Whatever happened to Saturday Mass?

[DarkLight]

Sounds like he didn’t realize you were talking about the Saturday morning mass and not the vigil mass.

None of the local parishes around me offers the Saturday morning mass. I have to drive 30 minutes to the closest parish that offers it.

Yeah, I’m mostly annoyed that he walked off right after. I get the misunderstanding. It’s frustrating though, because it seems really centered on people who can afford a standard 9-5 job and a car and all that. If you have a different schedule or don’t own a car or something it’s basically impossible.

 

[Mrs_Sally]

So I’ve checked 7 parishes in our area - everything I could possibly get to. Three Saturday Masses in total, all at just about the same time.

That’s what gets me - not just that they’re cut down, but that the parishes around that offer it all offer Mass at the same time. If you can’t make that one exact time you’re basically out of luck, and if you’re on the bus system you can’t make that time… And when I asked a priest about it at one of the other parishes he just sort of looked at me like I was asking a stupid question and said “All the other Masses are on Sunday” and then walked off.

The parishes aren’t doing this to be difficult. As folks have said, Saturdays are busy days at churches and the morning Mass is planned with all the baptisms, weddings, etc in mind.

What will probably get more attention is a nicely worded letler sent to all of the pastors asking for consideration to be made for people who are dependent on bus service to get to Mass. They may not change their schedules in response, but it will at least get them to start thinking about others like you and plan accordingly in the future hopefully.

 

[DarkLight]

The parishes aren’t doing this to be difficult. As folks have said, Saturdays are busy days at churches and the morning Mass is planned with all the baptisms, weddings, etc in mind.

What will probably get more attention is a nicely worded letler sent to all of the pastors asking for consideration to be made for people who are dependent on bus service to get to Mass. They may not change their schedules in response, but it will at least get them to start thinking about others like you and plan accordingly in the future hopefully.

I get it. I guess I don’t want to be seen as difficult, especially with all the run-ins I already had with my local parish over RCIA and scheduling and whatnot. I really do care about this, but I don’t want to be another person just causing trouble, especially since people don’t seem to get why “just getting up earlier” isn’t a solution.

 

[GwenL]

Actually, it isn’t. This has nothing to do with my point.

Your question on post #27 was:
So far no one seems to be taking into consideration that weddings and funerals often happen on Saturdays. If there is only one priest, he has to do the Saturday evening mass, in addition to a funeral and a wedding that day, they’ve topped out their max.

My post #6 said:

Simple scheduling.

We have a 7:30 a.m. Mass every Saturday. It’s nearly impossible to have it later, due to other liturgies. We usually have baptisms in the morning, often at 9:00, 10:00 and 11:00. We will often have one or two weddings in the early afternoon. If there is not a wedding, there is probably a quincinera Mass.

At 3:00, we have confessions for an hour and 45 minutes. Then the 5:00 vigil Mass.

So, when would you schedule the Saturday daily Mass, if not at 7:30? And if people don’t come to it, why would the priests (who are also going to celebrate those wedding, quincinera, and Vigil Masses) keep a minimally-attended Mass on the schedule?

We are the only Saturday daily Mass liturgy in the entire region (OK, it’s a fairly rural region), and we get people from many miles for this Mass.

Your post said that “no one” seems to be taking into consideration weddings and funerals on Saturdays. My post noted the scheduling on Saturdays, including weddings (and baptisms and quincineras and confession). Your post noted the already over-scheduled priest. So did mine.

If what I said had “nothing to do with your point,” you might clarify your point because I sure missed it!

 

[agapewolf]

Your question on post #27 was:
So far no one seems to be taking into consideration that weddings and funerals often happen on Saturdays. If there is only one priest, he has to do the Saturday evening mass, in addition to a funeral and a wedding that day, they’ve topped out their max.

My post #6 said:

Simple scheduling.

We have a 7:30 a.m. Mass every Saturday. It’s nearly impossible to have it later, due to other liturgies. We usually have baptisms in the morning, often at 9:00, 10:00 and 11:00. We will often have one or two weddings in the early afternoon. If there is not a wedding, there is probably a quincinera Mass.

At 3:00, we have confessions for an hour and 45 minutes. Then the 5:00 vigil Mass.

So, when would you schedule the Saturday daily Mass, if not at 7:30? And if people don’t come to it, why would the priests (who are also going to celebrate those wedding, quincinera, and Vigil Masses) keep a minimally-attended Mass on the schedule?

We are the only Saturday daily Mass liturgy in the entire region (OK, it’s a fairly rural region), and we get people from many miles for this Mass.

Your post said that “no one” seems to be taking into consideration weddings and funerals on Saturdays. My post noted the scheduling on Saturdays, including weddings (and baptisms and quincineras and confession). Your post noted the already over-scheduled priest. So did mine.

If what I said had “nothing to do with your point,” you might clarify your point because I sure missed it!

Nothing to do with scheduling. Everything to do with a priest being restricted from doing more than a certain number of masses (in our diocese, 3 is absolute max) a day.

 

[coachdennis]

I get it. I guess I don’t want to be seen as difficult, especially with all the run-ins I already had with my local parish over RCIA and scheduling and whatnot. I really do care about this, but I don’t want to be another person just causing trouble, especially since people don’t seem to get why “just getting up earlier” isn’t a solution.

up

It is always good for people to realize that not everyone fits into a nice 9 to 5 world, but I would like to offer these questions for general reflection after reading the comments on this thread:

1. Do the parishes see this as a problem at all?
2. Have people brought this problem up to their local priest?
3. Have they CLEARLY explained the problem?
4. Have they offered ant solutions?
5. Are they aware of the local priest (s) responsibilities and commitments on Saturday mornings?
6. Are there logistical problems – geography, number of available of priests – as reasons why this is not happening?
7. Is there a realization that at this time, this moment, getting to Mass on a Saturday morning may be just an impossibility and accept that until situations change?
8. Are people keeping in perspective that there are many Catholics who did not have access to Mass on a regular basis in many parts of the world?

 

[Brendan_64]

Wasn’t it required of a priest to celebrate mass daily, even if in private?

As far as I understand it, priests aren’t required to say Mass every day. What they are required to do is celebrate the Liturgy of the Hours/ Divine Office each day. At least that’s what I was told.

 

[hwriggles4]

We have a Saturday 9:00am Mass each week, with the addition of a 7:00am Mass on First Saturday’s

Since the 9:00am Mass is the only Sat am Mass in the area, it is very well attended, the Church would be about half full, which is pretty good for a ‘daily’ Mass.

I personally enjoy it, as my wife and I will often go and leave the kids at home (assuming we can actually get one of the teens out of bed to babysit ) . We will then stop off for breakfast at a local family restaurant. It makes for a really nice ‘date’

This sounds like a great way to spend quality time together. There are times I have taken a date to the Saturday evening Vigil Mass, and then we went out to dinner.

Anyway, my parish does an 8:00 a.m. Mass every Saturday morning. After the 8:00 a.m. Mass, at least two priests are available for confessions (which on paper begin at 9:00 a.m., but if Mass finishes earlier at least one priest will begin say, at 8:45 a.m.) and the priests stay until done.

The times I have gone, confessions and Mass have been well attended. I try to take one particular day of the month to attend Mass to pray for vocations. Sometimes, that day falls on a Saturday.

 

[GwenL]

Nothing to do with scheduling. Everything to do with a priest being restricted from doing more than a certain number of masses (in our diocese, 3 is absolute max) a day.

Our priests do up to six a day on Sundays. That’s pretty rare, but it happens. Their norm is three a day.

 

[agapewolf]

Our priests do up to six a day on Sundays. That’s pretty rare, but it happens. Their norm is three a day.

As I said, its in my diocese. I’m not sure if there is a canonical restriction overall.

I know of a priest who often does 4, once did 6, but he may have gotten special permission because the parish had the associate transferred, so there are 4 masses on Sunday morning with only one priest.

 

[GwenL]

As I said, its in my diocese. I’m not sure if there is a canonical restriction overall.

I know of a priest who often does 4, once did 6, but he may have gotten special permission because the parish had the associate transferred, so there are 4 masses on Sunday morning with only one priest.

There is a canonical restriction; I’m not sure what it is. But the ordinary can authorize deviations. Ours is a cathedral parish. We went from three friars to two and kept the same number of Masses. They should cut out one of the Sunday Masses, but the bishop won’t allow it. So he authorizes the priests to do more Masses per day. It’s really brutal when one of the two is out of town.

 

[xbena]

One option if there is a real desire for daily mass on Saturday is to become a deacon or to encourage one of the regular members of this daily mass group to become a deacon. It won’t be a full mass but I know the deacons at my church provide incredible support to our priests and I feel that while it will take a while for someone to go through the formation, we need to help provide the solution. Our priests today have so many obligations - some people liken running a parish to running a small business that any support we can provide would be appreciated.

 

[DarkLight]

One option if there is a real desire for daily mass on Saturday is to become a deacon or to encourage one of the regular members of this daily mass group to become a deacon. It won’t be a full mass but I know the deacons at my church provide incredible support to our priests and I feel that while it will take a while for someone to go through the formation, we need to help provide the solution. Our priests today have so many obligations - some people liken running a parish to running a small business that any support we can provide would be appreciated.

You know, now that I think about it - I barely see any men at daily mass. It’s almost all women.

 

[Cwoosley]

Dear DarkLight,
Surely Our Lord is aware that there is no Saturday morning mass available for you. Perhaps in His Divine Providence He is granting you a “Sabbath rest.” Remember, manna was available to the Israelites only six days each week. Just as the desolation of Holy Saturday gives us a deeper appreciation of the tragedy of Good Friday and the triumph of Easter, so Saturday mornings without your usual mass may offer you a “space” in your week to reflect with Thanksgiving, on the days you do attend mass–and to pray for those who do not have your opportunity.

Saturday may provide you with the time to extend your prayer life with the other part of the Church’s liturgy–namely, the Liturgy of the Hours, the Divine Office. In unison with the rest of the Catholic world you can do your part to “Pray without ceasing.” To the scripture of Morning Prayer you might add the mass readings for each Saturday. Who knows? You may decided to continue with this liturgy on the other six days by praying Evening Prayer on those days! The Breviary, with both the Divine office and the mass can be accessed for free from Terra Sancta.