Navy Position/Deployment and Sunday Obligation

[BertBlyleven]

I am looking to enter the Navy in a position that would put me on a ship/sub, with tours of 6 months. The military is considered service, so missing Sunday Mass/rest is not a problem if unavoidable, however, does this question change when you know you would regularly miss Mass and work on Sundays (on a boat), and still join? Unlike with war or temporary duty assignments, my regular job would be to be in this situation. I could look at another areas or branches, but on the boat is where I would be best, based on my talents, skills, desires, etc.

I know throughout these tours there will be land stops, and I wouldn’t be surprised if the carriers have Catholic chaplains (if I am put on one), but I am not planning on either of these to be regular (well, I do expect chaplains to be canonically regular).

I trust the traditional forum more than others, so I placed this question here. Although it is a moral question, I do not intend this post to turn into a morality of joining the military given present and other seemingly imminent issues, a topic I will be praying and discussing magna cum diligentia, perhaps even discussing on CAF [in another post]

Yes, I plan on speaking with priests and chaplains.

 

[robwar]

There are a number of careers not just military that require people to either regularly work on Sunday or be so intensive that one may have to miss Mass because of the schedule. People in medicine regularly work on Sundays. Is your question is the concern with working on Sunday or the fact that you may miss Mass because of deployment and inability to attend Mass? I think to extrapolate a possible inability to attend Mass due to deployment as that you shouldn’t go into a particular career is a stretch but your priest should be able to sort that out with you when you talk with him.

 

[KendraDZ1902]

If you are deployed and/or have duty and can’t make it to Mass, you are dispensed. I have been told this by a retired Navy Chaplain who is one of our priests at the Church I attend.

 

[otjm]

The issue is not about the dispensation; if that is what is being asked it is the wrong question.

The question should be, how will this affect your spiritual health? How important is the Eucharist in your life now; and how important will it be, when you are not able to go to Mass?

With whatever skills you have in place now, and whatever skills you intend to develop in the service, is it possible that you might consider another branch where you might not be so removed from the Eucharist? Granted there may not be much of a call for a sonar technician on a KC 135 or on a fire control radar set, it still may be something you wish to think about from a different perspective.

 

[Neofight]

I offer prayers for you as you ponder your decision, and for your acceptance and trust in all your brothers and sisters in the faith.

 

[sealoch]

I am looking to enter the Navy in a position that would put me on a ship/sub, with tours of 6 months. The military is considered service, so missing Sunday Mass/rest is not a problem if unavoidable, however, does this question change when you know you would regularly miss Mass and work on Sundays (on a boat), and still join? Unlike with war or temporary duty assignments, my regular job would be to be in this situation. I could look at another areas or branches, but on the boat is where I would be best, based on my talents, skills, desires, etc.

I know throughout these tours there will be land stops, and I wouldn’t be surprised if the carriers have Catholic chaplains (if I am put on one), but I am not planning on either of these to be regular (well, I do expect chaplains to be canonically regular).

I trust the traditional forum more than others, so I placed this question here. Although it is a moral question, I do not intend this post to turn into a morality of joining the military given present and other seemingly imminent issues, a topic I will be praying and discussing magna cum diligentia, perhaps even discussing on CAF [in another post]

Yes, I plan on speaking with priests and chaplains.

There are services every Sunday on submarines I used to relieve one of my friends to allow him to attend.

 

[zab]

I am looking to enter the Navy in a position that would put me on a ship/sub, with tours of 6 months. The military is considered service, so missing Sunday Mass/rest is not a problem if unavoidable, however, does this question change when you know you would regularly miss Mass and work on Sundays (on a boat), and still join? Unlike with war or temporary duty assignments, my regular job would be to be in this situation. I could look at another areas or branches, but on the boat is where I would be best, based on my talents, skills, desires, etc.

I know throughout these tours there will be land stops, and I wouldn’t be surprised if the carriers have Catholic chaplains (if I am put on one), but I am not planning on either of these to be regular (well, I do expect chaplains to be canonically regular).

I trust the traditional forum more than others, so I placed this question here. Although it is a moral question, I do not intend this post to turn into a morality of joining the military given present and other seemingly imminent issues, a topic I will be praying and discussing magna cum diligentia, perhaps even discussing on CAF [in another post]

Yes, I plan on speaking with priests and chaplains.

2305* Earthly peace is the image and fruit of the peace of Christ, the messianic "Prince of Peace."100 By the blood of his Cross, "in his own person he killed the hostility,"101 he reconciled men with God and made his Church the sacrament of the unity of the human race and of its union with God. "He is our peace."102 He has declared: “Blessed are the peacemakers.”…*
*…Those who are sworn to serve their country in the armed forces are servants of the security and freedom of nations. If they carry out their duty honorably, they truly contribute to the common good of the nation and the maintenance of peace.107 *Catechism of the Catholic Church

It doesn’t make sense that the Catholic Church would speak highly of those who are sworn to serve their country and do so honorably, then turn around to admonish those who join knowing that their is a likely possibility that they may not be able to attend Mass regularly. But the military does try to accommodate their members by enlisting chaplains. And the Catholic Church has even set up an Archdiocese for the military and has appointed an Archbishop. As you have mentioned, aircraft carriers have Catholic Chaplains, that is they have Catholic priests to celebrate Mass. These Navy chaplains often assist at the local parishes when the ship is in port. And as another poster mentioned, those aboard submarines do have a lay service member who has been appointed to lead the Sunday Catholic service ( not the Mass). They are gone usually gone about three months at a time. Then when they return, another crew goes out on patrol for three months while they remain at home for three to four months. When in port many attend Mass at the local parish where their families are parishioners if not at the base chapel. The base also has a military chapel where Catholic chaplains are assigned to celebrate Mass and the sacraments.

 

[BertBlyleven]

The issue is not about the dispensation; if that is what is being asked it is the wrong question.

The question should be, how will this affect your spiritual health? How important is the Eucharist in your life now; and how important will it be, when you are not able to go to Mass?

With whatever skills you have in place now, and whatever skills you intend to develop in the service, is it possible that you might consider another branch where you might not be so removed from the Eucharist? Granted there may not be much of a call for a sonar technician on a KC 135 or on a fire control radar set, it still may be something you wish to think about from a different perspective.

Worry not, I have asked this question (the former) much longer…just not on CAF.

Thank you for the responses.

 

[KendraDZ1902]

The issue is not about the dispensation; if that is what is being asked it is the wrong question.

The question should be, how will this affect your spiritual health? How important is the Eucharist in your life now; and how important will it be, when you are not able to go to Mass?

With whatever skills you have in place now, and whatever skills you intend to develop in the service, is it possible that you might consider another branch where you might not be so removed from the Eucharist? Granted there may not be much of a call for a sonar technician on a KC 135 or on a fire control radar set, it still may be something you wish to think about from a different perspective.

So people in the military who aren’t able to attend Mass because of their job are bad Catholics? That is what I got out of your post. My husband wasn’t on a ship. He has never seen a ship and he has been in the Navy for almost 4 years. When he was deployed this last time, he wasn’t able to go to Mass. He was working 15 hour days. All day everyday. I’m sure that most people in the military face this problem a few times in their career. Thankfully, you don’t make the rules for the Church.

 

[Rich_C]

Looks like your question has already been answered.

When I was in the merchant marine it was hard to keep up my spiritual life. Some suggestions that looking back, would have helped me then: get a spiritual director, get a breviary and pray it every day, read books by the saints regularly, make an act of spiritual communion on Sundays, go to confession every time you make port, and keep a log to track these commitments and make notes of things to discuss with father when you’re back from deployment.

God bless.

 

[CB_Catholic]

The issue is not about the dispensation; if that is what is being asked it is the wrong question.

The question should be, how will this affect your spiritual health? How important is the Eucharist in your life now; and how important will it be, when you are not able to go to Mass?

With whatever skills you have in place now, and whatever skills you intend to develop in the service, is it possible that you might consider another branch where you might not be so removed from the Eucharist? Granted there may not be much of a call for a sonar technician on a KC 135 or on a fire control radar set, it still may be something you wish to think about from a different perspective.

This answer seems inadequate. If I were to have had this approach, I would never have chosen hospital nursing as a career,( which is where God placed me), because I had to work weekends. I am sure many policemen, firemen, paramedics, and other servicemen would agree. Also, if a career choice just sits “right” with a person seeking God’s will, and they have strong inclinations toward it, and the opportunity presents itself, that may be a sign that is where God wants them to be. They should not ignore that.

 

[BertBlyleven]

So people in the military who aren’t able to attend Mass because of their job are bad Catholics? That is what I got out of your post. My husband wasn’t on a ship. He has never seen a ship and he has been in the Navy for almost 4 years. When he was deployed this last time, he wasn’t able to go to Mass. He was working 15 hour days. All day everyday. I’m sure that most people in the military face this problem a few times in their career. Thankfully, you don’t make the rules for the Church.

That’s not at all what the responder meant. He/she is asking whether I could forgo weekly Mass and Eucharistic devotion and still be in a good spiritual state, both state of grace and devotional life. Some people can’t live righteously without these things, some can, in both cases it is only by God’s grace. He/she was not implying that those who forgo these things, especially because of obligations, are bad Catholics, but rather implying that these frequent things are what make some people, not all, good Catholics, without which these people would become bad Catholics (i.e. loss of faith, mortal sin, etc). Missing Mass because of the military would not in itself make you a bad Catholic; the sins as a result of missing Mass, devotion and the like, would make you a bad Catholic, and that depends person to person.

 

[Catholic1954]

I am looking to enter the Navy in a position that would put me on a ship/sub, with tours of 6 months. The military is considered service, so missing Sunday Mass/rest is not a problem if unavoidable, however, does this question change when you know you would regularly miss Mass and work on Sundays (on a boat), and still join? Unlike with war or temporary duty assignments, my regular job would be to be in this situation. I could look at another areas or branches, but on the boat is where I would be best, based on my talents, skills, desires, etc.

I know throughout these tours there will be land stops, and I wouldn’t be surprised if the carriers have Catholic chaplains (if I am put on one), but I am not planning on either of these to be regular (well, I do expect chaplains to be canonically regular).

I trust the traditional forum more than others, so I placed this question here. Although it is a moral question, I do not intend this post to turn into a morality of joining the military given present and other seemingly imminent issues, a topic I will be praying and discussing magna cum diligentia, perhaps even discussing on CAF [in another post]

Yes, I plan on speaking with priests and chaplains.

I spent 4 years in the Nav! Military duty (like a sub deployment or watch) is a legitimate reason to miss Sunday Mass. Be sure you make a good confession before you go; anything can happen.

 

[robwar]

So people in the military who aren’t able to attend Mass because of their job are bad Catholics? That is what I got out of your post. My husband wasn’t on a ship. He has never seen a ship and he has been in the Navy for almost 4 years. When he was deployed this last time, he wasn’t able to go to Mass. He was working 15 hour days. All day everyday. I’m sure that most people in the military face this problem a few times in their career. Thankfully, you don’t make the rules for the Church.

you don’t have to be in the military. One could be living in a very isolated area and again not have ability to regularly attend Mass with a priest or even must wait for a priest to come by and again those people are not any less Catholic than those who live in area with very easy access to Mass attendance. It’s a shame that someone has to access to Mass attendance to whether one is a “good Catholic”. when in a number of situations, not just military deployment this is true.

 

[Mike30]

I would like to add that while many ships do have a Priest as Chaplain or co Chaplain, many others do not. I remember from my days in the Navy that usually about once a month or so while on deployment a Priest would be brought aboard to hear confessions and celebrate Mass. Our Chaplain was Baptist.

I would imagine however that if our young friend will be going on a submarine, the situation may very well be completely different.

 

[otjm]

So people in the military who aren’t able to attend Mass because of their job are bad Catholics? That is what I got out of your post. My husband wasn’t on a ship. He has never seen a ship and he has been in the Navy for almost 4 years. When he was deployed this last time, he wasn’t able to go to Mass. He was working 15 hour days. All day everyday. I’m sure that most people in the military face this problem a few times in their career. Thankfully, you don’t make the rules for the Church.

People see what they want to see, whether it is there or not. You may have something you are dealing with as you saw something in my post that I didn’t say.

I did not use the word “bad Catholic”, and I most certainly did not say anything that would imply that anyone in the military was a bad Catholic for being in the military.

I volunteered during the Viet Nam war as I came to the end of my college years, the first two of which were in the seminary. Rather than making such off the wall specious claims, you might try to go back and read what I said again.

Listen to the testimony of any Catholic who has had a profound experience of Christ, and you will most often find someone who was an average Catholic before that; they went to Mass regularly, they tried not to sin; when they did they went to Reconciliation; in short, they were like all too many Catholics who try to follow the Church, but have not experienced that profound encounter with Christ. After that, they are on fire.

And that is what I was talking about; because if one is on fire, it is akin to being deeply in love; one does not want to leave one’s beloved. Hence my question - the real question in enlisting where one may be removed for a long time from the Eucharist. He was the one who said he might not be able to get to Mass for months on end; I was trying to provide a different focus on the question and a suggestion that if the skill set he wanted to use/grow in the Navy was one that was transferable to another branch, then judging it by the distance in time from one’ beloved might be the best way to make the decision.

Bad Catholic? I don’t know where you got that; I was talking about the Catholic who has encountered Christ and agonizes over separation.

Rules for the Church? Please, what in my email said anything about me rules in the Church? All I suggested was that speaking only of rules of the Church misses the point; the point being our encounter with Christ in the Eucharist.

And by the way, I was in the Army, and spent time where there were no chaplains, and got shot at on a regular basis while doing so, thank you very much. Your husband isn’t the only one who has served.

 

[otjm]

This answer seems inadequate. If I were to have had this approach, I would never have chosen hospital nursing as a career,( which is where God placed me), because I had to work weekends. I am sure many policemen, firemen, paramedics, and other servicemen would agree. Also, if a career choice just sits “right” with a person seeking God’s will, and they have strong inclinations toward it, and the opportunity presents itself, that may be a sign that is where God wants them to be. They should not ignore that.

They are tough issues, which is why I suggested that one possible alternative would be another service which might deploy differently, allowing more opportunity to attend Mass.

Some married couples seem to be able to do well with schedules that don’t fit the “8 to 5, Monday through Friday” schedule; others don’t survive it. Some relationships seem to thrive on schedules which force separation; others fall apart.

And our relationship with Christ should be one of deep love; we should be on fire with that love. Sadly, in both marriages and relationships with Christ, some do not survive the separations or constantly fluctuating schedules. Others do, and may come out strengthened in ways not foreseen.

I can’t answer the question for the OP; I can only try to bring a different perspective to it, and allow the OP to make whatever decision is best. Some times asking the same question in a different way allows the other to find a new perspective, one that helps them answer that question.

I support the military whole-heartedly, and having been in it, I am intimately and thoroughly aware of the demands it can place on a person. I have had that separation myself.

And if I had to go back in time with that experiential knowledge to a period before I enlisted. I would enlist again - for the reasons I enlisted the first time. It (the separation) is not impossible; but is for sure is difficult at times.

 

[aTraditionalist]

The sad reality is that Catholic Chaplains are in short supply. I was deployed to the Afghanistan/ Pakistan border, and the I went to Mass in Kandahar every couple of months when our mission took us there. One of the Fathers gave me a Sunday liturgy that excluded the consecration but added a prayer. This way, the laity could still have a Sunday service with the exception of Holy Communion. Spiritually, it will be rough. Find a good fellow Catholic and stick together. BTW, subs don’t make port calls nor do they come up for air.

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