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NWR: Mass outside of church

saritaksaritak
100 Comments
in Catholic Weddings
Hello ladies! Long time lurker, occassional poster with a NWR question that I'm hoping one of you knowledgeable ladies can answer. I'm relatively new to the Catholic faith (completed RCIA two years ago) and although I know that it is nearly impossible to have a wedding mass conducted outside of the church, what are the laws or rules about having a mass, including the Eucharist, outside of the church?

My H and I went to a remembrance mass (not exactly sure what to call it, it was for the one year mark of when someone passed away), but it was held at someone's house, not in the church. When it came time for communion, I opted not receive the Eucharist, as I wasn't really sure that this mass was truly sanctioned by the church. I was under the impression that communion is only given outside of the church if it is for the Anointing of the Sick, a person who is homebound, hospitalized, etc. Is it possible to have a mass held in someone's home, complete with communion?

Thanks for any insight and sorry if any of my terminology is wrong, I'm still learning. :)
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Re: NWR: Mass outside of church

  • ootmother2ootmother2 member
    Tenth Anniversary 5000 Comments 25 Love Its First Answer
    edited December 2011
    No, mass can be said in someone's home if the priest has cleared it and it's for good reason.

    ETA: the one time that stands out in my mind was a mass given at my great grandparents home.  There was some reception there because my ggfather was elected to an important office. 

    But that was VERY small town stuff and in the 70's.  Maybe that doesn't happen any more?

    other ladies here should know more than I on the subject
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  • doctabroccolidoctabroccoli member
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I don't know what the OFFICIAL stance is, but in high school, we did not have a chapel, so we had to have school masses said by a priest in the gym.  So, yes, I have been to mass not in a church.
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  • ootmother2ootmother2 member
    Tenth Anniversary 5000 Comments 25 Love Its First Answer
    edited December 2011
    haha, I went to mass in the gym too

    stinky gym. unfortunately, I remember it too well.

    The headmistress would walk around and if your skirt didn't touch the floor while kneeling, you got nailed for detention on the spot!
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  • agapecarrieagapecarrie member
    Knottie Warrior 1000 Comments 100 Love Its Combo Breaker
    edited December 2011
    To clarify terms: Mass by definition includes communion.

    I had a mass said in my home for a house blessing. We have them at for our youth retreats in an outdoor "chapel" at a non-catholic retreat center. We also have them at an arena for the Steubenville youth conference as well as when the pope came, as well as Eucharistic congress, women's and men's conferences, etc.


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  • monkeysipmonkeysip member
    2500 Comments Fifth Anniversary 500 Love Its First Answer
    edited December 2011
    They do outdoor masses at World Youth Day.  Since the Pope is the celebrant, I'm assuming it's valid :)

    I too have been to masses in the school gym (my first one actually).  And they celebrate mass in the catacombs of Rome.  

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  • lisa89760lisa89760 member
    Fourth Anniversary 500 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Gotta love the catholic school gym masses! Luckily my HS had a huge church that we normally went to mass in but sometimes (if there was a funeral or something) we had to go to church in the gym. Our gym was new and nice so there were no bad smells!

    And OOT...when we kneeled the skirt could only be a pop cans length away from the floor...I have no idea where they came up with that...but I have personally wintessed our dean of students make a girl go into the home ec room and take our her hem!
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  • ootmother2ootmother2 member
    Tenth Anniversary 5000 Comments 25 Love Its First Answer
    edited December 2011
    And OOT...when we kneeled the skirt could only be a pop cans length away from the floor...I have no idea where they came up with that...but I have personally wintessed our dean of students make a girl go into the home ec room and take our her hem!

    M was an early learner.  She had the belt rolled up skirt down pat by the time she was 10 ;)
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  • saritaksaritak
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Thanks ladies! The Pope celebrating mass at Yankee stadium, mass in a gym at a Catholic high school, etc. I get. There is an obvious, direct connection to the church. I just had never seen a mass performed in a private home and that coupled with the fact that it was kind of thrown together last minute and that the priest was from out of the area, it just seemed to be a little odd. Glad to know that it's possible for a mass to be celebrated at a home, especially since there's a good chance that this situation will come up again for me. Thanks again for everyone's valuable insight.
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  • agapecarrieagapecarrie member
    Knottie Warrior 1000 Comments 100 Love Its Combo Breaker
    edited December 2011
    Well, a priest from out of the area usually has to get it cleared to celebrate mass in another diocese... they don't want priests who have lost their faculties to be doing private masses in someone's home or anywhere else, depending on the level of facutlies they have.

    I"m in no way saying this was the case in what you saw... it could have been just fine too.


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