Missing Mass Because of School Trip

[saxaphoneplayer]

Hi,
I want to go on a school trip in October of this school year. The issue is that it is Wednesday - Sunday and we get back at around 8:30 PM. There is no church around where I live that has a Mass that late that I can go to. So would I be in mortal sin if I missed it? Do I need dispensation from my pastor? Can I just watch the Mass online? I don’t want to make a decision too quickly because the trip is expensive and if I find out that it’s not a good reason to go not go to Mass, there goes a non-refundable $550.
I definitely would not like to miss Mass and would never miss it intentionally. I love going to Mass and would never want to miss it; I even hate being late for it. If I miss it, I’ll feel like something’s missing in my soul.

 Please help me. I would really appreciate it.

saxaphoneplayer

 

[otjm]

Speak to your pastor. If you are not able to attend Mass either on Saturday night or Sunday morning because you have no means to do so or cannot get away from your group, I would suspect he will give you a dispensation.

 

[angell1]

Hi,
I want to go on a school trip in October of this school year. The issue is that it is Wednesday - Sunday and we get back at around 8:30 PM. There is no church around where I live that has a Mass that late that I can go to. So would I be in mortal sin if I missed it? Do I need dispensation from my pastor? Can I just watch the Mass online? I don’t want to make a decision too quickly because the trip is expensive and if I find out that it’s not a good reason to go not go to Mass, there goes a non-refundable $550.
I definitely would not like to miss Mass and would never miss it intentionally. I love going to Mass and would never want to miss it; I even hate being late for it. If I miss it, I’ll feel like something’s missing in my soul.

 Please help me. I would really appreciate it.

saxaphoneplayer

see if they will have mass close by the place you are travelling too

 

[St_Francis]

Look up Masstimes.org. Then check before you go in case anything has changed… check by calling the church itself or going to their site. Mass times are usually on their answering machines.

 

[CB_Catholic]

I know people mean well, but it really is not a good idea to be telling school-aged minors to find a Mass and go on their own if they are on something like a field trip, etc.

In the first place, the school cannot take the responsibility for the safety of the student if he is off on his own. Now if there is a chaperone or teacher that is willing to take a group of children to Mass that would be ok, if the parent signed a permission slip, knew and could trust the person, etc. And no way should a minor be calling up strange parishes for rides to Mass with a stranger.

Do not be so caught up in the “rules” of attending Mass that common sense does not prevail in such situations. A minor should NEVER be leaving a school-sponsored trip and going to ANYTHING, including Mass, without a responsible adult, the permission of the school, and the permission of the parents. This is not safe.

We also are not expected to give up vacations, field trips, or other such life enriching activities just because we may not be able to find a Mass where we are going. The Church does not expect that of us. If there is no opportunity for Mass, then the impossible is not expected. The person should talk to his priest about this if he feels it is necessary.

 

[Tarpeian_Rock]

I know people mean well, but it really is not a good idea to be telling school-aged minors to find a Mass and go on their own if they are on something like a field trip, etc.

In the first place, the school cannot take the responsibility for the safety of the student if he is off on his own. Now if there is a chaperone or teacher that is willing to take a group of children to Mass that would be ok, if the parent signed a permission slip, knew and could trust the person, etc. And no way should a minor be calling up strange parishes for rides to Mass with a stranger.

Do not be so caught up in the “rules” of attending Mass that common sense does not prevail in such situations. A minor should NEVER be leaving a school-sponsored trip and going to ANYTHING, including Mass, without a responsible adult, the permission of the school, and the permission of the parents. This is not safe.

We also are not expected to give up vacations, field trips, or other such life enriching activities just because we may not be able to find a Mass where we are going. The Church does not expect that of us. If there is no opportunity for Mass, then the impossible is not expected. The person should talk to his priest about this if he feels it is necessary.

A voice of sanity. Thank you.

 

[Monica4316]

Hi,
I want to go on a school trip in October of this school year. The issue is that it is Wednesday - Sunday and we get back at around 8:30 PM. There is no church around where I live that has a Mass that late that I can go to. So would I be in mortal sin if I missed it? Do I need dispensation from my pastor? Can I just watch the Mass online? I don’t want to make a decision too quickly because the trip is expensive and if I find out that it’s not a good reason to go not go to Mass, there goes a non-refundable $550.
I definitely would not like to miss Mass and would never miss it intentionally. I love going to Mass and would never want to miss it; I even hate being late for it. If I miss it, I’ll feel like something’s missing in my soul.

 Please help me. I would really appreciate it.

saxaphoneplayer

Personally I would not go on the trip… watching the Mass online doesn’t meet the obligation if you are not able to go to Mass. If you’re truly not able to because of no choice of your own, the obligation is dispensed with, if you know this in advance, you can ask for a dispensation… however, I would think this is for things that are obligatory and where you don’t really have a choice. However, you do have a choice about the school trip. I think it’s safest not to go, and I think that would be an occasion of merit for you, because you would be giving up something you really want, to be with God think of how much He wants to come into your soul in Communion, - He even told the mystics that He would wait all night for a soul to receive Him - and that might make it easier God bless you!

 

[Monica4316]

I guess my opinion on this is a bit different from others in this thread… this is just my understanding. But I just don’t think there’s any harm in not going to the trip and going to Mass instead, because this could actually be a way to earn more merit and grow in love for God, because it’s a sacrifice of something. I also think that there’s a difference between going on a trip that you have no choice about (ie: your family takes you on a trip and you have no say on this), vs. choosing a trip when you know you won’t be able to go to Mass. Just something to pray about maybe

 

[maryjk]

I know people mean well, but it really is not a good idea to be telling school-aged minors to find a Mass and go on their own if they are on something like a field trip, etc.

In the first place, the school cannot take the responsibility for the safety of the student if he is off on his own. Now if there is a chaperone or teacher that is willing to take a group of children to Mass that would be ok, if the parent signed a permission slip, knew and could trust the person, etc. And no way should a minor be calling up strange parishes for rides to Mass with a stranger.

Do not be so caught up in the “rules” of attending Mass that common sense does not prevail in such situations. A minor should NEVER be leaving a school-sponsored trip and going to ANYTHING, including Mass, without a responsible adult, the permission of the school, and the permission of the parents. This is not safe.

We also are not expected to give up vacations, field trips, or other such life enriching activities just because we may not be able to find a Mass where we are going. The Church does not expect that of us. If there is no opportunity for Mass, then the impossible is not expected. The person should talk to his priest about this if he feels it is necessary.

:extrahappy::tiphat::clapping::aok:

 

[larsont7]

Speak to your pastor. If you are not able to attend Mass either on Saturday night or Sunday morning because you have no means to do so or cannot get away from your group, I would suspect he will give you a dispensation.

This says it all. Just as one shouldn’t be giving advice on you leaving a school group unattended to head to Mass on your own, one should also not be telling you that it’s “okay” to skip Mass without first consulting a priest. When it comes to spiritual matters, especially those involving grave matter (missing Mass on a Sunday/holy day is grave matter), the priest should be the first person you contact. He will likely give you a dispensation.