Missing Sunday Mass - Airline Pilot

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Catholig

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Well I was talking to a friend at school about Sunday Obligation, etc and he asked me something along the lines of how could I make it to Sunday Mass if I were a pilot (the job he wants to take). I said that it probably wouldn’t be sinful if he couldn’t make it, but if he got laid over or whatever on a saturday evening or sometime in sunday he could go to Mass - the only thing I want to know is are there any intercontinental airline pilots who can tell me a bit about their schedules & how they fulfill their sunday obligations…

Thanks,

Catholig
 
I know many major airports have chapels and chaplains. But that’s an interesting question.
 
If it’s part of your job and you don’t have any control over the situation, then what’s the issue? Where there is no fault, there is no sin. 🙂

Having said that, I would attend a weekday Mass at my first convenient opportunity. If nothing else, it does set a good example.
 
At one point, one must wonder if a career that would inhibit one’s spiritual life is truly God’s plan for his life.
 
smithmikeg said:
At one point, one must wonder if a career that would inhibit one’s spiritual life is truly God’s plan for his life.
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I guess, but seriously - someone has to fly the planes. And besides - If he makes every possible attempt to attend mass (esp. on Sunday/Sat. Night & Holy Days of Obligation), and go to confession I personally don’t see it as being to bad.

I guess I’d agree w/ Bob, because if I were a pilot I would 1) try to fulfill my sunday obligation & 2) attend Mass whenever possible (weekdays).

Catholig
 
Catholig said:
I guess, but seriously - someone has to fly the planes. And besides - If he makes every possible attempt to attend mass (esp. on Sunday/Sat. Night & Holy Days of Obligation), and go to confession I personally don’t see it as being to bad.

I guess I’d agree w/ Bob, because if I were a pilot I would 1) try to fulfill my sunday obligation & 2) attend Mass whenever possible (weekdays).

Catholig
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As I said to my Dad, when he told me that Chick-Fil-A is closed on Sundays to allow employees to worship, “But that’s what pagans are for!”😛
 
Lots of people must work Sundays: polilcmen, firemen, hospital personnel. These are important jobs that benefit the community. If these, or airline pilots, cannot get to Mass on Saturday evening or on Sunday, they commit no sin. Another poster has suggested that attending Mass on a weekday would be commendable.
On the other hand, when I went to work for a large national firm a few years ago, an agreement was made that I would not work on Sundays for religious reasons, barring last-minute emergencies. This was fine until a new manager came along and declared that the staff lunch room would be set aside for Muslim prayers and that only Mormons could be exempted from working on Sundays. “Tell your priest to change Sunday Mass to Tuesdays, because that’s your day off from now on.” An appeal to the “open door policy” at the home office got me fired.
 
A good friend of ours is an Airline Pilot and he is able to attend Mass while away on occasion. I don’t think he has too much trouble with it.
 
mystified said:
Lots of people must work Sundays: polilcmen, firemen, hospital personnel. These are important jobs that benefit the community. If these, or airline pilots, cannot get to Mass on Saturday evening or on Sunday, they commit no sin. Another poster has suggested that attending Mass on a weekday would be commendable.
On the other hand, when I went to work for a large national firm a few years ago, an agreement was made that I would not work on Sundays for religious reasons, barring last-minute emergencies. This was fine until a new manager came along and declared that the staff lunch room would be set aside for Muslim prayers and that only Mormons could be exempted from working on Sundays. “Tell your priest to change Sunday Mass to Tuesdays, because that’s your day off from now on.” An appeal to the “open door policy” at the home office got me fired.
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Mystified, I am sorry that that happened. It is sad that so much “tolerance” (I’d call it preference myself) is shown for the muslims, and Cults (JW & Mormons) but not for Christ’s Church, which has been celebrating Sunday Mass longer than any of them! Indeed celebrating the same Mass since before they were even formed.

Catholig
 
It is an issue. It is easy to let it slide after awhile of not going to mass because you are unable. But I’ve not been in that situation, so I’m not sure. I’m just guessing, knowing what happens to me if I start to slack off on my prayer life.

I’ve often wondered about surgeons too. These are intense jobs and going to mass and receiveing Holy Communion would be a great help to these people.
 
I would think it would be easier especially if you fly internationally. Take advantage of the International Dateline and then you have 2 days to fulfill the obligation instead of one.
 
Walburga said:
It is an issue. It is easy to let it slide after awhile of not going to mass because you are unable. But I’ve not been in that situation, so I’m not sure. I’m just guessing, knowing what happens to me if I start to slack off on my prayer life.

I’ve often wondered about surgeons too. These are intense jobs and going to mass and receiveing Holy Communion would be a great help to these people.
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My parents are doctors. Most doctors have periods during their training and the beginning of their worklives where they get the worst most inconvenient shifts and have to do 'em, and miss Mass fairly often as a result. Didn’t lessen their faith one bit.
 
mystified said:
Lots of people must work Sundays: polilcmen, firemen, hospital personnel. These are important jobs that benefit the community. If these, or airline pilots, cannot get to Mass on Saturday evening or on Sunday, they commit no sin. Another poster has suggested that attending Mass on a weekday would be commendable.
On the other hand, when I went to work for a large national firm a few years ago, an agreement was made that I would not work on Sundays for religious reasons, barring last-minute emergencies. This was fine until a new manager came along and declared that the staff lunch room would be set aside for Muslim prayers and that only Mormons could be exempted from working on Sundays. “Tell your priest to change Sunday Mass to Tuesdays, because that’s your day off from now on.” An appeal to the “open door policy” at the home office got me fired.
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Did you sue?
 
mystified said:
Lots of people must work Sundays: polilcmen, firemen, hospital personnel. These are important jobs that benefit the community. If these, or airline pilots, cannot get to Mass on Saturday evening or on Sunday, they commit no sin. Another poster has suggested that attending Mass on a weekday would be commendable.
On the other hand, when I went to work for a large national firm a few years ago, an agreement was made that I would not work on Sundays for religious reasons, barring last-minute emergencies. This was fine until a new manager came along and declared that the staff lunch room would be set aside for Muslim prayers and that only Mormons could be exempted from working on Sundays. “Tell your priest to change Sunday Mass to Tuesdays, because that’s your day off from now on.” An appeal to the “open door policy” at the home office got me fired.
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Tom317 said:
Did you sue?
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Yes, sounds like you have a real religious discrimination case here.
 
The OP asked specifically about airline pilots. Pilots often have unusual schedules, often along the lines of 10 day on, 4 days off. Or 3 weeks on, 1 week off. This is particularly true with long-haul pilots. Those who fly the same commuter routes often have a more normal weekly schedule. So while they may miss Mass occasionally, they would still be able to attend.
 
I actually was thinking that pilots would have rather consistent schedules. I am sure that like truckers, they are regulated in the number of hours they can be in the air.

However it is though, the person who is contemplating this job needs to take responsibility for getting to Mass. That means things like talking to their own parish priest about a dispensation and finding out when Mass is celebrated in airport chapels. If they settle into a predicatable work schedule, they should discover when Mass is celebrated at parishes near their regular destinations. It may be that they simply can’t get to Mass every Sunday because of work. Or, it could be possible. But if you just wring your hands and say “woe is me!”, you’ll never know.

Our Mass obligation should actually be a delight rather than a duty. And today, with internet sites for many churches and Sunday Mass offered from Saturday evening to Sunday evening, we have so many opportunities to attend!
 
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