Completely random question about Catholic mass

[Ashleen]

Does the Saturday evening service "count" as a Sunday service? I mean, is it for people who can't make it Sunday morning who want to fulfill the Sunday service? Sorry if this is a stupid question.

[Gretchen in NJ]

I think (?) it has to be after 5:00 pm on Saturday for it to count as a Sunday Mass.

 

I about 95% sure of my information.

[Plaid Dad]

It's not a stupid question at all. Yes, Masses that are held after 4 p.m. on Saturdays - I'm pretty sure that's the official earliest time - fulfill the Sunday obligation. :)

[Plaid Dad]

I found a reference to the canon that covers this:

 

 

 

A person who assists at a Mass celebrated anywhere in a Catholic rite either on the feast day itself or in the evening of the preceding day satisfies the obligation of participating in the Mass [

CIC Can. 1248 §1

].

 

 

It doesn't say anything about when "evening" officially begins, but I'm pretty sure it's 4 p.m. That's when my parish's Saturday Mass is, anyway! :)

[Parrothead]

Yeah, any time after 4 p.m. counts as your Sunday obligation.

[chiguirre]

Does the Saturday evening service "count" as a Sunday service? I mean, is it for people who can't make it Sunday morning who want to fulfill the Sunday service?

 

Just wanted to add that lots of people always go to the Saturday vigil. It's their regular routine, not a make-up date. When I was a girl, we always went on Saturday evening. In fact, it seemed very weird to go to church on Sunday morning.

[MamaFran]

Yeah, my dh frequently goes to Saturday mass instead of Sunday. Our church does Saturday mass at 5 pm. (He's Catholic, I'm not Christian so don't attend with him)

[Ashleen]

Thanks guys.

[Jeanne in MN]

And there is a different crowd at each. There are the Sat. night regulars (mostly elderly people) and the Sun. am regulars(mostly families). Sometimes people go Sat. night because of the convenient time, but mostly people have their preferred Mass time.