Leaving Mass early.

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There are definitely differences between parishes, and between countries in this.

In Dublin This was a big issue, with large numbers of people rushing out… Since I cam to England, I only see a few people doing it.

I think I’ve dashed out ahead of the priest on 1 or 2 occasions in my life, and because there was some pressing need. (I don’t count dashing to the crying room (in my case that’s the church hall) or loo to deal with my baby or toddler in this - that’s a necessary part of having little ones at mass.)
 
When I was a kid I remember a young assoc Pastor running out to the parking lot after Communion to bring the people back in. I cannot recall if he got anyone to come back in.

I also remember mom allowing us to close our hymnals until the last note was played.
 
agw123 said:
Well not to be blunt, but Mass is over when the priest or deacon says “The Mass is Over, Go in Peace to Love and Serve the Lord” or something similar and you response is “Thanks be to God”.

Any singing/recessional afterwards is technically not part of the Mass.
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Perhaps, but what is courteous? The couple had no right to be irritated that someone wanted to sing the closing hymn. Frankly, I find people who zip out the door before the recessional is over to be rude.
 
WingsOfEagles said:
Perhaps, but what is courteous? The couple had no right to be irritated that someone wanted to sing the closing hymn. Frankly, I find people who zip out the door before the recessional is over to be rude.
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The poster said that she was annoyed that people were leaving early during the closing hymn and she told them Mass wasnt over. Mass was over before the closing hymn even started.

Yes I wouldnt leave until the recessional is over, but the poster doesnt say if the priest walked out already and they were on verse 4 of the hymn or verse 1.
 
I too have left early in the past, usually because I was not feeling well, but I can also admit to feeling that I was having a busy day and wanted to get started on it. Definitely something I’m not proud of but it never happens anymore. If I exit the Church before the recessional now it’s either because I’m volunteering for something that requires me to be in the foyer while the other parishioners are leaving or I’m not well.
 
Reading some of these posts I wonder what has happened to common sense. A few people are quoting technicalities like when the Deacon says what or where the Priest was when or what verse was being sung? If you stop and think about it doesn’t that all seem silly. I mean you just received the Lord into your body, the same God who if he stopped thinking of you for even a split second, you would cease to exist. How is anything other than a major medical, life or death ie. serious issue more important than your Lord? You can’t make it 5 more minutes? A football game, a good seat for breakfast? Really? And yes it’s quite chilly way up here on this high horse but c’mon really, this should be a no brainier, of course it’s rude to eat and run. I think common sense dictates here.
 
odile53 said:
Part of the problem at my parish is, after Mass, people don’t either spend some quiet time with the Lord, or leave the nave. Nope, they hang around and chat full volume so that people who do want to pray or meditate after Mass find the distraction irritable. I’m not saying they should receive communion and sneak out, I just wish they’d quiet down!
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LOL-- the same thing happens at my church! It’s social hour in the aisles between pews as soon as the priest is out the back door-- sometimes as the last few bars of a hymn are still being played. :rolleyes:

But, back to the topic at hand, yes, there are quite a few who disappear after communion in my parish, too. On rare occasion I have had to leave early myself (daughter with a chronic health condition) and I’ve always felt terribly guilty, so I don’t understand the ones who leave early every single week.
 
We have a larger issue with people coming late than leaving early, but I think that’s because we’re in a tourist area. People aren’t from around here, have no idea how long it takes to get there or have trouble finding the Church. It can be distracting, but I have to give folks credit for making the effort to get there while on holiday. Not that many people do that these days.

We do have the post-liturgy chat fest though. Staying after Mass to pray means you will learn way more about your fellow parishioners lives than you probably want to.
 
Seeker1961 said:
We have a larger issue with people coming late than leaving early, but I think that’s because we’re in a tourist area. People aren’t from around here, have no idea how long it takes to get there or have trouble finding the Church. It can be distracting, but I have to give folks credit for making the effort to get there while on holiday. Not that many people do that these days.

We do have the post-liturgy chat fest though. Staying after Mass to pray means you will learn way more about your fellow parishioners lives than you probably want to.
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Yes, late is an issue too, but at least with a little late, we can give the benefit of the doubt that there was an issue on the way to Mass/they got lost/accidentally overslept because they are in a different time zone, etc. We can give the benefit of the doubt that someone is leaving Mass because they don’t feel that well, but most unfortunately are just ready to leave.
 
My Pastor has quit wasting his breath on things like this–he says it doesn’t do any good and he has better things to do. People that have this habit (not including ones who have a good reason to leave early) will not change. I don’t blame him, and I don’t even pay attention any more as to who leaves.
 
There can be valid reasons for leaving early due to children and illness issues, and when the final blessing is given and the Mass is declared “…ended go in peace to love and serve the LORD.” then beyond that point it is pure manners and how you were raised as to whether you decide to remain through the last song, or to respect the presence of the Priest and not to exit before he exits, but at that point, the Mass has ended.

However, for those who do indeed on a regular or permanent basis leave the Mass before the final blessing and directly from the communion line to the parking lot, they violate the first commandment as an early “convenient” exit on a regular basis is placing GOD second to and behind their wants, and is not loving GOD with their whole, mind, heart, body and soul.

There are many people proclaiming “LORD, LORD”, who will not enter the Kingdom, as JESUS teaches us.
 
One time at my church right before the priest gave the blessing, I saw in the corner of my eye a few people leaving. The priest did not say it, but the words came up in my head. I think it would be funny for the priest to say, “Hey! Where are you guys going?” lol I know the situation is sad, but I thought that was funny.
 
A couple weeks ago we had a family clamor in just after the Sign of Peace. A couple kneeled, the rest remained standing just outside one of the front pews. After Communion, they walked right out. I was pretty flabbergasted, but most people I mentioned this to said, “Well, at least they came to Mass.” 🤷
 
Gordon_Sims said:
A couple weeks ago we had a family clamor in just after the Sign of Peace. A couple kneeled, the rest remained standing just outside one of the front pews. After Communion, they walked right out. I was pretty flabbergasted, but most people I mentioned this to said, “Well, at least they came to Mass.” 🤷
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Wow, I’d be embarrassed to walk in that late, but if I did, you can sure bet I wouldn’t be walking out again until the very end of Mass. I can’t believe they walked way up to the front pews that late into Mass either (kind of disruptive). Strange. 🤷
 
agw123 said:
Well not to be blunt, but Mass is over when the priest or deacon says “The Mass is Over, Go in Peace to Love and Serve the Lord” or something similar and you response is “Thanks be to God”.

Any singing/recessional afterwards is technically not part of the Mass.
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BINGO ! …i at least wait till father has left the nave and is in the entryway.
 
ericboutin said:
Reading some of these posts I wonder what has happened to common sense. A few people are quoting technicalities like when the Deacon says what or where the Priest was when or what verse was being sung? If you stop and think about it doesn’t that all seem silly. I mean you just received the Lord into your body, the same God who if he stopped thinking of you for even a split second, you would cease to exist. How is anything other than a major medical, life or death ie. serious issue more important than your Lord? You can’t make it 5 more minutes? A football game, a good seat for breakfast? Really? And yes it’s quite chilly way up here on this high horse but c’mon really, this should be a no brainier, of course it’s rude to eat and run. I think common sense dictates here.
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Part of the issue in some parishes is that Mass goes over the 1 hr mark and with masses scheduled close together, you have people coming and going at the same time. In my Church this causes a traffic jam.

My point in saying Mass is over when the priest or deacon says it is, is because the poster responded to 2 people during the closing hymn that Mass isnt over. It was over, the GIRM says so. :confused:
 
Gordon_Sims said:
A couple weeks ago we had a family clamor in just after the Sign of Peace. A couple kneeled, the rest remained standing just outside one of the front pews. After Communion, they walked right out. I was pretty flabbergasted, but most people I mentioned this to said, “Well, at least they came to Mass.” 🤷
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People who make such comments have no idea why we actually attend the Mass. It’s not primarily to receive Holy Communion.
 
agw123 said:
Part of the issue in some parishes is that Mass goes over the 1 hr mark and with masses scheduled close together, you have people coming and going at the same time. In my Church this causes a traffic jam.

My point in saying Mass is over when the priest or deacon says it is, is because the poster responded to 2 people during the closing hymn that Mass isnt over. It was over, the GIRM says so. :confused:
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Then change the schedule.
 
The main entrance to my parish can be viewed from an outdoor cafe. I have done that a few times while having dinner on Saturday nights.

It’s amazing how many stroll into Mass for the first 20 minutes of its celebration. Yes, there are also a small handful that run to be in their pews on time and that’s great to see but the casual strolling is appalling.

It’s very sad how generations of Catholic pastors have turned their backs on this sort of stuff. I suspect the #1 reason for this sort of thing is pastor apathy. #2 is horrid cathchesis.
 
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