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Shannon
wrote:
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Hi, guys —
My husband and I have a chance to take a cruise
that would depart on a Saturday at 5:00 pm and return
the following Wednesday. The ship will be
at sea on that Sunday and there is no Catholic
priest on board.
- Is there anything in our faith that allows
for a traveler's dispensation to miss Mass?
We have always attended Mass while on vacation
and have never had circumstances such as this.
Any help in answering this would be appreciated.
Shannon
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Is there anything in our faith that allows for a traveler's dispensation to miss Mass for a cruise? }
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Mary
Ann replied:
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Hi, Shannon —
You are permitted to go on the cruise.
There may, indeed, be a priest on
the cruise who will say a private
Mass.
This practice of not providing Mass
just began a few weeks ago, in response
to concerns of some passengers that
Catholics were being favored.
Many have complained, and you should,
also. Ask the cruise planner if there
will be a priest on board.
Mary Ann
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Mike
replied:
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Mary Ann —
- If she knows ahead of time there
will be no priest on board can we
really recommend she still goes on
the cruise?
Mike
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Mary
Ann replied:
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Hi, Mike —
She cannot know that there is no
priest on board. She can only know
that there is no priest with an official
arrangement to say a public Mass
for the cruise. There are probably
always priests.
Even if there are none, and even
if she knows there will be none,
one is permitted to take trips during
which it may be impossible to attend
Mass, otherwise, there would never
be exploration, wilderness camping,
or round-the-world solo sailing!
Mary Ann
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