No Saturday Morning Mass

[janeway529]

Sorry, this does not excuse for lack of a Saturday morning mass. A local parish around here has canceled Tuesday and Thursday daily masses for the entire summer to give their two priests time off. The attitude is absurd.

A parish run by the Columban Missionary Fathers (that I used to frequent because they offered daily Mass at 7pm) stopped offering Mass on Thursdays once a new pastor was installed because Thursdays were their meeting day.

 

[Urn]

I am on staff at a parish. The staff and even the priests need a day off. Our parish has a volunteer in the office.

No need for “staff” to be at a Satruday morning Mass unless they want to attend.

A priest can go back to sleep if he really wants to after Mass. He likely has to be around anyway for the evening vigil. I suspect his day off is during the week anyway.

 

[Urn]

Our parish has one priest who does Daily Mass four times a week and one Saturday Evening Mass and three Sunday mornings Masses. Isn’t he entitled to one or two mornings off each week? He does have other things to do too.

What’s more important?

The focus should be on helping him to do those other things and not to cut Masses.

 

[quiet52]

What’s more important?

The focus should be on helping him to do those other things and not to cut Masses.

It’s already been explained that at many parishes, Saturday mornings (and sometimes early afternoons) are reserved for funerals and weddings. A priest might need to celebrate both a funeral and a wedding, then celebrate the Sunday Vigil Mass later on.

A parishioner who wants to attend Saturday morning Mass can attend at a nearby parish, or even attend the funeral or Wedding Mass (when they happen).

It is unreasonable to expect a priest to celebrate four Masses in one day.

 

[Urn]

It’s already been explained that at many parishes, Saturday mornings (and sometimes early afternoons) are reserved for funerals and weddings. A priest might need to celebrate both a funeral and a wedding, then celebrate the Sunday Vigil Mass later on.

A parishioner who wants to attend Saturday morning Mass can attend at a nearby parish, or even attend the funeral or Wedding Mass (when they happen).

It is unreasonable to expect a priest to celebrate four Masses in one day.

Interesting. No funeral Masses on Saturdays or Sunday in my parish. Lots of weddings though.

It’s not unreasonable for a priest to celebrate 4 Masses in one day in obviously rare situations if he has his ordinary’s permission.

Our Saturday Mass is from 07:00-07:30. Doesn’t get in the way of anything.

 

[Bergon]

Why are people getting upset because their priest takes a day off? Isn’t he entitled to one? He’s under no obligation to recite Mass on a daily basis. Whilst daily Mass is commendable for the faithful it’s not compulsory. A major cause of the problem where there may not be daily Mass is a lack of priests. If a parish had two priests, and I remember the days when that was common, they could have separate days off and hence be able to provide Mass everyday. If you want a solution to this problem start praying fervently for priestly vocations.

 

[tafan]

Why are people getting upset because their priest takes a day off? Isn’t he entitled to one? He’s under no obligation to recite Mass on a daily basis. Whilst daily Mass is commendable for the faithful it’s not compulsory. A major cause of the problem where there may not be daily Mass is a lack of priests. If a parish had two priests, and I remember the days when that was common, they could have separate days off and hence be able to provide Mass everyday. If you want a solution to this problem start praying fervently for priestly vocations.

MSSheBear:

Our parish has one priest who does Daily Mass four times a week and one Saturday Evening Mass and three Sunday mornings Masses. Isn’t he entitled to one or two mornings off each week? He does have other things to do too.

curlyco0l89:

Saturday’s (especially in the Summertime) often have Weddings scheduled. If it’s a smaller parish with only 1 priest who also has a Saturday evening (Sunday anticipated) Mass, that could already be 2 Masses that day for him. At the very least, he’s going to need the Bishop’s permission to celebrate another Mass, not to mention that could involve a third homily to write.

Yea, maybe I was too harsh. Perhaps I am just a little spoiled. I grew up in a small country parish with one priest, and daily mass was always said.

OTOH: A priest chose a life of prayer. A “day off” from one’s prayer routine might not be that great of thing. And it is “highly recommended” that a priest says mass everyday. He does not get his mornings off, ever. He has to say his liturgy of the hours everyday.

Some details to consider: As for three homilies; certainly not required. He can skip the homily in a simple daily mass. With the help of a good sacristan, total time out of his day for a daily mass on Saturday morning could be less than 30 minutes. This is less than his liturgy of the hours.

And a pastor’s life towards is parish is not that unlike a parent’s life towards their child. It is not a job where one “gets a day off”. Oh, certainly, a priest should take a day off from most work once each week, but his prayer and basic care of his parishioners? I am not so sure he should have a day of from that. Canon law says they should be tireless in their pastoral ministry.

Here is some food for thought:

Can. 276 §1. In leading their lives, clerics are bound in a special way to pursue holiness since, having been consecrated to God by a new title in the reception of orders, they are dispensers of the mysteries of God in the service of His people.

§2. In order to be able to pursue this perfection:

1/ they are first of all to fulfill **faithfully and tirelessly **the duties of the pastoral ministry;

2/ they are to nourish their spiritual life from the two-fold table of sacred scripture and the Eucharist; therefore, priests are **earnestly invited **to offer the eucharistic sacrifice daily and deacons to participate in its offering daily;

3/ priests and deacons aspiring to the presbyterate are **obliged to carry out the liturgy of the hours daily **according to the proper and approved liturgical books; permanent deacons, however, are to carry out the same to the extent defined by the conference of bishops;

4/ they are equally bound to make time for spiritual retreats according to the prescripts of particular law;

5/ they are urged to engage in mental prayer regularly, to approach the sacrament of penance frequently, to honor the Virgin Mother of God with particular veneration, and to use other common and particular means of sanctification.

Its does not really read like a job, does it?

The Church certainly encourages the faithful to attend daily mass, so it would seem that there is a responsibility of a pastor to see it is available.

 

[maryjk]

Why are people getting upset because their priest takes a day off? Isn’t he entitled to one?

Because people are part of an entitled nation. They want what they want, and they want it now.

Watch people in line at a store. They are tapping their foot, looking at their watch, all the time counting how many registers aren’t open. Then one will look at another, “Why don’t they have more people working?!?!?”

Yes, the priest needs to have a day off. Generally that day is during the week. But remember Mass isn’t the only job of a priest. He also visits the sick and imprisoned, the hospitalized and the home bound. He meets with those struggling with sin, and those getting married. He attends meetings. Those with parishioners and those with people outside of the parish. Chances are, unless you are a huge parish, he is the guy that signs the checks to pay the bills, hires (and fires) parish employees, and makes sure that the plumber came. There are weddings to witness, baptisms to perform and Confessions to hear.

After all of that, if he can’t squeeze in Mass on Saturday morning? Well, maybe find a parish nearby that does have Mass then.

 

[Bergon]

Its does not really read like a job, does it?

The Church certainly encourages the faithful to attend daily mass, so it would seem that there is a responsibility of a pastor to see it is available.

Perhaps you believe that priests are supernatural beings.

Have you any idea what a priest does? So, can they not, like the mere mortals they are, tire both physically and emotionally.

A priest is a man of prayer and I’m sure he’s no objection to saying his Office. His Breviary doesn’t tie him to the church. But, he’s entitled to a break for one day per week. Most priests take this mid-week so they’re not depriving the faithful of obligatory Masses.

It is easy to demand the availability of a priest 24/7 when you’re not the one having to live that experience.

I’m not convinced of the 30 minutes unless you want a priest that comes totally unprepared into the sacristy, vests, rushes through Mass, back into the sacristy, throws of his vestments for the sacristan to put away and off he’s gone. I thought you’d like him to make prayerful preparation for and thanksgiving after Mass. And, of course, there’ll be no parishioners saying: “Oh, Father, while you’re here have you got a minute …”.

I certainly don’t begrudge my priest his day off and will continue praying for vocations. In fact saying that reminds me he’s doing the work of six priests. If you find that incredulous think of this. He serves what was until quite recently three parishes; each one had two priests.

 

[SMHW]

Interesting. No funeral Masses on Saturdays or Sunday in my parish. Lots of weddings though.

It’s not unreasonable for a priest to celebrate 4 Masses in one day in obviously rare situations if he has his ordinary’s permission.

Our Saturday Mass is from 07:00-07:30. Doesn’t get in the way of anything.

A pastor might get permission to celebrate four Masses a day on a Sunday. But the Bishop is not going to give permission for multiple weekday Masses just so a particular parish can have a regular Saturday morning Mass.

In fact a lot of places (particularly those where everyone drives to Mass rather than walk or take public transportation) have policies such that Mass times are viewed at the deanery level more so than the parish level. The bishop might say that if there is morning Mass at a parish within five to ten miles of Saint A parish then there is no way that Father A can get permission to say another regularly scheduled Mass on that day. If a parish wants a Saturday morning Mass they will have to find another priest (say a retired priest or a priest from a friary) who is free at that time. (Parishes compete with each other for those priests.)

 

[tafan]

Perhaps you believe that priests are supernatural beings.

Have you any idea what a priest does? So, can they not, like the mere mortals they are, tire both physically and emotionally.

A priest is a man of prayer and I’m sure he’s no objection to saying his Office. His Breviary doesn’t tie him to the church. But, he’s entitled to a break for one day per week. Most priests take this mid-week so they’re not depriving the faithful of obligatory Masses.

It is easy to demand the availability of a priest 24/7 when you’re not the one having to live that experience.

I’m not convinced of the 30 minutes unless you want a priest that comes totally unprepared into the sacristy, vests, rushes through Mass, back into the sacristy, throws of his vestments for the sacristan to put away and off he’s gone. I thought you’d like him to make prayerful preparation for and thanksgiving after Mass. And, of course, there’ll be no parishioners saying: “Oh, Father, while you’re here have you got a minute …”.

I certainly don’t begrudge my priest his day off and will continue praying for vocations. In fact saying that reminds me he’s doing the work of six priests. If you find that incredulous think of this. He serves what was until quite recently three parishes; each one had two priests.

I understand your arguments and certainly do not disagree with all of them. I was simply pointing out a few counter arguments, the main one being that a daily mass should be part of a priest’s regular prayer life. Not something " a day off" really applies to.

Now, I fully acknowledge how hard our priest 's have to work. So we should do everything possible to help them ( eg provide sacristan services).

Much of my arguments and the details come directly from canon law. I am not the one that says they should be tireless in their duties, the church says that. It is a tough life they have, we should pray for them all the time and support them in anyway possible.

I will close by saying one of the main things on this thread which bother me is the comparing of a priest’s duties to a job, or even people wanting daily mass to someone impatiently waiting inline at a store. We should show the office of the priesthood and priests themselves more respect than comparing what they do to a job. It is so much more than that.

 

[tafan]

I’m not convinced of the 30 minutes unless you want a priest that comes totally unprepared into the sacristy, vests, rushes through Mass, back into the sacristy, throws of his vestments for the sacristan to put away and off he’s gone. I thought you’d like him to make prayerful preparation for and thanksgiving after Mass. And, of course, there’ll be no parishioners saying: “Oh, Father, while you’re here have you got a minute …”.

Btw, I often see our pastor walking into the sacristy less than 5 minutes before mass and leaving 30 minutes later. And the church is perfectly prepared everyday for mass and the sacristy and vestments are perfectly put away after every mass. He never seems unprepared and I would never question his prayer preparation or his thanksgiving after mass simply because he arrives right on time and does not always hang around for long.

 

[Bergon]

I was simply pointing out a few counter arguments, the main one being that a daily mass should be part of a priest’s regular prayer life.

That is an opinion you hold. It isn’t what the Church obliges.

 

[tafan]

That is an opinion you hold. It isn’t what the Church obliges.

I said daily mass “should be” part of a priest’s daily life, which is pretty much what the Church says in two different canons I have quoted. I never said the Church obliges the priest to daily mass, I have even pointed out why the Church does not oblige that.

If there is a discrepancy between my opinion and what the Church says, please be more specific. Please do not twist my response such that it appears I am at odds with the Church’s laws.

 

[SMHW]

I said daily mass “should be” part of a priest’s daily life, which is pretty much what the Church says in two different canons I have quoted. I never said the Church obliges the priest to daily mass, I have even pointed out why the Church does not oblige that.

I suspect that the typical priest does say Mass at least once per day.

His “Day Off” is likely not to be a day off from saying Mass. More likely it is a “Day Away” from the parish to which he is assigned.

And a priest who says Mass at the Saturday evening anticipated Mass for Sunday IS saying Mass on a Saturday even if it is not the Mass of the day for Saturday.

 

[Bergon]

I said daily mass “should be” part of a priest’s daily life, which is pretty much what the Church says in two different canons I have quoted. I never said the Church obliges the priest to daily mass, I have even pointed out why the Church does not oblige that.

If there is a discrepancy between my opinion and what the Church says, please be more specific. Please do not twist my response such that it appears I am at odds with the Church’s laws.

Yes, but saying what you said is your opinion. The Church does not require a priest to celebrate daily. Therefore, I am not, nor am I attempting to, twist your words. What we all say on this forum is our opinion. Not one of us should be so conceited as to think we speak for the Church.

 

[tafan]

I suspect that the typical priest does say Mass at least once per day.

His “Day Off” is likely not to be a day off from saying Mass. More likely it is a “Day Away” from the parish to which he is assigned.

And a priest who says Mass at the Saturday evening anticipated Mass for Sunday IS saying Mass on a Saturday even if it is not the Mass of the day for Saturday.

I agree, certainly the vigil mass is a day mass. As I said on a previous post, I have been too harsh on the exact issue of no Saturday morning mass (although in general I still think it a mistake, I would not judge any priest’s particular reasoning or decision).

My big issue on this thread are the posts which state that a priest should have “a day off” from saying mass. I disagree. I certainly understand that a priest will have days where he does not say a mass, and this is legitimate. Having a regularly scheduled “day off” from saying mass, for a priest, just seems like a very strange thing to me. Its like me saying I have a day off from taking care of my kids, not like saying I have a day off from my job.

 

[tafan]

Yes, but saying what you said is your opinion. The Church does not require a priest to celebrate daily. Therefore, I am not, nor am I attempting to, twist your words. What we all say on this forum is our opinion. Not one of us should be so conceited as to think we speak for the Church.

I have repeatedly said that the Church does not require a priest to celebrate mass daily. So when you saying that my opinion in disagreement with the Church on this matter, you are certainly twisting my words to misrepresent my point of view.

Furthermore, I am not speaking for the Church, I am quoting Church law with respect to a priest’s responsibilities to his parishioners AND with respect to a priest’s prayer life. Which in this case seem to go hand-in-hand.

No one who says a priest should have a day off from saying mass has quoted a one church document from the Church giving a priest a “day off” from saying mass. Yet I am the one presuming to speak for the Church? I am the one just giving my opinion?

Please provide any evidence where the Church "recommended earnestly " or is “earnestly invited” to a day off from saying mass. I doubt you will find it.

I am not the one being uncharitable in this discussion. I have time and time again acknowledged the good arguments being made against me. I have admitted to being too harsh in my assessment of the OP.