As the relatively new pastor of St. Peter the Fisherman Church in Mountain Home, Father Norbert Rappold has spent the last six months learning the little things that make his parish tick. One thing that has come to light in this, his first winter in the north Arkansas community 19 miles from the Missouri state line, is when to call off Mass due to bad weather.
That is to say, in 99 percent of the cases, don’t bother.
“We have a good number of people here who grew up in Chicago and other northern places, so snow isn’t really a big deal to them,” he said. “Most parishioners know that if it is snowy or icy that they don’t have to come, but I still wind up celebrating Mass for 30 to 40 people. There’s just no point in canceling it.”
For the record, you will not find a specific inclement weather policy for the Universal Church. The Catechism of the Catholic Church puts it in straightforward language when it comes to Mass attendance, stating, “On Sundays and other holy days of obligation the faithful are bound to participate in the Mass.” (2180) and “Come to Church early, approach the Lord, and confess your sins, repent in prayer…. Be present at the sacred and divine liturgy, conclude its prayer and do not leave before the dismissal. …” (2178).
The acceptable circumstances for missing Mass are succinct and relatively vague: “… the faithful are obliged to participate in the Eucharist on days of obligation, unless excused for a serious reason (for example, illness, the care of infants) or dispensed by their own pastor. Those who deliberately fail in this obligation commit a grave sin.” (2181).
Weather emergencies fall to the judgment of pastors, and while attitudes vary by the individual, few priests think it minimizes the importance of weekly Mass to think of people’s safety when weather conditions turn ugly. They urge parishioners to use common sense instead of being ruled by fear of mortal sin.
There comes a point where other factors override devotion. Father Matt Garrison, rector of Cathedral of St. Andrew, cancelled selected Masses Friday Dec. 6 and Sunday, Dec. 8. On the parish Facebook page, separate posts alternatingly plead, “Don’t take any chances,” counsel, “It’s not a sin to miss Mass if the weather prevents you from getting there safely,” and rebukes “Stay home.”
The result? Father Garrison said he got a variety of earfuls, most commonly from those who braved the conditions and felt the church should open regardless. Others took a more sacramental approach.
“There were some people confessing the next week that they missed Mass because it was canceled,” he said.
Father Garrison said while a percentage of Catholics operate out of a sense of duty that borders on recklessness, as rector he has to think of the greater good especially when it comes to safety.
“We had chunks of ice falling off the roof and even though the streets were clear, the parking lot was a sheet of ice,” he said. “Whether or not someone could physically get here wasn’t the point, it was not safe for people to be out just to get here and maybe fall or get hit by something falling off the roof.”
Father Bill Elser, pastor of Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in Hot Springs Village, said while most people understand that missing Mass because of the flu or being in the hospital is valid, the weather is a different matter.
“Some people, and I think its fewer in number than it used to be, feel like it’s Sunday and so I go to church no matter what,” he said. “I try to remind my parishioners that yes it’s very important to go to church, but your safety is also very important. God wouldn’t want you to put yourself in peril unnecessarily,” adding he suggests people consider a daily Mass to make up for the weekend Mass should weather conditions prove too hazardous.
Father Elser said efforts have been made over the years to improve communications between the parish and its members, including recorded messages and updating the status of Mass on the parish website, but that, of course, only applies to those on whom it ever dawns that they might have to miss Mass in the first place.
“No matter how well you try to communicate, it’s impossible to let everyone know that there’s no Mass,” he said.
Father Silvio D’Ostilio, CSSp, pastor of St. Joseph Church in Center Ridge, thought he had to cancel Mass for the first time in his priesthood with some recent icy weather, communicated via the parish e-mail list.
But it turns out the faithful at the rural central Arkansas parish had other ideas. Accustomed as they were to the demands of farm and ranch life, they figured if they could get out to check cattle they could get out for Mass.
“There were only four or five there for Mass, but they were there. I thought that if they could show that kind of commitment then I could too, but I couldn’t get up my driveway,” Father D’Ostilio said. “I had two umbrellas stuck into the ground to try and walk, and I kept sliding back. One guy stopped and helped me up and got me to church. That was a good experience.”
But even as they preach common sense, many priests share Father D’Ostilio’s point of view and are not about to deny the miracle of the Eucharist and community of the Mass to those who seek it. In a society increasingly fickle in its loyalties, they cannot help but be gratified by the devotion shown by parishioners willing to brave the elements to be near Jesus.
“It’s not just here, my previous parishes in Mena and Glenwood were the same way, you can’t cancel,” Father Rappold said. “Sometimes you shake your head and wonder where’s the common sense, but mostly you feel humbled when you see such a faith that basically says, ‘Lord I trust in you, and I know you’re not going to let anything happen to me.’”
