Mass being held in the Sacristy instead of in the Sanctuary

[Tracy24]

This has been eating at me and I do intend to bring it up with the Priest this coming Sunday but I have to ask for advice/opinions.

I’m a new Catholic and I am wondering if holding a weekday Mass in the Sacristy is an acceptable practice?
I dropped my daughter off at school yesterday morning and went next door to the church for morning Mass, the Sanctuary did seem unusually dark but I knelt in a pew and prayed before Mass as I always do. I heard the Priest talking back in the Sacristy but figured he was just in conversation with someone before Mass, when I heard the school bell ring at 9:15 I then realized Mass was to begin at 9 and I decided to head back to the Sacristy and find out what was going on. As I am getting to the doorway(closed door), I hear Father doing the Consecration and instead of going in at that point I just turned around and left for home feeling very upset/disappointed.

Masses have ALWAYS been held in the Sanctuary and this was a totally new one on me, there were no announcements about this on Sunday and nothing mentioned in the Parish bulletin, which makes me feel like it was a secret Mass and I was not welcome. I know this is not truly the case but it was how I felt at the time and even now I still feel hurt.

Am I nuts here or should have there been at least something mentioned regarding this change?

 

[NewEnglandPriest]

This has been eating at me and I do intend to bring it up with the Priest this coming Sunday but I have to ask for advice/opinions.

I’m a new Catholic and I am wondering if holding a weekday Mass in the Sacristy is an acceptable practice?

Depends on if this was a one time thing or a regular thing.

Masses have ALWAYS been held in the Sanctuary and this was a totally new one on me, there were no announcements about this on Sunday and nothing mentioned in the Parish bulletin, which makes me feel like it was a secret Mass and I was not welcome. I know this is not truly the case but it was how I felt at the time and even now I still feel hurt.

Perhaps there was some issue with the main church that made it impossible or high problematic to hold Mass there on that particular day.

Am I nuts here or should have there been at least something mentioned regarding this change?

You should bring it up, but do so in a polite and respectful manner. Simply say something like, “Father I tried to attend Mass this morning and waited in the main church. Did I miss an anouncement or is that where daily mass is now being held?”

 

[Joe_Kelley]

. . .
Masses have ALWAYS been held in the Sanctuary and this was a totally new one on me, there were no announcements about this on Sunday and nothing mentioned in the Parish bulletin, which makes me feel like it was a secret Mass and I was not welcome. I know this is not truly the case but it was how I felt at the time and even now I still feel hurt.
. …

Generally, every mass is a public mass and all are welcome to attend. the only exception would be something like the Kennedy funeral where there has to be some control on the size of the crowd. I have on occasion gone to a wedding or funeral mass without problem, when I missed the regular mass on that day.

Communion was a bit of a problem at such masses in former times when few people received, and very few or none at funerals and weddings. It was necessary to time a dash from the back that didn’t cut anyone off, but was still in time to catch the priest’s attention. He would just give a quick glance at the altar rail and if he saw no one would continue with the mass.

 

[Phemie]

Does your sacristy have an altar? I ask because in the church where I grew up there was an altar in the sacristy and daily Mass was celebrated there. That was back in the 50s & 60s.

To save on the heating bill we’ve transformed a room in the former rectory to a chapel and daily Mass is celebrated there.

 

[Cluny]

In one or another of his books, Thomas Merton (Fr. Mary Louis, OCSO) describes celebrating mass on the sacristy altar while Matins was going on in the main church.

Why wasn’t he at Matins?

 

[Michael_Welter]

Keep in mind that the original celebration of the Eucharist, the Last Supper, took place in a house. There could be valid reasons for celebrating in the Sacristy, although someone should have checked the church just before Mass started to make sure people, like you, weren’t waiting there for Mass.

Having Mass in the Sacristy could save money on utilities. That’s a responsible use of parish money, and is good for the environment.

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

In one or another of his books, Thomas Merton (Fr. Mary Louis, OCSO) describes celebrating mass on the sacristy altar while Matins was going on in the main church.

Why wasn’t he at Matins?

How are we to know?

 

[Mrs_Sally]

Keep in mind that the original celebration of the Eucharist, the Last Supper, took place in a house. There could be valid reasons for celebrating in the Sacristy, although someone should have checked the church just before Mass started to make sure people, like you, weren’t waiting there for Mass.

Having Mass in the Sacristy could save money on utilities. That’s a responsible use of parish money, and is good for the environment.

This is what I was thinking, especially since the lights were off in the sanctuary. At my parish there isn’t room in the sacrasty for a Mass (and no altar anyway), but the sanctuary is huge, so I could see how the priest might want to find another arrangement if very few regularly attend daily Mass.

To the OP, simply ask you priest or in the church office. Be polite and not accusatory, but just to make sure you know the procedure from now on.

 

[Tracy24]

Thank you all for your responses. I am fairly certain that saving money is a factor since our parish is low on funds and we are trying to cut back anyway we posibly can. It just seemed strange that there was no mention of the change during last Sunday’s announcements and nothing in the bulletin.
Yes there is a small altar in the Sacristy and for the amount of people that attend a weekday Mass it would be possible to hold Mass there with no problems.

 

[Through_Him]

We often have word and communion in the small/large chapel. The Mass was there too but the priest said he was closturfobic. And the Mass is really suppose to be held near the tabernacle or where the host is. So when there is word and communion in the chapel we go the sanctuary to do the rosary because it is suppose to be said in front of the tabernacle. We are back and forth alot. Our priest will not do Mass in the chapel but he has some issues. I would say find a room for a chapel to be designated. If possible make one available. It sounds like the sacristy is a large room. Maybe a smaller closet would work for the sacristy. Our sacristy is very large and could also be a chapel. You should see the confessional, two small rooms put together, it is about the size of a small kitchen.
But we also have a small church kitchen, it is not really that small, so many empty cabinets.
Hope you can find others to be able to find a solution.

 

[kuzhome]

We do it because there are never even a dozen of us …to heat the whole large church would cost $$$ and so we heat only the sacristy…the door is closed to keep the heat in…but you and all are welcome. Sister Rose