Missing Mass because of hobbies

[Country_Gal]

I have a problem with the legalism expressed here. I’m sure Pope Francis would applaud a wholesome hobby such as this.

 

[getysbg]

As far as the ban on driving, just for my own education, what happens in an emergency? Like in the middle of the weekend you hear a family member was killed or your house burned down?

Surely you could leave if needed right??

I know nothing of the logistics, but just can’t imagine a scenario where I was banned from driving my vehicle.

I have seen or heard of such occurance only a few times but it has happened. In each case an exception was made.

The reason for the ban is to “maintain the moment” of time. Nothing breaks the spell of re-creating the 1860’s like the roar of a F150 bouncing up a dirt road making an ‘emergency’ beer run. Once you unload your gear and park on Friday night, you’re in for the duration unless you are able to exit the lot without going through camp.

All too many event organizers do not see a problem with missing Church once in a while and as such make no provisions. At one major event in 2013, they couldn’t understand why I was not happy with the Old Catholic priest that they had lined up. It was only when I brought this to the attention of the local diocese that we were able to get a priest and this was for an event that drew 10,000 participants!

We are fortunate in this part of the country to have two priests, Frs. Moreno and Pucherelli, in the hobby. Wish there were more but…

 

[Brendan]

As far as the ban on driving, just for my own education, what happens in an emergency? Like in the middle of the weekend you hear a family member was killed or your house burned down?

Surely you could leave if needed right??

I know nothing of the logistics, but just can’t imagine a scenario where I was banned from driving my vehicle.

Bringing a vehicle in to camp (outside of certain setup hours) is genernally prohibited. Most of these events are set up for the public, and as getty said, it ruins the ambiance.

Emergency vehicles ( police, fire, ambulance) would certainly not be affected.

But Getty, I HAVE been there. I’ve hiked that mile to the car at 5:30am to get to Mass.

Ike’s advice is still the best though…talk to your pastor.

And you can still look up Mass offerings.

For example, if you were going to Antietam.

I looked up the Sharpsburg zip code on Google maps. plugged it into www.masstimes.org and found St. Agatha parish is Shepherdstown.(about 5 miles away)

Mass times are here - masstimes.org/search.html?lat=39.4459279&lng=-77.75665229999998&SearchQueryTerm=21782

So I would just plan on being a 8:00am Mass, up at 6:30, dressed at 7:00, hike out to the parking lot (45 min should suffice) and head into Mass.

I’d be back at camp by 11

 

[1ke]

You aren’t able to walk a mile to your car, but you are able to reenact battles all weekend-- walking. I don’t buy the “not physically able” part. Bottom lime, talk to your pastor.

 

[getysbg]

You aren’t able to walk a mile to your car, but you are able to reenact battles all weekend-- walking. I don’t buy the “not physically able” part. Bottom lime, talk to your pastor.

:banghead: Again, this has to do with your willingness to make assumptions about people instead of seeking facts. At 68, with a pacemaker, experimental heart surgery and a bunch of other issues, my days of marching out with the boys are long gone and yet I still enjoy the camaraderie with both the men and the public. Once set up in camp, I get to be the cook, a job that allows me to sit down whenever I run out of breath. That’s a feat that requires little effort anymore. Walking 100 yds can be exhausting. As a result, my world is restricted to an area of no more than an acre. I could compare it to going to a NFL game and having to remain in the concourse ;istening to the game over the loudspeaker because of not being able to climb to the seats.

 

[Jon_S_1]

I have seen or heard of such occurance only a few times but it has happened. In each case an exception was made.

The reason for the ban is to “maintain the moment” of time. Nothing breaks the spell of re-creating the 1860’s like the roar of a F150 bouncing up a dirt road making an ‘emergency’ beer run. Once you unload your gear and park on Friday night, you’re in for the duration unless you are able to exit the lot without going through camp.

All too many event organizers do not see a problem with missing Church once in a while and as such make no provisions. At one major event in 2013, they couldn’t understand why I was not happy with the Old Catholic priest that they had lined up. It was only when I brought this to the attention of the local diocese that we were able to get a priest and this was for an event that drew 10,000 participants!

We are fortunate in this part of the country to have two priests, Frs. Moreno and Pucherelli, in the hobby. Wish there were more but…

Thanks for the info, that makes more sense.

I see no reason why your priest would not give a dispensation, so I think that’s your best bet. It’s no different than going backpacking in the wilderness or on vacation to a country with no Catholic Church.

 

[1ke]

:banghead: Again, this has to do with your willingness to make assumptions about people instead of seeking facts. At 68, with a pacemaker, experimental heart surgery and a bunch of other issues, my days of marching out with the boys are long gone and yet I still enjoy the camaraderie with both the men and the public. Once set up in camp, I get to be the cook, a job that allows me to sit down whenever I run out of breath. That’s a feat that requires little effort anymore. Walking 100 yds can be exhausting. As a result, my world is restricted to an area of no more than an acre. I could compare it to going to a NFL game and having to remain in the concourse ;istening to the game over the loudspeaker because of not being able to climb to the seats.

And once again, no one here can dispense you and your own pastor knows your situation like no one here does. You can continue to dribble out details one at a time in posts here and we still cannot tell you “yes” or “no”-- we cannot give you permission to miss Mass. We can give you generalities, we can tell you what we would do.

Please just talk to your pastor about the situation and follow his guidance.

 

[1ke]

I’m not trying to be disagreeable. There will be opinions on this thread from “no problem, God will understand” to “must be on deathbed” and everything in between. Use your prudential judgment and the guidance of your pastor who knows you regarding the matter.

 

[Deo_Gratias42]

My biggest “hobby” is cycling, and a few years ago I participated in a two-day charity ride from Montreal to Quebec City. It would have been extremely difficult to attend Mass given the distance to ride, logistics, etc. I simply asked my spiritual director for a dispensation which he freely gave, given it was for a good cause (raising money for cancer research).

It’s a real problem though, these days, that some folks schedule so many activities on a Sunday morning as if it’s just another weekend day like Saturday. We’re in the minority now I’m afraid.

FYI: For future reference, unless your SD is also your pastor, he has no authority to dispense you from your Sunday obligation.

 

[Deo_Gratias42]

I have a problem with the legalism expressed here. I’m sure Pope Francis would applaud a wholesome hobby such as this.

It comes down to this. God gave man 6 days of the week and asked us to set aside the 7th day for Him. Who do we love more? Ourselves and our hobbies, or God? Personally, I choose God.

 

[AltarKnight]

It comes down to this. God gave man 6 days of the week and asked us to set aside the 7th day for Him. Who do we love more? Ourselves and our hobbies, or God? Personally, I choose God.

Self-Righteous, much?

 

[OraLabora]

FYI: For future reference, unless your SD is also your pastor, he has no authority to dispense you from your Sunday obligation.

I’m aware of that requirement. However, I’m a Benedictine Oblate and he was (at the time), Oblate Director. For all intents and purposes he was my pastor at the time because I almost exclusively attend Mass at the abbey. Whether he is *legally" or not does not matter to me, I am not at that level of legalism.

We have a new oblate director and if the need ever arose I’d ask him the same thing.

 

[grasscutter]

:banghead: Again, this has to do with your willingness to make assumptions about people instead of seeking facts. At 68, with a pacemaker, experimental heart surgery and a bunch of other issues, my days of marching out with the boys are long gone and yet I still enjoy the camaraderie with both the men and the public. Once set up in camp, I get to be the cook, a job that allows me to sit down whenever I run out of breath. That’s a feat that requires little effort anymore. Walking 100 yds can be exhausting. As a result, my world is restricted to an area of no more than an acre. I could compare it to going to a NFL game and having to remain in the concourse ;istening to the game over the loudspeaker because of not being able to climb to the seats.

Wow!!! There is no reason to be that angry and defensive when you withheld pertinent details. I empathize with your desire to participate in an enjoyable pastime. However, you are the only person who can answer your own question. What’s more important: offering thanksgiving, seeking forgiveness, worshipping (in the spirit of togetherness), or the pastime that you enjoy.

Please think carefully… your hobby will not lead you to nor bring you glory in Heaven.

Peace be with you!

 

[getysbg]

Wow!!! There is no reason to be that angry and defensive when you withheld pertinent details. I empathize with your desire to participate in an enjoyable pastime. However, you are the only person who can answer your own question. What’s more important: offering thanksgiving, seeking forgiveness, worshipping (in the spirit of togetherness), or the pastime that you enjoy.

Please think carefully… your hobby will not lead you to nor bring you glory in Heaven.

Peace be with you!

Sorry, grasscutter, but no pertinent info was withheld. The original question was: “Can I attend events when there is no chance to hear Mass?” I put no qualifiers on this, did not bring into play any side issues such as my health, etc. It was others who chose to state that I was not willing to accept small discomforts so as to attend Mass etc. All of those charges were inaccurate solely because the others chose to assume other conditions instead of answering the question that was asked. I can’t be the only one who goes ‘on vacation’ where missing Mass will occur. Backpackers, safari takers, etc all have to face this problem and in each and every case we are putting ourselves in the perdictiment. So once again, the question is asked : “Can I attend events when there is no chance to hear Mass?”

 

[1ke]

“Can I attend events when there is no chance to hear Mass?”

And we repeat: it is not within our authority to tell you that you can miss Mass. Talk to your pastor. Unlike a person who is in a location where there actually is no
Mass, you are in a location with a Mass available within a few miles. It is not the case that there is “no chance” to hear Mass, because there is a Mass. You have other circumstances that make it inconvenient to do so. We cannot tell you whether that rises to the level of having no obligation (personally, I don’t believe it does) or whether you would require a dispensation. Yes, the details do matter. Go talk to your pastor and ask for a dispensation.

Is there a reason you are reluctant to ask your pastor? He is really the only one who can answer your question.

 

[otjm]

Wow!!! There is no reason to be that angry and defensive when you withheld pertinent details. I empathize with your desire to participate in an enjoyable pastime. However, you are the only person who can answer your own question. What’s more important: offering thanksgiving, seeking forgiveness, worshipping (in the spirit of togetherness), or the pastime that you enjoy.

Please think carefully… your hobby will not lead you to nor bring you glory in Heaven.

Peace be with you!

Wow - considering the Church gives the pastor the power to dispense from the requirement, including vacations, that really comes across as a manipulative answer. I would suspect, given that the OP has asked the question, that he might prefer that this occurred on a Monday-Saturday venue instead of a weekend venue. And it is not like he is asking if he can do this once a month, or every other weekend.

Your comment comes across as if he doesn’t offer thanksgiving on a regular basis, doesn’t seek forgiveness when appropriate (he didn’t ask about missing confession), or doesn’t worship on a regular basis (those who don’t are hardly likely to ask the question the OP asked).

It may be that you have never gone anywhere on vacation or done anything which would require you to miss Sunday Mass, and that is wonderful. But given the clear authority given to pastors concerning missing Mass because of a vacation and the fact that numerous people occasionally have similar circumstance, that really comes across as emotionally manipulative.

And a hobby won’t lead one to or bring glory in Heaven - I was just reading a comment about keeping holy the Lord’s Day, and leisure was mentioned… seems to be a bit of conflict here.

 

[getysbg]

And we repeat: it is not within our authority to tell you that you can miss Mass. Talk to your pastor. Unlike a person who is in a location where there actually is no
Mass, you are in a location with a Mass available within a few miles. It is not the case that there is “no chance” to hear Mass, because there is a Mass. You have other circumstances that make it inconvenient to do so. We cannot tell you whether that rises to the level of having no obligation (personally, I don’t believe it does) or whether you would require a dispensation. Yes, the details do matter. Go talk to your pastor and ask for a dispensation.

Is there a reason you are reluctant to ask your pastor? He is really the only one who can answer your question.

I’m not reluctant to speak with Fr. Bateman at all and will do so tomorrow after Mass. I just can’t understand why you can’t grasp the concept that with no transportation I have no way to get to Mass. It’s not inconvenient, it’s impossible! The question was and still is that by placing myself in this position can I still ‘fall back’ on the fact that no Mass is available or should I not attend the event?

 

[grasscutter]

that really comes across as emotionally manipulative.

Seriously? Because that was not my honest intent and if my lack of ability to express myself in writing sounded that way, I sincerely ask for forgiveness.

 

[Jon_S_1]

I’m not reluctant to speak with Fr. Bateman at all and will do so tomorrow after Mass. I just can’t understand why you can’t grasp the concept that with no transportation I have no way to get to Mass. It’s not inconvenient, it’s impossible! The question was and still is that by placing myself in this position can I still ‘fall back’ on the fact that no Mass is available or should I not attend the event?

I see it like,

If you made the decision to go backpacking for two weeks, or to go to war, or to sail around the world, or to fly to the moon, or missionary work in a remote country, or to go to the space station, or a host of other situations.

None of those are sinful, and your obligation as a Catholic lies in getting a dispensation from your pastor.

Missing mass and not getting a dispensation would be a sin because you did not obey the law of the church.

Your priest will help you I’m sure, enjoy your activity, and be a light of Christ to those there.

 

[getysbg]

I see it like,

If you made the decision to go backpacking for two weeks, or to go to war, or to sail around the world, or to fly to the moon, or missionary work in a remote country, or to go to the space station, or a host of other situations.

None of those are sinful, and your obligation as a Catholic lies in getting a dispensation from your pastor.

Missing mass and not getting a dispensation would be a sin because you did not obey the law of the church.

Your priest will help you I’m sure, enjoy your activity, and be a light of Christ to those there.

An answer that I can sink my teeth into! Thank you!