No Catholic Church nearby

  • Thread starter Thread starter lisauze
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OP, contact your diocese and the nearest Catholic parish. They are still responsible for you. Perhaps a priest could travel to your area periodically. Do you know of other Catholics nearby? You could perhaps organize a Catholic prayer service. Of course, there is Catholic Mass on EWTN and the internet. Easter Vigil Masses from the Basilica in Washington DC and Rome will be online. As other posters have noted, I would really hesitate taking children to Protestant church services.
 
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Ah I missed the timeline of the posts. Generally then we agree. In my case, I live only 10 minutes from my parish, but choose to worship at the Benedictine abbey to which I’m attached as oblate. It’s a 40 km drive that takes 35 minutes, but I have the luxury as I can afford it and my wife both drive late-model, reliable cars.

When my mother was in her final illness for several months I visited her every Saturday and that was 2 hours and 200 km each way. It sure did take a big bite out of my budget, and my free time at a time when we were juggling busy careers with with my international business travel and three young children, and I had to do this for several months until I managed to get her moved into a nearby care facility.
 
I live in swans quarter NC the closest Churches are one hour and 25 min according to google maps. I just wanted to feel God and Jesus’ presence on Easter sunrise service which is why I was looking for some alternative as the car we have is only for use to and from my husbands work when his coworkers can’t pick him up, shopping, and emergency situations. We put all our money into our house and where not expecting my car to break down. I haven’t really been here long enough to know of any other Catholics. I am also a convert and was originally baptized in a Free Will Baptist Church before meeting my catholic husband. I just felt like watching it on TV wouldn’t be the same and that I would miss out on feeling Gods presence in my heart and I just hoped he would be present in another church and would understand if I went. I guess I was wrong
 
You absolutely must not attend a protestant church. That will not fulfill your Sunday obligation. I’m not sure if anyone has recommended this, but you should contact the bishop of the diocese you’re in and ask him for instruction. He will be able to release you from your Sunday obligation for a time he sees fit, until a permanent solution can be established.
 
Thom18 said:
You absolutely must not attend a protestant church. That will not fulfill your Sunday obligation. I’m not sure if anyone has recommended this, but you should contact the bishop of the diocese you’re in and ask him for instruction. He will be able to release you from your Sunday obligation for a time he sees fit, until a permanent solution can be established.
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It is not only about the obligation to attend Mass, but also the desire to worship, which is what the OP mentoned several posts above.
 
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I see.
You have St Peter the Fisherman as one that should be near you. Is that the Church you looked up?

You can go to masstimes.org and put in your specific address, then see the closest and their times. Then see how far away it would be. I understand wanting to go to Church on Easter Sunday especially.
 
Well you could try seeing if there’s Eastern Orthodox churches that are closer. It might not fulfill the Sunday obligation like a Roman Catholic mass, but they still have the real presence in the Eucharist.
 
There are even fewer Eastern or Greek Orthodox Churches nearby than Catholic ones.
 
One hour driving is harsh?!
My parish offers mass in two cities in a changing routine. My closest possible church takes me 1:40 via bus-train-bus for one direction. If mass is at the second church, it takes me 2:15.
We are living in relative poverty, and I do know the costs for this are noticable. I have openly discussed it with my katechesis teacher and they organise as often as possible driving services. Maybe this could be an Option.
 
lisauze said:
I just want some kind of church service for my son who is 8 so he doesn’t lose all that he gained from religious education it’s not like they have have religious education online( at least not that I can tell) I don’t want to go because of an obligation I go to mass because I enjoy learning about Christ. I also don’t want to miss Easter services etc. but from what you all are saying it’s better for us to sit at home and have no church type services at all then go to a Protestant Church is that correct?
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Well, actually, you can get SOME religious education online! 🙂
  1. Purchase a subscription to FORMED.org (which is less than $10 per month)
  2. There is also: https://www.catechismclass.com/
  3. http://thesignsofgrace.org/
God Bless!
 
I’m really sorry you are in this situation. There are mergers going on where I am and I can potentially forsee a time when the Catholic Church may only be available to the richer, more urban and mobile.
 
Pray a daily Rosary with your son and husband. The Blessed Virgin Mary will help you preserve the faith in your family and help resolve this problem.
 
Is it possible to do a shopping trip to the same place around the same time as a daily Mass is going on, doesn’t help you with your son but will give you a chance to get the Sacraments? However if you only have the one car and your husband needs it that day I don’t know what else you can do. Maybe read the days Liturgy with your son and do prayers together so you still have that time together with God. Would anyone from the closest church be able to do a home visit to you, so you can receive the Eucharist?
 
Hi lisauze, as Catholics we must fulfill our Sunday obligation of attending Mass and on holy days of obligation under pain of mortal sin unless for extreme circumstances (very bad illness, for instance). Also, you mentioned that you have a son. As his parent you have a responsibility to take him to Mass. However, I understand that it is very difficult to travel such a distance to church when you do not have a working car. Is it possible you could take some form of public transportation? Do you have a ferry nearby? Could you possibly ask someone to drive you? Or an Uber/Lyft or taxi? Also, you can try calling your parish priest and explaining the situation. He might be able to help you. Some parishes have a shuttle service or the priest might know of someone who would be willing to drive you. Good luck with everything and may God bless you!
 
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1ke said:
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lisauze:
or should I just teach my child st home
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Yes. Teach at home. watch mass online or on tv.
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I agree. TV mass doesn’t replace the Sunday obligation, but given the distance, the financial situation, and current car situation it sounds like you cannot be held to the obligation. The TV mass is still good though in that it keeps you and your son “in touch” with the mass and the liturgy.
 
The only other thing that might help is if there are other Catholics nearby that you could connect with. For example my in law’s village has no Catholic Church but there is a small group of them who sometimes get together.
 
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Correct. Educating your son at home will be far better than effectively teaching him that all religions are equal.
 
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