Is it a mortal sin that I missed Mass because of necessary work?

[HungerNThirst4R]

I recently started a job working overnight (11pm-9am) in a group home for developmentally disabled individuals. I worked Saturday night into Sunday morning and figured I’d be able to attend Mass at 11am. Unfortunately an emergency occurred and I ended up having to go to the emergency room with one of the residents from about 5:30am-12:30pm because my relief never came and we are not allowed to leave the residents alone unless they are admitted. I didn’t get home until 1 pm and was so sleep deprived I slept until 9:30pm, when I had to get up to get ready for my next shift. Is it a sin that I missed Sunday Mass (mortal or venial)? Would I need to go to confession before receiving the Eucharist? This will not be a weekly occurrence, and I plan to start going to Mass Saturday night before work just in case this ever happens again. The reason why I am unsure about this is MT 12, specifically ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’. So if I go to daily Mass this morning can I receive the Eucharist?

 

[Fr.Charles_Grondin]

Catechism of the Catholic Church:

**2181 **The Sunday Eucharist is the foundation and confirmation of all Christian practice. For this reason the faithful are obliged to participate in the Eucharist on days of obligation, unless excused for a serious reason (for example, illness, the care of infants) or dispensed by their own pastor.

There are only two examples listed but they are not the exhaustive list of “season reasons” that one might be excused from their Sunday obligation. The care of infants is mentioned explicitly, clearly the individuals in the group home are not an infants but the general idea is that someone who has the responsibility to care for another may be excused from the Sunday obligation if their caregiver responsibilities reasonably prohibit their attendance at Sunday Mass.

You are not sinning by fulfilling your responsibilities as a caregiver. In fact, it would have been sinful to abandon your responsibilities to these individuals.