Can anyone explain Saturday Mass for me?

[Anonymous]

On vacation, yesterday we noticed the Catholic Church here had a full parking lot Saturday between like 5 and 6pm. Their website said it was Saturday Mass. Is this just families who consider it more convenient to go to Mass Saturday early evening instead of Sunday morning? Or maybe there’s something else I’m missing. Sorry if this is a silly question!

[Anonymous]

Convenience. Saturday evening counts as a substitute for Sunday.

[Anonymous]

In the Abrahamic religions a day is sundown to sundown, so mass the night before counts. Often times it’s more convenient.

[Anonymous]

Canon law allows attendance Saturday evening in lieu of Sunday.4pm is the cut off. A mass at 4pm or later will have the Sunday readings, including the Gospel.

[Anonymous]

The Sunday obligation is satisfied by a Mass occurring from 4:00 pm Saturday to Sundown Sunday.

In the past we would attend Saturday Mass and then go to dinner as a family and enjoy Sunday at home. Now we’ll hit up Saturday if busy on Sunday or if needed. There are lots of regular Saturday evening families at most parishes.

In years past we would host on behalf of our children’s school the official end of year grade-wide party on the Saturday afternoon immediately after school let out for summer. We would then request a priest from the school stick around and say the Saturday Mass in our home after the party for any families that wanted to attend and simultaneously address the Sunday obligation. About twenty or so families would stick around for the Mass in our living room.

[Anonymous]

I have a couple of Catholic friends who attend mass daily except in extraordinary circumstances. Some Catholics still do that, including Saturday and Sunday masses.

[Anonymous]

Thanks everyone! Super interesting about the sunset/after 4pm Saturday Mass counting as a Sunday Mass! I honestly did not know that Saturday sunset to Sunday sunset thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Sunday obligation is satisfied by a Mass occurring from 4:00 pm Saturday to Sundown Sunday.

In the past we would attend Saturday Mass and then go to dinner as a family and enjoy Sunday at home. Now we’ll hit up Saturday if busy on Sunday or if needed. There are lots of regular Saturday evening families at most parishes.

In years past we would host on behalf of our children’s school the official end of year grade-wide party on the Saturday afternoon immediately after school let out for summer. We would then request a priest from the school stick around and say the Saturday Mass in our home after the party for any families that wanted to attend and simultaneously address the Sunday obligation. About twenty or so families would stick around for the Mass in our living room.

I’m just curious, do most families that do Saturday evening Mass do it most weeks or do most families switch between Sat and Sun based on availability and scheduling? Like are there lots of Saturday families and that is their routine every week?

I’m wondering if this local church’s Saturday Mass appeared unusually busy because it’s a waterfront destination town, plus holiday weekend, so vacationing families are more likely to prefer Saturday evening Mass?

[Anonymous]

This is what gets in the way of Saturday evening weddings so you have that long break between your early afternoon church ceremony and then your 6 pm dinner reception, which is annoying.

[Anonymous]

I love seeing a Catholic Church with a full parking lot for Mass.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a couple of Catholic friends who attend mass daily except in extraordinary circumstances. Some Catholics still do that, including Saturday and Sunday masses.

Wow, that is super rare. I know of one person who does that who isn't a monk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a couple of Catholic friends who attend mass daily except in extraordinary circumstances. Some Catholics still do that, including Saturday and Sunday masses.

Wow, that is super rare. I know of one person who does that who isn't a monk.

You don’t know enough of the right Catholics. It is not rare at all. Some churches (the Shrine, for example) have multiple well-attended daily Masses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Sunday obligation is satisfied by a Mass occurring from 4:00 pm Saturday to Sundown Sunday.

In the past we would attend Saturday Mass and then go to dinner as a family and enjoy Sunday at home. Now we’ll hit up Saturday if busy on Sunday or if needed. There are lots of regular Saturday evening families at most parishes.

In years past we would host on behalf of our children’s school the official end of year grade-wide party on the Saturday afternoon immediately after school let out for summer. We would then request a priest from the school stick around and say the Saturday Mass in our home after the party for any families that wanted to attend and simultaneously address the Sunday obligation. About twenty or so families would stick around for the Mass in our living room.

I’m just curious, do most families that do Saturday evening Mass do it most weeks or do most families switch between Sat and Sun based on availability and scheduling? Like are there lots of Saturday families and that is their routine every week?

I’m wondering if this local church’s Saturday Mass appeared unusually busy because it’s a waterfront destination town, plus holiday weekend, so vacationing families are more likely to prefer Saturday evening Mass?

I live at the beach and prefer the vigil Mass on Saturdays because I like spending mornings on the beach and would likely miss Sunday Mass times.

[Anonymous]

I grew up Catholic and vastly preferred Saturday evening mass. At my church it was more casual and there was a folk band that played music that I preferred to the organ on Sunday.

[Anonymous]

Growing up our family preferred Saturday mass so we could sleep in on Sunday.

I remember older cousins saying so they preferred it so they could shower and get ready for Saturday mass then go out. They also could take communion on Saturday and not have to worry about committing a sin Saturday night. If you sin Saturday night then you can't take communion Sunday morning.