Proper time for non-Catholic to leave before Eucharist

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icqraid

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I have just recently started attending Mass (haven’t started the catechism). I am curious as to when the appropriate time to leave. I think I heard after the second reading, but I can’t remember.
 
You are welcome to stay for the entire Mass. When you begin RCIA, they may dismiss you after the readings as a class, but when you attend on your own, you may certainly stay.

Welcome home!
 
Unless you are unbaptized and in RCIA you do not have to leave at any point during mass.

As part of the RCIA process Catechumen (and in some parishes Canidates) are dismissed after the Liturgy of the Word (after the homily).
 
They would not have to leave if they just becasue they are unbaptized, but if they are unbaptized AND in RCIA they are normally dismissed during mass with the rest of the RCIA class, some parishes also dismess Canidates (baptized converts in RCIA).

Even while in RCIA if the Catechumens and Canidates are at a mass that is not the “normal” mass they attend as a class they are not dismissed and stay for the entire mass.
 
There is no need to leave if you are unbaptized and not in RCIA, and in some places, even RCIA catechumens don’t leave. You’re welcome to stay for the entire Mass. You don’t go up for communion, though. Use that time in prayer to ask our Lord to increase your faith. Follow along in your pew missal with what the priest is doing and what is being said, and you may want to take home a church bulletin so that you can look up the scripture readings in your Bible at home and read them for yourself outside of Mass.
 
In our parishes here, you are welcome to go up and get a blessing when we take the Eucharist. All you have to do is cross your arms over your chest and the minister or priest will bless you. It’s a good thing to do because you are part of the community.

Welcome!
 
Catholics are obligated to be at mass on the sabbath and some holy days. However, there is no obligation to attend for non-Catholics during the whole mass (or at all of course). Even Catholics leave during the mass for good reason. For example, the last mass I went to a mother went out with her daughter, which I assumed was for a call of nature. If you leave at any time, I wouldn’t think people will mind.
 
icqraid said:
I have just recently started attending Mass (haven’t started the catechism). I am curious as to when the appropriate time to leave. I think I heard after the second reading, but I can’t remember.
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you don’t have to leave at all unless you unbaptized and are in a formal RCIA process and it is the custom in that parish to dismiss the catechumens after the homily.
 
mswood said:
Unless you are unbaptized and in RCIA you do not have to leave at any point during mass.

As part of the RCIA process Catechumen (and in some parishes Canidates) are dismissed after the Liturgy of the Word (after the homily).
Click to expand...
I didn’t realize this was still being done. I thought it used to happen in the early church. I’m going to ask the man who teaches RCIA in the parish I attend. I’d be disappointed if I have to leave. Although since I will be a candidate, this won’t apply to me?

How common is this?
 
TrueLight said:
I didn’t realize this was still being done. I thought it used to happen in the early church. I’m going to ask the man who teaches RCIA in the parish I attend. I’d be disappointed if I have to leave. Although since I will be a candidate, this won’t apply to me?

How common is this?
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this applies to the unbaptized catechumens, who leave after the readings and homily to begin their instruction, which is based on those readings. As was indeed the practice in the early Church, the RCIA rite provides for this, since they will be admitted to “the mysteries” that is the liturgy of the Eucharist, immediately after their baptism. However every parish that does RCIA does not necessarily dismiss. We don’t do it here because of simple logistics, when and where catechists and meeting areas are available.
 
In most parishes, I never saw them dismissed. Of course ask, if you wonder if it is being done in the parish where you are.
TrueLight said:
I didn’t realize this was still being done. I thought it used to happen in the early church. I’m going to ask the man who teaches RCIA in the parish I attend. I’d be disappointed if I have to leave. Although since I will be a candidate, this won’t apply to me?

How common is this?
Click to expand...
 
Thank you all for your (name removed by moderator)ut. I wanted to be respectful to the Church, but I didn’t want to be disrespectful by leaving. Thank you.
 
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