Mass at the neighboring Parish

  • Thread starter Thread starter PrayPsalm51
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
P

PrayPsalm51

Guest
I hope you can help me sort something out. We attend the same Sunday Mass at our Parish without fail every week. We have two priests and honestly, we prefer one over the other. We don’t discuss this with our kids or complain–though that priest is fairly unpopular here. When I have the opportunity to go to an extra Mass like on a weekday etc. would it be wrong to go to the next Parish over? I have tried for years to offer it up and find some way to get past the person and focus on the Sacrifice. I go out of my way to offer kindness outside ofMass to this priest, offering rides, bringing food, and an occasional errand but I can’t get past the way he celebrates Mass and for ME makes the focus about him. If I go to an “extra” Mass shouldn’t I go where I will be “fed” OR is it sinful to not be able to get past this?
 
That’s one of the reasons I like Catholicism. I can go to Mass anywhere and the Mass is going to be pretty much the same- same readings, same Eucharist, same prayers.

To be honest, I have no idea what my technical parish is, my Archdiocese doesn’t seem to care. And I regularly attend about 3 churches. One is our registered parish (and I know we’re not in their boundaries) but sometimes Mass times work better for us to go to another parish. 🤷
 
PrayPsalm51 said:
I hope you can help me sort something out. We attend the same Sunday Mass at our Parish without fail every week. We have two priests and honestly, we prefer one over the other. We don’t discuss this with our kids or complain–though that priest is fairly unpopular here. When I have the opportunity to go to an extra Mass like on a weekday etc. would it be wrong to go to the next Parish over? I have tried for years to offer it up and find some way to get past the person and focus on the Sacrifice. I go out of my way to offer kindness outside ofMass to this priest, offering rides, bringing food, and an occasional errand but I can’t get past the way he celebrates Mass and for ME makes the focus about him. If I go to an “extra” Mass shouldn’t I go where I will be “fed” OR is it sinful to not be able to get past this?
Click to expand...
By all means, go someplace else for daily Mass.

In fact, if your children are involved, I would suggest that you seriously examine your parish’s CCD program (or religion class if they are going to that parish’s parochial school). The reason being that a lackadaisical attitude toward the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass may be an indicator of something far more serious. I would say that this applies doubly if the priest in question is the pastor.

Remember that you are ultimately accountable before God for your children’s formation, not the parish priest, not the religious education teacher, not the parochial school:

…parents have been appointed by God Himself as the first and principal educators of their children and that their right is completely inalienable.

- John Paul II, Apostolic Exhortation, Familiaris Consortio
​
 
MessyMom said:
I can go to Mass anywhere and the Mass is going to be pretty much the same- same readings, same Eucharist, same prayers.
Click to expand...
You could go anywhere but it may be in a different language, and if you attend the old Latin Mass or Divine Liturgy, you will probably have different readings and prayers.
 
Hah… I drive by 3 closer Catholic parishes to get to my own each Sunday.
 
PrayPsalm51 said:
I hope you can help me sort something out. We attend the same Sunday Mass at our Parish without fail every week. We have two priests and honestly, we prefer one over the other. We don’t discuss this with our kids or complain–though that priest is fairly unpopular here. When I have the opportunity to go to an extra Mass like on a weekday etc. would it be wrong to go to the next Parish over? I have tried for years to offer it up and find some way to get past the person and focus on the Sacrifice. I go out of my way to offer kindness outside ofMass to this priest, offering rides, bringing food, and an occasional errand but I can’t get past the way he celebrates Mass and for ME makes the focus about him. If I go to an “extra” Mass shouldn’t I go where I will be “fed” OR is it sinful to not be able to get past this?
Click to expand...
you are free to attend Mass at any parish. Many people attend a daily Mass that isn’t in their regular parish do to a variety of reasons. I think that it is commendable that you offer assistance to the priest that you don’t prefer as much. I would caution about talking about him to others in the parish. The reason i say that is because of your comment that he isn’t as well liked. Even if there is talk, I would stay away from it.
 
The daily Mass in my parish is at 6:45 a.m. I attend an 8:00 a.m. Mass in a neighboring parish. When I worked, I attended a 7:00 a.m. Mass at a church close to my office because that was the one that worked for my schedule. If we plan to go to dinner with my DD and her family, we’ll often attend the Saturday vigil in her parish church.

I find something to appreciate in whatever parish I attend, whether it be an especially gifted homilist, a cantor with a beautiful voice, an especially reverent celebrant, or something else. There’s no reason to attend a Mass that does not aid in a lifting your heart to God.
 
Thank You Everyone
I appreciate all the comments and will take them to heart. I will continue to search for his gifts on Sundays when he celebrates the Mass we attend but will attend another weekday Mass with less guilt.
 
PrayPsalm51 said:
Thank You Everyone
I appreciate all the comments and will take them to heart. I will continue to search for his gifts on Sundays when he celebrates the Mass we attend but will attend another weekday Mass with less guilt.
Click to expand...
There should be absolutely no guilt in attending Mass anywhere. Just sayin…

(And spread the word. 🙂 )
 
I was the same way with my former pastor. If you feel like you are not getting the most out of Mass due to this priest’s attitude, then go somewhere else. I don’t attend my “technical” parish but another one probably about ten more minutes down the road. I never have attended that parish for a Mass. You can go anywhere.
 
=PrayPsalm51;11841691]I hope you can help me sort something out. We attend the same Sunday Mass at our Parish without fail every week. We have two priests and honestly, we prefer one over the other. We don’t discuss this with our kids or complain–though that priest is fairly unpopular here. When I have the opportunity to go to an extra Mass like on a weekday etc. would it be wrong to go to the next Parish over? I have tried for years to offer it up and find some way to get past the person and focus on the Sacrifice. I go out of my way to offer kindness outside ofMass to this priest, offering rides, bringing food, and an occasional errand but I can’t get past the way he celebrates Mass and for ME makes the focus about him. If I go to an “extra” Mass shouldn’t I go where I will be “fed” OR is it sinful to not be able to get past this?
Click to expand...
Is it “wrong”? NO!

That said, its important to realize that the Mass is for Divine Worship. So long as this disliked priest is not in some way invalidating the Mass; then there would be extra grace for you to attend in your own parish and DO offer it up by specific intent.:rolleyes:

How “we feel” is the least relevant thing about the Mass so long as we are focused on Divine Worship. 🙂

God Bless you. IF however the priest is causing you to be seriously distracted from Divine Worship; then going to a neighboring parish is a good idea.👍

God Bless you,
Patrick
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top