they do.

The closest FSSP to me is in Jersey. If I use public transportation, it would take me almost 2.5 hours one way.

How far is too far?

Have any of you traveled farther consistently to attend a reverent EF or OF Mass?

– I am perfectly aware I don’t need to travel this far and that it is not required of me.
– Please… no litanies about how I am focusing on the form instead of the mass.

I’m interested in hearing about some of your experiences. 🙂

Thanks.

Disclaimer: Both the EF and OF are valid and it’s perfectly fine to prefer one over the other.
 
I travel about 40 minutes to reach my FSSP chapel. I guess you can travel as far as you like, but its good to be part of parish life and you will limit that by choosing the church furthest away from you.
 
Danquayle76 said:
I travel about 40 minutes to reach my FSSP chapel. I guess you can travel as far as you like, but its good to be part of parish life and you will limit that by choosing the church furthest away from you.
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Good point.

It takes me about 1.25 - 1.5 hours to get to my current parish.
 
I gotta agree with the other poster. Sometimes the only reason i’m at church is because it’s only 5 minutes away.

We are human and our faith will not always be on fire. It seems like you are in a high point in your spiritual life but unfortunately that will not always be the case. There will be days in which you will have to drag yourself out of bed to go to Mass or barely make it to the last Mass of the day.

That is impossible if the parish you choose is so far away. Also after you come in to the church you will probably want to join a ministry and how can you volunteer your time if it’s a chore to get there? There are weeks in which I’m asked to help in one or other activity 3 or 4 days out of the week. The only reason i can is because i live very close.

God Bless you always
 
How about 2 hours and 15 minutes each way? Only once a month though. Can’t afford more right now. However we are now doing a TLM once a month within 15 minutes of my house (once a month). So that helps.
 
I think its relative to each person. One who has limited mobility, 1 kilometer would be too far. But if you’re young, have the time, have a car, have lots of money (gas is not cheap these days) then you can do entire day trips every Sunday to something 3-5 hours away if you want.
 
I was driving 200 km one way (I’m a student with no money, so I saved money by eating only two meals/day) to attend an FSSP Mass and go for Confession on Saturday evenings. It really sucked sometimes on Saturdays given that I was in mountains, so I would drive there in beautiful weather, but by the time I’m done at the church, there’d be a blizzard and I’d be driving home on a highway I couldn’t even see!
 
rben20 said:
Wow you make this trip every Sunday? Unfortunately for me the closest one is 2 hours away. Used to be just 35 minutes 😦
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It sounds like a lot, but it really isn’t. It takes me 1.5 hours to get to work every day. It really is just the commute from one NYC borough to another. I take the train and bus every day.
 
Guess I’m blessed. One about 3 minutes away, one about 5 minutes away, and two others about 15 minutes away. And one about 20 minutes away,

I’d be willing to drive 45 minutes each way though.
 
At_Trent said:
Guess I’m blessed. One about 3 minutes away, one about 5 minutes away, and two others about 15 minutes away. And one about 20 minutes away,

I’d be willing to drive 45 minutes each way though.
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Lucky, luck.

I have churches in me, but none that celebrate the EF and none that even have a reverent OF. It just occurred to me though, that there is one more that I haven’t visited. It is about an hour away in the same borough. They offer an EF at 9:30. I must go visit it.
 
stanncie said:
That is impossible if the parish you choose is so far away. Also after you come in to the church you will probably want to join a ministry and how can you volunteer your time if it’s a chore to get there? There are weeks in which I’m asked to help in one or other activity 3 or 4 days out of the week. The only reason i can is because i live very close.
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You’re right. I would want to join a ministry and I’d always have to worry about the time and getting home.
 
Well, i think you who has these parishes so close are lucky. Where i live, there is a church 45 mins away that offers the traditional latin mass on the second and fourth sunday in a month (not in the holiday time though - july) and we have no FSSP or such.

I am greatful for what we have and miss going to the old mass so much now.
 
I have traveled about 1.5 hours both times to go to the EF Masses as none are local to me. But I have a good car and most of the distance is by expressway to get to them. In winter, I am less likely to go that far unless I know the weather will stay good for traveling back and forth that far.

My local parish that offers OF is only 5 minutes or so by car which is good. I do have a few other local parishes with OF within 15 minutes driving distance if the traffic is light.
 
I don’t know, I can’t even imagine a 90 minute commute to work daily. I find that crazy. I would move if I had to travel that far for work or for mass. I’m in the midst of planning my 3rd out of state move since I started attending mass and each time the first priority has been proximity to the EF.
 
My goodness, I feel ashamed of even considering the extra 10 minutes drive before switching parishes! All of you are a great inspiration!
 
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