At my mom's parish, the Saturday evening Mass (to fulfill Sunday obligation) begins at 4:30 p.m. This seems a little early for an evening Mass. Does anyone know what the guidelines are for Saturday evening Mass in order to fulfill Sunday Mass obligations? We go this morning anyway, but I was just wondering.
Don't know the guides but in Mass EVERY parish has had a 4pm Saturday for 40 or more years.
ReplyDelete4pm is the US standard for vigil Mass.
ReplyDeleteIt is my understanding that sundown (4pm) is the dividing line. Earlier than 4pm and I suspect that a dispensation would be required.
ReplyDelete4:00 p.m. is standard unless you are in the Diocese of Venice in Florida. The Bishop there has special permission to allow Masses as early as - I believe - 3:00p.m., if memory serves (I know it is before 4:00 p.m.).
ReplyDeleteThe permission was given so that retirees do not have to drive in the dark after Mass. Personally, I do not see why retirees cannot go to Mass on Sunday morning...
My parents' parish in Jacksonville, FL (Diocese of St. Augustine) has a dispensation where their vigil Mass is 12:10PM on Saturday!
ReplyDeleteThat's right - just after noon on Saturday.
(www.immaculateconceptionjax.org)
(The dispensation is because it's a terrible neighborhood and crime is rampant, and it gets worse as Saturday progresses.)
Many people who work on Sunday depend on Saturday Mass, so I don't have a problem with it.
Not everyone who lives in FL is a retiree...
;)
Thanks everyone! Fr. Daren, I thought that the Saturday evening Mass was only to be attended IF you couldn't make it on Sunday because of work, for instance. Is that still true?
ReplyDelete