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CatholicZ09
Guest
I am thinking of serving on Christmas, but I don’t know what time I should schedule myself. It’s either Christmas Eve at 5pm or Christmas Day at 9am. What time do you think I should do?
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Unless you belong to one of those parishes that holds “Midnight” Mass at 5:00pm I don’t know that there will be much different between the Masses other than the readings. So it really just comes down to personal preference and family convenience.I am thinking of serving on Christmas, but I don’t know what time I should schedule myself. It’s either Christmas Eve at 5pm or Christmas Day at 9am. What time do you think I should do?
Perhaps your parish has a special family Mass or children’s Mass at one of those times that you are hoping to attend? Maybe one of those Masses has carols before hand? Or maybe you have someplace else to be at one time or the other?
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Natural_Family
Guest
You could choose to serve at both as the readings etc are different for the Christmas vigil, Midnight Mass and Mass on Christmas Day. I always like to at least go to the Vigil or Midnight Mass and Christmas Day Mass as it’s such a wonderful feast, but you only have to go to one. It’s good to go with your family at this time if you can or at a time when you can see friends to share in the Joy of the Feast afterwards.**
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bpbasilphx
Guest
Why don’t you ask the pastor when you’re more likely to be needed?
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MusicMan
Guest
This.Why don’t you ask the pastor when you’re more likely to be needed?
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CatholicZ09
Guest
Our church has Midnight Mass for Christmas. The only reason I didn’t post that is because I go with my Grandma to that Mass and I 'd rather sit with her at Midnight Mass. The only Masses on Christmas Eve is 5pm. There used to be 4pm and 6:30pm (Regular Mass and then Children’s Mass) but they changed that and thought 6:30 might be too late if people have Christmas Eve dinner. So, I have the option of going to 5pm Christmas Eve, or 9am Christmas day. I would like to go both days, but I think they only schedule for one day so others can have a turn. Plus, I don’t want to seem like I’m “hogging it.”
P.S. My mom doesn’t go to Midnight Mass because she doesn’t like it, but she said she’d go to 5 or 9.
P.S. My mom doesn’t go to Midnight Mass because she doesn’t like it, but she said she’d go to 5 or 9.
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EasterJoy
Guest
Ask your family which of the two works best for them, and request that. If the family has a preference but is willing to be flexible, tell the person scheduling altar servers that.
If it is all the same to you and your family, tell that to the person scheduling, and give her a date by which you’d like to know which Mass you’ll be serving at, so your family can make plans.
Also, it sometimes happens that there is a shortage of servers for Christmas because so many people attend Mass with relatives outside of parish. If your mom is willing to have you do both Masses and you are willing, let the scheduler know that you would be more than happy to serve twice, if you won’t be robbing anyone else of a turn. Tell her, too, that you are open to last-minute calls, in case there is an illness (if and only if your mom says this is OK!)
Schedulers love server families who give requests like this!!
Having said all of that…9 am is a little early for a young person who didn’t get to bed until after 1 am. If you’re planning on going to Midnight Mass, consider, too, whether you will be at your best at 9 am. That may make your decision for you, too.
If it is all the same to you and your family, tell that to the person scheduling, and give her a date by which you’d like to know which Mass you’ll be serving at, so your family can make plans.
Also, it sometimes happens that there is a shortage of servers for Christmas because so many people attend Mass with relatives outside of parish. If your mom is willing to have you do both Masses and you are willing, let the scheduler know that you would be more than happy to serve twice, if you won’t be robbing anyone else of a turn. Tell her, too, that you are open to last-minute calls, in case there is an illness (if and only if your mom says this is OK!)
Schedulers love server families who give requests like this!!
Having said all of that…9 am is a little early for a young person who didn’t get to bed until after 1 am. If you’re planning on going to Midnight Mass, consider, too, whether you will be at your best at 9 am. That may make your decision for you, too.
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Phemie
Guest
You could choose to serve at both as the readings etc are different for the Christmas vigil, Midnight Mass and Mass on Christmas Day. I always like to at least go to the Vigil or Midnight Mass and Christmas Day Mass as it’s such a wonderful feast, but you only have to go to one. It’s good to go with your family at this time if you can or at a time when you can see friends to share in the Joy of the Feast afterwards.**
I’ve never experienced a Christmas Vigil Mass. In fact, our Canadian Lectionary states: *The readings below (Vigil Mass for Nativity of the Lord) are intended for use at the Eucharist celebrated during the afternoon of December 24, before or after First Vespers, which is a separate vigil from the celebration of the Solemnity of Christmas. For the celebration of Christmas, the readings for during the night are used. *So any Mass in the evening of December 24 uses the Midnight Mass readings.
Even though there are different readings for the Mass during the Night, Mass at Dawn & Mass during the Day, the Lectionary says that any of the three different sets of Christmas readings can be used at any of the Masses “according to the pastoral needs of each celebration”.
To the OP, weigh the needs of the Parish and the needs of your family and go with whichever Mass will help the most.
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