The Great Post-Eucharist Stampede

Status
Not open for further replies.
I was guilty of that as a child. I would immediately run outside and play on the playground (which has since been removed). Now I can’t imagine doing so, and it hurts me even on the extremely rare occasion I see it happen.
 
Thom18 said:
I was guilty of that as a child. I would immediately run outside and play on the playground (which has since been removed). Now I can’t imagine doing so,
Click to expand...
That’s OK; the police look suspiciously on adults there, anyway 🙂
hawk
 
angelic06 said:
Which is tantamount to kidnapping. I would be calling the authorities if the ushers did that.
Click to expand...
Given that after the final blessing, Father is going to be leaving within about 2 minutes, it’s not “tantamount to kidnapping” because it’s not like the person was made to stay for any significant extra time. It’s basically the same as if you were in some public place and were held back from leaving for a minute because a VIP and his party needed to leave first.

I’ve also been in older churches where the layout is such that Father needs to come down a certain aisle to go back to the sacristy and if you happen to be seated on that aisle, you can’t leave after the final blessing because you will end up in an aisle collision with Father and the servers. The ushers and parishioners will keep that aisle clear until after the priest leaves.
 
Last edited:
I wouldn’t go as far as calling it false imprisonment but it’s an unnecessary confrontation that could have potentially escalated.
 
A bit off topic, but,

There is a new family at weekday Masses this week. Not sure if it’s parents or grandparents and a perhaps 11 yo boy.
Thursday the boy did not want to come into the Church, and spent the majority of time outside during Mass.
Friday Mass and Adoration/ Benediction the boy spent half and half time. He was constantly in and out of the Church. Mum or grandma knelt for an hour of Adoration after Mass. I really admired her. The Priest kept saying Mass. and had spoken to the boy the day before.

Pray this child becomes comfortable being in Mass

🕊️🙏
 
Last edited:
Oh you should! I believe there are about 45 in the US. Search “Our Lady of Walsingham, Houston TX”, and I’m sure you can find your way to a directory.
 
I have left early, three times in twenty years. I still remember each time and why so that I do not judge harshly those that occasionally leave early. On the other hand, when it is the same people every time, I know there is something amiss.

Our big stampede comes in the middle of the recessional. About a third of the parish will fall in at the priest heels to get out. I think if he ever stopped while recessing he would be trampled.
 
I’ve rarely seen the post-Eucharist stampede in the UK, although I frequently see the Communion stampede. It’s like a race to recieve the Host with people at the back of the church out of the pew before the celebrant has stepped down from the altar. (No such problem in the Ordinariate parish, it’s ingrained to go to the rail row by row - no matter how long it takes.)
 
I didn’t consider this, but your post brings up something interesting. The Stampede could be part of a larger phenomenon involving the priest shortage and the resulting over-crowded parishes and parking lots.

The lot at my parish is so chaotic that it gives new meaning to, “The Mass has ended. Let us go in PEACE . . . .” While I empathize with wanting to get a leg-up in traffic, so many people are leaving that it’s probably not effective. If anything, it’s good to stay to the end and battle fewer people backing out. There’s nothing like our parking lot to challenge you to apply what you learned at Mass! 😉

I guess that at the end of the day, isn’t it better to complain about over-crowded Masses rather than under-attended ones?
 
AngelusDomini said:
(No such problem in the Ordinariate parish, it’s ingrained to go to the rail row by row - no matter how long it takes.)
Click to expand...
Oh, how I miss that!! 😃

I also miss the be-still-and-know-that-I-am-God silence. It’s hard to focus on the Eucharist with everyone singing in the background.

First world problems, right?
 
blackforest said:
I didn’t consider this, but your post brings up something interesting. The Stampede could be part of a larger phenomenon involving the priest shortage and the resulting over-crowded parishes and parking lots.
Click to expand...
When this first came up, I was thinking parking is probably the issue. I have been to Churches that have even hired off-duty police for traffic control. For those who are part of the rush, at my parish, all is peaceful and easy in 5-8 minutes.
 
blackforest said:
That broaches on the other weird phenomenon I’ve seen in Catholic churches - a profound fear of the inner pew! It seems that people arrive early just to claim their outer-pew access.
Click to expand...
Many that do this is because they have health issues that increase the likelihood of an emergency trip to the toilet. I’ve been in that situation, that fortunately was fixed with a medication change, but it remains seared in our minds and we are reluctant to give up that quick exit access. Much better to slip unobtrusively out of one’s pew mid-Mass than having to crawl over a bunch of people.
twf said:
I haven’t seen this. Most people at the parishes I’ve been at wait until the final blessing.
Click to expand...
Same here. One of Canada’s past prime ministers and prior to that finance minister (you can guess I’m sure!) lived in our parish and could be often seen at Mass when he was at home. He would always leave early, but I can understand in his case, he didn’t want to be mobbed on the way out, and probably his bodyguards had a say in this as well.
twf said:
At one parish, can’t remember where now, I tried to leave after the final blessing but was blocked by ushers… told I had to wait for Father to leave! Not a joke.
Click to expand...
That’s too funny! At the abbey though, most wait until the monks have all processed out of the church. Moreover, the abbot who is also the titular organist of the abbey, usually plays a postlude, and if not him, then the choirmaster who is also an excellent organist (but of a totally different style). The abbot has won many prizes for his playing, so many people stay behind to hear the organ; usually the postlude is about 5-10 minutes extra, on a Mass that has already lasted 1-1/4 hours. Lent and advent excepted of course.
 
At my parish a few people always leave after communion. They could be visitors are they are usually people I don’t recognize. Most people wait until the end of the last hymn. Once the hymn ends people tend to rush out. I understand why. We have six masses for Sunday, people sitting in fold out chairs, and limited parking. My parish isn’t some quantity, small community.

I will occasionally leave early myself (after the Mass has ended) if the last hymn is particularly irritating.
 
Oh my goodness- most people bolt after getting communion. I kid you not. I don’t understand why so many people do this, even after the priest gently reminds us, at almost every mass, to please remain seated until the mass is over.

It really is a stampede.
 
katiecall87 said:
Oh my goodness- most people bolt after getting communion. I kid you not.
Click to expand...
I go to about a dozen Catholic churches fairly regularly and don’t see a mass exodus at any.
Makes me think there is a traffic issue or parking problem at specific churches, or that this affects particular Masses.
 
Last edited:
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top