Is it Okay to Attend Weekday Mass at a Different Parish

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Cassaba

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I am a recently confirmed Catholic. I have been attending my parish church regularly for 5 years, including 4-1/2 years before I converted. I went through RCIA there, volunteer there and am very happy to be a member. Recently, I have felt the urge to attend weekday Mass. Maybe not every day, but at least 1 or 2 days a week. The problem is, my work schedule does not permit it at my parish, where weekday Mass is at 8:15 AM. There are 2 other parishes nearby that hold 7:15 AM weekday Masses, which I could attend. Would it be improper for me to regularly attend a weekday Mass at another parish? Should I tell anyone (i.e., priest) what I am doing? If I begin attending weekday Mass elsewhere, should I make a financial contribution to the parish? I already tithe at my own parish.

The reason I bring this up is because I was talking to a woman at work who belongs to one of the other parishes. Her parish recently lost its priest and now shares a priest. As a result, weekend Mass times changed at both of the affected churches. She made a comment about “church hoppers” who started coming to “her” church because they liked the Mass time better. This made me feel uncomfortable. I thought we are all members of The Church and would be welcomed at any parish.

Thanks in advance.
 
Sure, it’s OK! I live in the suburbs and drive into the City every day in time for 7:00 a.m. Mass. There is no way I could attend the early Mass at my home parish and make it to the office on time.
 
You should not have to expain anything to anybody. I am not knowledgeable about inter parish politics as I have mostly lived in one parish towns, but it sounds like this lady that talked about church-hopping is out of line.
  • Kathie
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Hi Cassaba,

Please disregard the ‘Church Hoppers’ remark. You may always feel free to go to any parish you want, anytime you want.

Many, many people are members at one parish and attend daily mass at another. The situation you describe, driving to work, is not at all uncommon. One of the beautiful things about our Church is no matter where in the world you go, the order of the Mass is the same. (more or less.) The readings and Gospel are the same. Even in a different country, it’s still the same.

You just keep going to daily mass, as you see fit and where you see fit. Don’t worry what that woman has to say.

Peace.
 
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Cassaba:
I am a recently confirmed Catholic. I have been attending my parish church regularly for 5 years, including 4-1/2 years before I converted. I went through RCIA there, volunteer there and am very happy to be a member. Recently, I have felt the urge to attend weekday Mass. Maybe not every day, but at least 1 or 2 days a week. The problem is, my work schedule does not permit it at my parish, where weekday Mass is at 8:15 AM. There are 2 other parishes nearby that hold 7:15 AM weekday Masses, which I could attend. Would it be improper for me to regularly attend a weekday Mass at another parish? Should I tell anyone (i.e., priest) what I am doing? If I begin attending weekday Mass elsewhere, should I make a financial contribution to the parish? I already tithe at my own parish.

The reason I bring this up is because I was talking to a woman at work who belongs to one of the other parishes. Her parish recently lost its priest and now shares a priest. As a result, weekend Mass times changed at both of the affected churches. She made a comment about “church hoppers” who started coming to “her” church because they liked the Mass time better. This made me feel uncomfortable. I thought we are all members of The Church and would be welcomed at any parish.

Thanks in advance.
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Feel free to attend that church which is more convenient. And I would not feel obligated to make an additional financial contribution since you already support your own parish.

The “church hopping” comment was out of order and rude. There are many people who attend an Mass at a church other than their own parish on occassion for various reasons. We should not judge. Geez … last weekend I went to 3 different churchs (1 was my parish)!
 
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MaryAgnes:
Feel free to attend that church which is more convenient. And I would not feel obligated to make an additional financial contribution since you already support your own parish.

The “church hopping” comment was out of order and rude. There are many people who attend an Mass at a church other than their own parish on occassion for various reasons. We should not judge. Geez … last weekend I went to 3 different churchs (1 was my parish)!
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Although MaryAgnes is correct that an additional financial obligation does not apply, I try to pop a couple of bucks into the poor box . . .
 
I have 6 different parishes in the area that I have attended Mass during the week. 2 are 6:30 AM Mass, one is 12 Noon (the Parish I belong to) and the others are parished that have a PM Mass one day a week. In fact, the parish that has the Thrusday Evening Mass I especially enjoy since they usually use Chant for the Sanctus and the Lamb of God.

You do not have to explain anything to the woman. Mass is open to ALL PRACTICING CATHOLICS no matter what parish they belong to. It is not “her parish”, it belongs to the Church which includes you.

PF
 
Rest assured that you are welcome to attend daily Mass where ever you are able to work it into your schedule. Attending consistantly at the same Parish, even if it’s a neighboring one, has it’s advantages, as you become known to the community and perhaps can even be called upon to assist, if the need arises. You are under no obligation to tell anyone you will be attending, but neither do you need to avoid sharing that you’ve felt drawn to attending daily Mass if the subject comes up around your Pastor. As your Pastor, he should be happy to hear that you’re drawing ever closer to Christ, as evidenced by your growing affinity for receiving the Eucharist.

God Bless you as you continue to grow in his love,

CARose
 
It is a great thing to attend daily Mass so I would urge you to go and ignore the “church hopping” comments.
 
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WanderAimlessly:
I have 6 different parishes in the area that I have attended Mass during the week. 2 are 6:30 AM Mass, one is 12 Noon (the Parish I belong to) and the others are parished that have a PM Mass one day a week. In fact, the parish that has the Thrusday Evening Mass I especially enjoy since they usually use Chant for the Sanctus and the Lamb of God.

You do not have to explain anything to the woman. Mass is open to ALL PRACTICING CATHOLICS no matter what parish they belong to. It is not “her parish”, it belongs to the Church which includes you.

PF
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It might be appropriate to broaden this further: Mass (although not Holy Communion) is open to all persons whether they are practicing or nonpracticing Catholics, other Christians or faiths or no religion at all as long as they are respectful of our beliefs. That might not be true of other religions, but it is true for Catholic masses.
 
I was just going to say, Mass is open to ALL (it’s the reception of the Eucharist that’s only for Catholics in a state of grace), when Confiteor beat me to it.

I have to travel at times, and when I was a full time tech, I traveled A LOT. If I waited until I was home, I would’ve never gone!!!

I go to the 7 AM Mass at our parish church most mornings. However, there is actually 2 earlier ones in nearby parishes. On Saturdays, when our parish doens’t offer Mass until 5 PM, there’s also a nearby abbey. And when I’m in the Loop, there’s St. Peter’s and Old St. Patrick’s, with more Masses than you could believe.

So, by all means, GO! And please forgive and forget the “Church Hopper” lady. I am sure there’s plenty of room and you are not taking anybody’s space that early in the morning.
 
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Confiteor:
It might be appropriate to broaden this further: Mass (although not Holy Communion) is open to all persons whether they are practicing or nonpracticing Catholics, other Christians or faiths or no religion at all as long as they are respectful of our beliefs. That might not be true of other religions, but it is true for Catholic masses.
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Yes. You are correct and I stand corrected.

PF
 
As other people have said, you are welcome to attend any church, particularly on a weekday.

While I would say you are not required to financially support any parish (other than your own as you are able) it would certainly be gracious to occasionally contribute to any church you are attending. Weekday Masses (as well as Sunday Masses) cost the hosting parish money (for lighting, heating, air conditioning, rent-a-priest fees, communion supplies, water, janitorial support, insurance…) Who knows? Perhaps the rude lady who made those remarks about church hopping is bookkeeper at that parish and has to figure out how to pay for everything.

Sorry… I didn’t mean to come down hard on you. I previously worked for my parish and now work for a company that provides financial software for parishes so I know money CAN be an issue.
 
Thank you everyone for your replies. You have convinced me that it is fine (and good) to attend weekday Mass at other churches! 🙂
 
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Cassaba:
She made a comment about “church hoppers” who started coming to “her” church because they liked the Mass time better. This made me feel uncomfortable. I thought we are all members of The Church and would be welcomed at any parish.
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It’s fine to go to a different Mass time- that’s why parishes have different Mass times- they could just standardize them and have all Masses at 8am, but that would prevent a lot of people from going. I also see her point. If half the people there are just ‘passing through’, and they don’t support the parish at all, then they’re using the parish and not showing appreciation- they should at least contribute to the collection plate once in awhile. Also, in parishes like this people leave Mass and never see each other again, so most of the people who go to Mass there are not members of the parish community (community is important- though it cannot replace reverence or orthodoxy- ever).
 
I think a person should always contribute when they attend a different church. When you go to another church on Sunday, don’t forget your make up envelope when you return to your parish.
 
I tend to go to 2 different churches during a 7 day period. One I go to during the week because they offer a noon Mass. The other one I go to on the weekend because its not as packed. When it comes to giving my offereing though, I only give to the Church I’m a member at. Probably something I don’t have to do, but do it anyway.
 
I do all the time. Not only does my work schedule not allow me to attend daily Mass at my own parish (8AM, whereby I’m already at work), I travel a lot on my job and I’m not even in town most of the time. Masstimes.org is a great site to find out Mass times in various communities, but it’s a good idea to call the rectory first because sometimes the info is incorrect.
 
I’ve been to daily Mass at different Church’s all over America, and I don’t remember one of them ever taking up a collection at the daily Mass, however, when I go to Mass at another Parish on Sunday’s I always contribute. Like an earlier poster said, sometimes, they only have a “poor box” or something similar, and that is a good place to help out too. (anyway, yes, you can go to any Mass anywhere, anytime you want.)
 
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allhers:
I’ve been to daily Mass at different Church’s all over America, and I don’t remember one of them ever taking up a collection at the daily Mass, however, when I go to Mass at another Parish on Sunday’s I always contribute. Like an earlier poster said, sometimes, they only have a “poor box” or something similar, and that is a good place to help out too. (anyway, yes, you can go to any Mass anywhere, anytime you want.)
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I go to the Cathedral here on weekdays and they have a collection.
 
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