Moving to county with no Sunday bus service... ugh

[caadam]

I know that this subject is brought up a lot. I’ve read through numerous threads on this, but there are some things that are kind of hindering me from understanding exactly what is proper, so here goes:

Next Fall, I’m going to be moving into a county that doesn’t have Sunday public transportation. I don’t have a car, either (let alone can I afford one). I’m a catechumen right now; who knows whom I might meet between now and when I become a Catholic in the spring. I could meet someone at that point that might be more than happy to ride to and from Sunday Mass.

But if the preceding doesn’t happen, and I’m stuck with no way to get to Church on Sundays because of this county’s awful bus service, will it be all right if I go to Saturday Mass instead? The reason this is bothering me is because I spoke to my catechist about it a couple of weeks ago. He said to worry about it when it comes around, but he expressed obvious disapproval of Saturday Mass making up for Sunday obligation. He said that when the time comes, and I’ve exhausted every option to try and get to Sunday Mass without luck, then it could be acceptable to go on Saturday evening.

I agree with him, and when the time comes, I will do my best to consider every option I get because I want to respect the Holy Day. However, if I have no other choice but attend Saturday Mass, am I going to be frowned upon, or is my Saturday attendance going to be satisfying?

Again, I apologize that this has been brought up so much and yet I bring it up again. I’m just looking for some reassurance in my situation. Thank you.

 

[SMHW]

By “Saturday Mass” do you mean the anticipated Sunday Mass on Saturday evening or do you mean Mass Saturday morning? Ideally you want to be attending a Sunday liturgy.

How are you going to handle RCIA when you move? Will you continue with your current parish or will you be completing RCIA through a new parish?

 

[garn9173]

Anytime after 4 or 4:30 Saturday (cann’t remember the time for sure) meets your obligation for Sunday.

BTW, very few of the Parish’s around here has Saturday morning Mass.

 

[zab]

Code of Canon Law vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__P4N.HTM

Can. 1248 §1. A person who assists at a Mass celebrated anywhere in a Catholic rite either on the feast day itself or in the evening of the preceding day satisfies the obligation of participating in the Mass.
§2. If participation in the eucharistic celebration becomes impossible because of the absence of a sacred minister or for another grave cause, it is strongly recommended that the faithful take part in a liturgy of the word if such a liturgy is celebrated in a parish church or other sacred place according to the prescripts of the diocesan bishop or that they devote themselves to prayer for a suitable time alone, as a family, or, as the occasion permits, in groups of families.

 

[caadam]

I apologize: I meant Saturday evening Mass, not morning.

Our RCIA meetings are held on Wednesday nights, so that’s not an issue. And I do hope to continue going to my current parish, because it won’t be too far away, at least on bus.

 

[garn9173]

I apologize: I meant Saturday evening Mass, not morning.

Your good then.

 

[ora_pro_nobis]

Saturday evening Mass will be fine, so don’t worry.

Best wishes and prayers for your RCIA - I am a convert too and am so happy to be a Catholic! I have met some lovely people at my parish who have become friends and I’m sure you will too in your new parish.

 

[Mrs_Sally]

I apologize: I meant Saturday evening Mass, not morning.

Our RCIA meetings are held on Wednesday nights, so that’s not an issue. And I do hope to continue going to my current parish, because it won’t be too far away, at least on bus.

Saturday evening Mass IS Sunday Mass. It is called the Anticipated Mass for Sunday.

People can be fussy about it all they want, but it is a perfectly legitimate option for fulfilling our Sunday obligation. It is better that you regularly go to the Anticipate Mass on Saturday, than that you don’t go to Mass at all.

 

[garn9173]

Saturday evening Mass IS Sunday Mass. It is called the Anticipated Mass for Sunday.

People can be fussy about it all they want, but it is a perfectly legitimate option for fulfilling our Sunday obligation. It is better that you regularly go to the Anticipate Mass on Saturday, than that you don’t go to Mass at all.

In many rural locations in the Midwest, Saturday evening Mass my be the only Mass of the weekend in a Parish.

 

[SMHW]

I apologize: I meant Saturday evening Mass, not morning.

Our RCIA meetings are held on Wednesday nights, so that’s not an issue. And I do hope to continue going to my current parish, because it won’t be too far away, at least on bus.

I’m not sure why your catechist would prefer you attend Mass on Sunday.

I suppose it is because there is something to be said for the experiential aspect of attending Mass on a Sunday. Or perhaps all those in RCIA are encouraged to attend Mass together? Are you a catechumen or a candidate? If you are a catechumen then I guess you will miss the dismissal of the catechumens and your “break open the word” session.

 

[caadam]

I’m not sure why your catechist would prefer you attend Mass on Sunday.

I suppose it is because there is something to be said for the experiential aspect of attending Mass on a Sunday. Or perhaps all those in RCIA are encouraged to attend Mass together? Are you a catechumen or a candidate? If you are a catechumen then I guess you will miss the dismissal of the catechumens and your “break open the word” session.

Well, right now, I’m living in a county that has Sunday bus service, so attending Sunday Mass is no problem. I’m a catechumen , and I go to Sunday Mass with my fellow catechumen and the candidates. We’re dismissed after the homily and then our catechist has a small bible study with us on the readings.

My catechist seems to be very firm about attending Sunday Mass over Saturday evening Mass. I got the impression that Saturday evening Mass was a “last resort,” as in it’s acceptable but definitely not preferred. I personally believe that if one is able to attend Sunday Mass, one absolutely should, but if one can’t, then Saturday evening Mass seems just as acceptable.

So his disapproval kind of confuses me, especially when there is a lot that says Saturday evening Mass is just fine if one can’t go to Sunday Mass.

 

[garn9173]

Well, right now, I’m living in a county that has Sunday bus service, so attending Sunday Mass is no problem. I’m a catechumen , and I go to Sunday Mass with my fellow catechumen and the candidates. We’re dismissed after the homily and then our catechist has a small bible study with us on the readings.

My catechist seems to be very firm about attending Sunday Mass over Saturday evening Mass. I got the impression that Saturday evening Mass was a “last resort,” as in it’s acceptable but definitely not preferred. I personally believe that if one is able to attend Sunday Mass, one absolutely should, but if one can’t, then Saturday evening Mass seems just as acceptable.

So his disapproval kind of confuses me, especially when there is a lot that says Saturday evening Mass is just fine if one can’t go to Sunday Mass.

IMO, your instructor is 100% wrong and you should talk to someone in your Parish to have him corrected. What difference does it make when you go? I often go to Mass Saturday evening so that I can lounge and relax all day Sunday.

 

[zab]

IMO, your instructor is 100% wrong. What difference does it make when you go? I often go to Mass Saturday evening so that I can lounge and relax all day Sunday.

I would feel guilty for going to the Saturday Vigil Mass just so I could lounge and relax all day on the Lord’s day. But you are right in that the Saturday day evening Mass (Vigil Mass) fulfills our Sunday obligation no matter the reason we attend.

 

[TheRealJuliane]

I apologize: I meant Saturday evening Mass, not morning.

Our RCIA meetings are held on Wednesday nights, so that’s not an issue. And I do hope to continue going to my current parish, because it won’t be too far away, at least on bus.

The Saturday evening Vigil Mass meets the obligation for Sunday. We’ve been going to Saturday evening Mass for years and it’s fine. Do what you need to do, with the intention of returning to Sunday Mass when you can.

 

[Mrs_Sally]

I would feel guilty for going to the Saturday Vigil Mass just so I could lounge and relax all day on the Lord’s day. But you are right in that the Saturday day evening Mass (Vigil Mass) fulfills our Sunday obligation no matter the reason we attend.

Sounds like the Sabbath rest to me.

The OP needs to speak to the priest and have him correct the RCIA instructor. There is no heirarchy in Sunday Mass times.

One goes to whichever Sunday Mass (which INCLUDES Saturday evening Anticipated Mass if offered) is most convenient. That includes wanting to sleep late, wanting to get up early, wanting to get a good table at the brunch resturant, going when the baby is less likely to cry, working around tee times, ect.

My parish offers 6 Sunday Masses - including an anticipated Mass and a Sunday evening Mass. Any one of them is a perfectly valid option.

 

[caadam]

Thanks for all the responses everyone!

I’ll talk with my catechist again about it, and if there’s still an issue about Saturday evening Mass, I’ll talk to one of the priests.

Again, thank you!

 

[JM3]

IMO, your instructor is 100% wrong and you should talk to someone in your Parish to have him corrected. What difference does it make when you go? I often go to Mass Saturday evening so that I can lounge and relax all day Sunday.

Has it not occured to anyone that the OP is a catechumen and should be attending Mass with the other catechumens? A little charity towards the instructor, please, as he is correct. Attending Saturday evening Mass is a last resort.

 

[1ke]

My catechist seems to be very firm about attending Sunday Mass over Saturday evening Mass. I got the impression that Saturday evening Mass was a “last resort,” as in it’s acceptable but definitely not preferred.

this is simply not true.

Your catechist is expressing a personal opinion, and that opinion is NOT supported by church teaching.

I personally believe that if one is able to attend Sunday Mass, one absolutely should, but if one can’t, then Saturday evening Mass seems just as acceptable.

So his disapproval kind of confuses me, especially when there is a lot that says Saturday evening Mass is just fine if one can’t go to Sunday Mass.

Saturday evening Mass is just fine, period. It is fine even if you can go to Sunday Mass.

 

[SMHW]

I’m a catechumen , and I go to Sunday Mass with my fellow catechumen and the candidates. We’re dismissed after the homily and then our catechist has a small bible study with us on the readings.

My catechist seems to be very firm about attending Sunday Mass over Saturday evening Mass.

The one point that has not been addressed yet in this thread …edited to say that it has since been addressed…] is that your catechist is not just worried about you meeting a Sunday obligation. (Technically --although technicalities should not be your prime motivation for going to Mass-- you don’t even have an obligation yet.) Your catechist may be more concerned that you will miss out on some of the required rites. And you will be missing the Sunday morning “bible study” (to use your language.) The Sunday morning liturgy based catechesis would be considered part of your period of study and formation.

Part of the point of RCIA is that it is not one-on-one between you and God. It is community based.

I got the impression that Saturday evening Mass was a “last resort,” as in it’s acceptable but definitely not preferred.

Well, this was once the way that anticipated Masses were viewed by pretty much everyone. And some people still hold that view. But at least since 1983, the teaching of the Church has been that anticipated Masses are a perfectly fine first resort.

 

[caadam]

The one point that has not been addressed yet in this thread …edited to say that it has since been addressed…] is that your catechist is not just worried about you meeting a Sunday obligation. (Technically --although technicalities should not be your prime motivation for going to Mass-- you don’t even have an obligation yet.) Your catechist may be more concerned that you will miss out on some of the required rites. And you will be missing the Sunday morning “bible study” (to use your language.) The Sunday morning liturgy based catechesis would be considered part of your period of study and formation.

Part of the point of RCIA is that it is not one-on-one between you and God. It is community based.

I’m totally aware of the importance of going to Sunday Mass while in RCIA. I’m very diligent in making it to RCIA and attending Sunday Mass every week. My move into the county with no Sunday bus service isn’t until next Fall, and RCIA is done in May. Thus, my attendance in Sunday Mass as a catechumen isn’t going to be affected.

My concern lies in that, when I move to the new county, if going to Saturday evening Mass will be all right, considering the fact that I might not have any option allowing me to attend Sunday Mass after I move. By then, I won’t be a catechumen anymore, and RCIA will have ended weeks, probably months, before.