Push in or get up?

[Diaconia]

I like MaryAlene’s take on this:

maryalene:

I voted other. If am reading at Mass, I let the others pass me. If I am not, I move in. Personally, it doesn’t really matter to me where I sit.

I’m a deacon, so I always have a great seat in the sanctuary. But if I happen to be visiting another parish and sitting with my wife, we always move it. I have never given “the look” to anyone at Mass, and never would.

It delights me to see enough people attending Mass that we have a need to slide in! Many of our Catholic brothers and sisters around the globe don’t even have pews or seats in their churches to sit on. They are just happy to be able to participate in the Mass, even if they have to stand.

One thing that does bother me is the way so many people come inappropriately dressed to Church. I can tell you first-hand it is distracting to the priest & deacon. And it is certainly offensive to God’s house. To say nothing of what it means to your own self-esteem.

If you were invited to the White House, you would wear your best suit or dress – if you are invited to God’s House, where you will receive the King of the Universe (your Lord and God and Savior Jesus Christ) into the Temple of the Holy Spirit (your body) would you prefer to do it “Sunday best,” or “ready for the beach” mode?

Just a pet peeve of mine that needs regular mentioning.

God bless you all for your faithfulness in attending Mass!

 

[Patrick2340]

Now that my wife is converting, my family and I take up enough of a pew that people don’t generally try to sit by us. Before that, however, I usually got up. This is because our parish has Benediction following 10 am Mass. Some people stay and some people leave. I generally left so I could get home to my wife and kids.

 

[TeriGator]

Because of my 3 kids, I prefer to sit on the ends. I usually try to get one of the small pews in the back, even though that means that they can’t see what’s going on. If we have to let someone into the pew, I try to get up and let them in, because if we just slide in, I know that the kids will be stomping all over their feet as they make their emergency trips to the bathroom.

How can a child’s bladder be so small that, even though they went right before mass, they have to go again at the most inconvenient time?

 

[alterserver_07]

I like the end seat for special events like Bishop instalment or an ordination. But for regular mass, I will go to the middle when someone comes.

 

[BigPaulie]

Some may have a legit. reason for sitting at the end of a pew, eg: medical, emergency personel ect.

What I have a hard time with is people who hog the ends of each pew and grow roots there. The will not budge no matter how crowded the mass may be.
On Christmas Eve at my parish I’ve seen people unnecessarily standing for lack of an available seat, because people at the end of the pew will not move in.
How much Christian love are you capable of, if you will not even give up your seat for a young mother or old person? :tsktsk:
BigPaulie

 

[Fergal]

Reminds me of the time I witnessed 2 old ladies actually fighting over a seating position.

One old lady had arrived at Mass and taken her seat at the end of a lond pew. She was the only one in the front pew in front of the Altar.

Then another lady arrived in and wanted the same position. She nudged the lady already sitting who made moves to allow the second lady past her, but no. The second lady wanted that very position and so the nudges because more physical and developed into a pushing match.

The first lady then got up and went to a different pew and the second lady took her coveted position with pride.

Such a shameful spectacle. I felt I wanted to give a commentary similar to that displayed by the WWE.

OLWA is what I have christened them. Old Ladies Wrestling Alliance.

 

[BigPaulie]

carol marie:

As long as you’re willing to get up. I often see people on the ends and it’s as if they are guarding the rest of the pew. We stand there (all six of us) and they don’t even look up. So we say, “May we sit please?” And normally WE get the look. Mind you, this is before mass starts. So I think that “look” goes both ways. Myself, I would push in automatically so fewer people have to stand in the back.

I have experienced exactly the same thing. I have four children so people are reluctant to let us in also.
It realy burns me up. Somtime I’d to pick them up and place them at the end of another pew. Big Paulie

 

[pnewton]

BigPaulie:

What I have a hard time with is people who hog the ends of each pew and grow roots there. The will not budge no matter how crowded the mass may be.
On Christmas Eve at my parish I’ve seen people unnecessarily standing for lack of an available seat, because people at the end of the pew will not move in.

I do not understand one thing. If there is room in the middle of the pew, wouldn’t standing up be as much an unwillingness on the part of the one standing not to step around to the empty seat as it is on the one sitting?

I do not like to see women (or elderly) standing when men are sitting, although in most instances men are with families and may not have an option to give up the seat.

 

[matt5]

It always seems a little rude if you sit at the end of the pew and make others get around you. If I sit in an empty pew, I sit in the middle.

 

[tossolul]

Our church has too many pillars in it. It’s beautiful, but…There is only a few space of feet in the pew that I sit in that you can see who’s standing at the pulpit. So I sometimes find myself , I don’t know…wishing I hadn’t sat there when someone comes and wants me to move over. I think I just need to find a different pew, so I don’t have that feeling. I don’t know why I don’t? Why is it that people always like to sit in the same spot every week?

I have witnessed people almost being rude when people want to sit next to them in the pew. Not as much at my church, but more so at my husbands. I always just think… Have they somehow forgotten where they are? Why would you not smile and welcome them?