Sunday Mass

“So, could you not watch with me one hour?” — Matthew 26:40

Dear Parishioners:

A couple of weekends ago we had a seminarian speaking at Mass. I introduced my homily by saying it was going to be shorter so those who leave Mass at Communion could have the courtesy to stay to hear the seminarian. He told me later that he still saw a number of people leaving Mass after receiving Communion. On Sunday we are not obliged to receive Communion but to come to Mass—the whole Mass.

We should set aside an hour on Sunday for Mass. (Actually, we should allot the time that the Sunday Mass takes.) Masses here at Holy Spirit tend to run for less than an hour so all parishioners should be able to stay for the whole of the Mass.

Leaving early is just that, leaving before the Mass ends. You wouldn’t walk out on a movie before it ends, there would be no closure to the story. You would find it rude if someone walked away in the middle of a conversation you were having. The concluding rites of Mass bring the Mass to a closure. The closing prayer and the final blessing are important parts of the Mass. Often there are special blessings (e.g., veterans, students, etc.) which are missed when leaving at Communion time.

I hold that the Mass ends with the “Thanks be to God” at the dismissal. I comment that the priest or deacon does not say, “Go in peace—but sing this song first.” If someone leaves after the dismissal, there is no issue in that. Even so, it is the custom to stay to sing the closing hymn; I’d like to be able to say goodbye to you as you leave—and it takes a little time to for me to get to the doors.

Events may occur that require an early departure from Mass, but these will be rare. For those without infants and toddlers and those in good health, this might occur once every couple of years, but not once a week. There is no just reason for a regular—especially not for a weekly—early departure. If you have to leave early regularly, consider attending an earlier Mass so you can stay.

At one of my assignments the pastor could take 10 minutes more for Mass than did I. There was a woman who left at Communion time no matter who it was that celebrated the Mass. I told her that if she could stay for Communion when the pastor had Mass, she could stay for all of the Mass when I did. She didn’t.

A friend’s dad was a pharmacist at a grocery chain. He was a tad late to work some Sundays. If people complained, he explained, “I was at Mass.” There was little argument with him after that.

Sincerely,

Rev. Charles F. Strebler

Pastor