Is it a sin if my kids miss Mass

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Suzid

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Hi
I am going on a catholic retreat this weekend
My husband is not Catholic so I take our children to Mass every Sunday. My question is this:
Should I leave the retreat early so I can get home and take my children to Mass , otherwise they won’t go or is it ok if they miss Mass and I stay on the retreat?
One of my children receives Communion. The other is too young.
There is Mass at the retreat
Thank you for any help.
 
Why can’t your husband take them?

If you were married in the Church, he agreed to raise them Catholic… this is part of that vow
 
I don’t know how you could enjoy Sunday at the retreat knowing your children were going to miss Mass. Is there possibly a late Sunday Mass you could take them to? When I have confessed to missing Mass, the priest will ask me if I made my children miss Mass as well on that occasion.
 
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Maximilian75 said:
Why can’t your husband take them?

If you were married in the Church, he agreed to raise them Catholic… this is part of that vow
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Not really. Non Catholic parties to a Catholic marriage are not required to agree in raising the children Catholic. They only state that they understand that the Catholic has an obligation to raise the children Catholic. An individual diocese or parish might require more but not the Church as a whole.
 
Godparents, neighbor, friend, CCD/RE teacher, surely someone will take your kids to Mass for you!
 
Suzid said:
Hi

Should I leave the retreat early so I can get home and take my children to Mass , otherwise they won’t go or is it ok if they miss Mass and I stay on the retreat?
One of my children receives Communion. The other is too young.
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I agree with the poster who said you should try to take at least the older child to Mass in the evening if there is one at your parish or at a nearby parish. Maybe you will still be there for part of Sunday but have to leave the retreat a bit early.
Does your older child have a Catholic friend who could give him/her a ride? How old is the younger child? He/she is generally not required to attend Mass until about age 7 but generally should be attending Mass once he/she is in primary school.
 
However, if no one will take your kids to Mass, here is my suggestion. Stop by Daily Mass one day this week, or make an appointment at the parish office. Tell Father “I am going to the blah blah retreat this weekend. Little Suzy will not be able to go to Mass. Would you please dispense her obligation?” This teaches your child that mass is important.
 
My children are only 8 and 9. They are too young and we attend Mass 26 miles from our home.
Thank you for your response.
 
Thank you. Unfortunately these are not options for me. My family live in Uk and my only friend lives 18 miles away and the church I attend is 26 miles from my home.
I just wanted to know the legality of my situation
Thank you
 
To answer your question, No.
If your kids don’t make it to Mass they are not sinning.

The bigger issue is to work out with your hubby a practical arrangement that can support the faith of the family, for the good of the children.
 
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I believe your pastor can give you a dispensation from having your children attend that Sunday if you ask.
 
Yes maybe so depending on the circumstances.
In the long run, it’s good for a couple to cooperate in situations that are inconvenient. We all have 'em. And we all grumble about it, but from my point of view “happy wife, happy life”.
 
Suzid said:
Should I leave the retreat early so I can get home and take my children to Mass , otherwise they won’t go or is it ok if they miss Mass and I stay on the retreat?
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This is a question for your pastor, not strangers on the internet.

If your husband will not take them, then your child who is over the age or reason is not committing any sin. He/she cannot take himself/herself to mass.

It’s not reasonable that you be with your kids every second of every day, or every weekend if travel or other things take you away. If you cannot make provisions for a ride to mass, that’s the way it is sometimes. You should discuss it with your pastor, but he can dispense the obligation if nothing else.

Your child who is below the age of reason has no mass obligation.
 
Yes. Maybe she SHOULD ask her priest.
Children who don’t drive are not culpable.
And yes, he will likely allow them to come with mama on a weekday.
Some fathers are not at all keen on “helping out” with regard to faith.
 
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