Mass by Closed-Circuit Television

[Patjoe]

I have been unable to get any definitive answer to this question, so I come here, where all definitive answers are possible!

Recently I visited a parish with a small church building that has overflow crowds for many of its weekend Masses. Rather than have those who cannot find a place in the pews just stand in the back or in the aisles, they have rigged up in the basement a CC television with chairs in front of it for the “extra” people to view the Mass. The Eucharist is taken down to those people, who thus do not have to step inside of the church proper at all. Many come late and leave early.

I am wondering if this is a good situation, since one is not considered to have attended Mass even if one watches a televisied Mass at home. I suppose making the effort to get to church may count for something, but one is not part of the Mass community in general when down in the basement. On the other hand, there is that small community down there, participating in that limited way.

Thanks for your (name removed by moderator)ut.

Ginger

 

[mercygate]

Please, God, bring such crowds to my parish!

The practice you describe was common in the 1950s, when people actually came to church. When you come to church; it is not your fault that there isn’t room upstairs.

People coming late and leaving early is a totally separate question, and you already know the answer to that one! So perhaps they should seat the early-birds downstairs (because by coming early, they have already demonstrated their alertness and devotion), and put the latecomers upstairs where their comings and goings will be more of an embarrassment . . .

 

[Crusader]

Patjoe:

I have been unable to get any definitive answer to this question, so I come here, where all definitive answers are possible!

Recently I visited a parish with a small church building that has overflow crowds for many of its weekend Masses. Rather than have those who cannot find a place in the pews just stand in the back or in the aisles, they have rigged up in the basement a CC television with chairs in front of it for the “extra” people to view the Mass. The Eucharist is taken down to those people, who thus do not have to step inside of the church proper at all. Many come late and leave early.

I am wondering if this is a good situation, since one is not considered to have attended Mass even if one watches a televisied Mass at home. I suppose making the effort to get to church may count for something, but one is not part of the Mass community in general when down in the basement. On the other hand, there is that small community down there, participating in that limited way.

Thanks for your (name removed by moderator)ut.

Ginger

It’s certainly not an optimal situation but it does fulfill one’s Sunday obligation to attend the Mass.

Going to church, watching the Mass on CCTV and receiving Holy Communion is different than watching the Mass on TV at home.

It’s quite common for people to watch the morning Mass at EWTN from another room via CCTV and then enter the chapel to receive Holy Communion…

 

[Brendan]

A parish near us has a similar circumstance.

They recently went through an church expansion and built effectively a second nave where the narthex used to be. But due to structural issues, the wall between had to remain.

They put up Closed circuit TV’s so the faithful in the 'back half ’ can now see the altar.

It is slightly different from your circumsance, as they are all on the same floor and all are nominally in the space designated as “the Nave”, even if it is seperated by a wall.

 

[Patjoe]

Thanks, everyone, for your (name removed by moderator)ut. I guess it is a very good description of the situation: “not optimal.” It is just a little goofy to go to Mass via television in the basement when there are so many options as to time and nearby parishes. My biggest problem now is that they take the Eucharist down to them rather than having them go to the nave to receive Holy Communion.