Leaving straight after mass

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Could you volunteer to close up the Church. I have been on the other side of this. I don’t want to close up minutes after Mass. (I wouldn’t start turning down lights at least till I was done in the sacristy. But she may feel she has to send the message early to start getting people out of the door.
 
You should be able to stay in the church as long as you want. Most doors are set locked that people may not get in from outside, but may get out from inside at any time.
 
Well, that’s a good point. Unless they insist on setting the alarm, I don’t see why you can’t just remain after they lock the doors.
 
maltmom said:
If I were you I’d speak to my Priest about this. He may not be aware that you and others are being rushed out after Mass. He may be in agreement to keep the church open for 10 or 15 mins after Mass for those who wish to pray.
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This would be my suggestion, and I totally agree that being “rushed” after Mass is absolutely uncalled for. I would suggest speaking to the priest and asking if there can be accommodations made. Especially if there are doors in the Church which can be opened from the inside when said doors are locked, this woman’s reaction is even more uncalled for. To take a quote from the Mass - “it is right and just” to give thanks and praise, no matter when it is. Heck, the response used to be “it is right to give Him thanks and praise” before 2011 or whatever. Though I am well aware praying after Mass is not necessarily what is being spoken of at this point in the Mass, I like to personally extend that response to say, “It is right and just to give thanks and praise after Mass for the blessings and graces we have received.” I have never experienced it myself, but I have been told that it used to be common practice to stay and make a Thanksgiving after Mass, and I hope and pray this can become a common practice again.

Oh, I said never - well, actually, I do remember one time I experienced it - I attended a FSSP parish somewhat recently for a Sunday Mass, and when the Recessional Hymn was finished, almost literally everyone stayed put, knelt down, and made their Thanksgiving while listening to the organ postlude. Many even stayed after the postlude was completed. And this was all with the knowledge/allure of coffee and doughnuts type fellowship waiting for them downstairs…haha 🙂 I thought it was all wonderful and…well…“right and just” 😃

Not to say that not doing so is wrong - just that doing so is appropriate and should not be discouraged in any way. I hope you are able to speak with your priest about this!
 
Heck, the response used to be “it is right to give Him thanks and praise” before 2011 or whatever.
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Wow! That’s the Common Worship response (modern Church of England liturgy). I still hear that in my head from time to time at that point in the Mass, along with the BCP “It is meet and right so to do”.

I’m very glad neither my parish nor any other of the parishes I sometimes attend for “extra Masses” rush to lock up afterwards. Best of all is when the church is also open for plenty of time before Mass. Saturday Vigils are nice in this way, confession is before hand so I know the church will be open from about 5:15, Mass at 6:00. Confession, Rosary, silent prayer, Mass, a little prayer time after Mass, no one rushing anyone. Perfect.
 
I can totally relate to the OP and I’m from the UK. My parish does the exact same, the only time it’s open all day is when we are doing 40 Hours Adoration. I too would love to spend a bit more time with Jesus after Mass everyday. I usually spend a bit more time with the Lord after Sunday Mass but it’s usually just me and the priest. Don’t seem to understand people’s need to hurry out the door immediately after Mass.

Wish our parish would stay open longer.
 
I lock up on Saturdays after the vigil Mass. Our doors have the panic bars that allow people to exit the building, but will not allow anyone to enter. I lock the doors and, if someone is still praying, I leave the lights on low and quietly ask them to make sure they pull the door closed when they leave. I will go back later and turn off the lights and make sure the doors are closed.

Our church is also unlocked until 4:30 during the week.
 
I would try any of the following:
  1. Volunteer to close up if you can. If others are regularly trying to stay longer too and can do so more reliably, maybe they can help.
  2. Talk to the priest about whether there is a way you can exit the church after it’s been locked up. I imagine that would be the most polite/least awkward way of bringing up your being rushed.
  3. This is only a partial solution: Maybe attending dedicated Eucharistic adoration at least once a week, if you aren’t already, is something for you. I imagine you’re in the zone, so to speak, after Mass, and that there is a daily component to this prayer, but you might not feel like you need as much time if you spent an hour or more with the Blessed Sacrament per week. (On the flipside, people who have that kind of relationship with God are also pretty good at praying for a long time regularly - so I suppose it could make your problem worse, so to speak.)
 
Be thankful you have a place for daily Mass. Be considerate and leave so she can lock up. Pray on your way back to work.
 
pianistclare said:
That was my thought as well. Why is the church locked all day??? :confused:

you can’t complain that Catholics don’t visit the Blessed Sacrament if you keep the doors locked. that’s awful.
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It used to be that if you were travelling you could drop by and visit churches in all communities. Nowadays, unless it’s a tourist attraction you are most likely going to find the church locked up unless the paris office is there and someone is working. I think much of it has to do with insurance.

The door to our own church is locked up as soon as most of the people have left after Mass. Although the choir may be rehearsing and other people may still be around doing various tasks, you’re going to bang your nose against the door if you try to get back in there to retrieve forgotten gloves or missal. It’s annoying but the elderly man, who sees it as his responsibility just wants to get out of there ASAP.
 
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