Noel describes an all-too-common Catholic paradigm: the only Christians in the world who come to eucharist, eat and run, are Catholics. This is a cultural problem rooted in a fundamental failure to grasp that the mass is more than me getting mine and leaving. The mass is a communal act of a people who come to praise, hear the word of God, accept it, offer sacrifice, enjoy a sacred banquet made of that sacrifice, and, being blessed to go forth as, literally, the salt of the earth. Leaving before it is over betrays a lingering notion, enforced by centuries of the-mass-as-private-devotion syndrome, that going and 'seeing God' and getting my share of the sacrament is all there is to the mass. I once knew a monsignor who, after VII, literally had the doors locked so that people could not leave. After not too long a time, there was a change in people's attitude and their participation. Perhaps some pastors ought to try this technique. Priests are notorious for their love of giving orders and being obeyed. Perhaps they should put their foots down in this fundamental matter of catechesis.

On the other hand, there are many notable exceptions. At UST's St Basil's Chapel this morning the people stayed for every stanza of Darwall's 148th (Rejoice, the Lord is King') and sang their hearts out, as they do every Sunday. None ever bolt for the doors. A few words of instruction and catechesis from the priests is all it takes. Too, we do not have this problem at Walsingham.

It sounds as though most of the responses so far have been exactly what Noel requested: giving reasons, thinking it through. Interesting question!

People in my church like to leave early to avoid getting caught for half an hour in the parking lot.

Hmm - I'm thinking accusing people of being like Judas probably won't work . . .

People leave early at my parish even though the announcements are made before mass. I suspect they do it for the same reason they come late - "getting it over with" (and the parking lot thing). I don't think no closing hymn will change much - plenty of people leave as soon as it starts anyway.

It's even more strange (or maybe not?) when a sizable fraction of the people who bolt after receiving communion head straight for the fellowship hall (or whatever place it is called) for the donuts, cookies, coffee, tea and fruit juice, or, in the case of some other churches, hurry across the street or down the block so as not to have to wait for a table at the local restaurant which does a brisk Sunday morning business of feeding breakfast to their Sunday morning patrons.

Very few people leave after receiving Communion at the Cathedral. I would guess no more than 1 or 2 per Mass. Some will start leaving during the recessional hymn if we go more than 3 verses unless it's a favorite (everyone stayed for 5 verses of We Three Kings on Epiphany). Lots of people stay after Mass to socialize in the courtyard, especially the younger families. The doors nearest the courtyard typically get congested with people leaving through them to greet/socialize with the Bishop or priest(s) and deacon(s)... So a lot of people aren't in a hurry.

I am considering what to do with my parish after Mass. I don't think we'll change the hymn to a postlude (though I might try it out). However, no one is obliged to sing the hymn. I am considering, in addition to inviting everyone to join, simply asking that they remain respectfully quiet (if not silent), as they leave. I don't mind their not singing, but it's ridiculous to try to talk over an all-stops-pulled organ.

Progressive liturgists have used that argument to remove Latin from parishes of years.

It will vary week to week it seems. Majority stay all of the Masses I have been to (maybe 1/4 leave at most). However, when our young adult/adult choir sings... most stay to listen to the beauty. Some of the time, one of the young men (has to be younger than me) in that choir will play the organ.. and do so with great fanfare and utter heavenly-ness (is that a word?). And this choir isn't one that you would think "young adult" would play... but the best I can describe is like a bunch of angels singing to the heavens, and an organ sounding our praises for Him.

Once, even... Parishioners ended up clapping for them and looking towards the choir loft after the last hymn... which I am against and dislike, but even I felt mixed... because the music was indeed some of the most beautiful I have heard...and seriously heavenly. I guess I rather have that, than clapping for the Mass band that was rocking out at some Parishes....

A couple things: I really didn't mean to MAKE your point, Noel. When I said "about half leave," I meant in the case that we are still singing after the procession gets out of the church. For context, our priest(s) will typically stay at the altar for at least 2-3 verses, during which time pretty much everyone remains in place and sings. So we can easily get through 4 verses with everyone in their places, singing, or pretending to sing.

It's on the rare occasions that the procession gets out quickly, OR I keep going in the case of a hymn with more than 3-4 verses that we get some people leaving, and I don't totally blame them in that case.

No one is obliged to sing the hymn.

As for this, you are quite correct - but if you want to speak in terms of the law or rubrics, I suppose you aren't obliged to even politely acknowledge other people at mass either. But I think most consider it bad manners not to; Same with leaving during the singing of a hymn, particularly when the priest is still at the altar.

Like I said, we ditch the final hymn from after Corpus Christi until the beginning of October. But for the rest of the year, I think people expect it, and I know some would complain if we permanently did away with it. And personally, I've never seen the virtue in people trying to do away with it out of some sense that doing so makes the mass more "perfect," as with the argument "It's not part of the mass officially!" But it IS an old custom going back pre-Vatican II, and I just see no need to fight over it, which is probably what it'd come to in most places.

I was trying to state that turnabout is fair play.

I think a lot of this is deviating from a rather important point at the core of this thread: the necessity of open, constant conversation with your employer. Does he know what your issues, your priorities, your concerns are? If he doesn't, he should.

As JonLaird says, we only have certain options available to us to licitly improve our programs. If your concern is not enough people singing the hymns, you can either play softly to match the murmuring of your congregation, or you can play loudly and with pep in an attempt to inspire lusty singing. You cannot exhort and cajole the congregation during the sermon on the spiritual benefits of vocal participation in the Mass - but the pastor can! If people are leaving during communion, that is no doubt a disappointment to both the pastor and to you. Bring those concerns to him, and see if there is anything you both can do. Even if there is no solution, at least he knows that you care for the spiritual well-being of his congregation, which is in your favor if he's the one who cuts the checks.

I'm amazed at how many musicians, even in protestant circles, see ourselves as the "hired help" who cannot talk to the pastor about our concerns and objectives. We can do so much more in collaboration with the pastor than in a vacuum in which we just try to "stay out of his way."

Withdrawall noted.

17. The faithful are to be recommended not to omit to make a proper thanksgiving after Communion. They may do this during the celebration with a period of silence, with a hymn, psalm or other song of praise,[26] or also after the celebration, if possible by staying behind to pray for a suitable time. Inaestimabile Donum 17

YMMV, but in our church we don't have even a minutes silent thanksgiving, so staying after mass should be the norm.

I have observed in my parish that people leave during the recessional hymn (now postlude at our priest's behest) during our NO Masses. No one stays, and there is usually a lot of loud talking (to be heard over the organ). During our TLM (where I am the very insufficient organist and schola master) people still leave after the priest processes out, but the atmosphere is completely different. There are quite a few people who stay and listen to the postlude or practice their own personal quiet devotions. Many people meet outside the church to socialize, but are still reserved in their volume. The schola receives communion after Mass, so anyone that remains in the church immediately kneels in silence once the Blessed Sacrament is exposed and Communion is distributed. We have a regular attendance of between 40 and 60 souls.

The TLM is a different animal due to the Last Gospel that is read after the final blessing. People could leave after the blessing, but no one does.

I wonder if it is because of the smaller numbers in attendance, that our priest is able to catechize from the ambo more effectively, or if it is because of the quiet and contemplative atmosphere of the Mass (it is a Missa Cantata), or if it has something to do with the type of people that we attract to that Mass. It may be a combination of all of them. I have heard my schola members complain about the lack of respect they feel is given when they attend another weekend Mass during the postlude. I suspect that this habit of loud talking is due to habit from people who have done it for years without any correction from their priest, but I can't confirm nor deny that. It does strike me as odd though, that people react very differently to the TLM than the NO. I don't know if that is typical of all parishes, or just native to my own.

While my personal preference is a postlude, I wonder if some regular instruction in this method of exit from the priest would be sufficient to correct the issue. I honestly don't know what to do about people leaving immediately after Communion, but if everyone left the church in a reverent manner, I wish to think it would begin to nourish souls, and possibly help them to consider forgoing the head start out of the parking lot to remain with our Lord for a moment more.

I honestly don't know what to do about people leaving immediately after Communion

None of us do, Barnabus. And in blatantly real terms, the problem is above our pay grade. Keep up the good work! Cheers.

If it was something that priests really wanted changed, it would be changed.

In one article I saw (cant' remember where), it was stated that the recessional hymn was to be played until all the congregation left!!! I don't know if they were describing the rubrics or were stating an opinion.

There are no rubrics so it had to have been an opinion.

It's not covered in the GIRM because it does not exist.

Now that we have reached comment 40, please take a moment and respond with only one of three answers to the original question:

Do you think and feel that trying to talk with your pastor about an issue like this will improve your communication with him?

YES
NO
UNSURE

No

i think I should start a new category on the forum for posts like this one (and also forr another recent thread).it would be called "Let's complain".

I was accosted by a teenager working at the local Buddy's Barbecue who wanted help writing a song and he was trying to explain that he needed help with writing...saying, "I'm not sure how to Look at the neat car..." and he was gone to look at the car.

Focus...little interest in solutions.

For those who said that discussing an issue like people leaving after communion will not help your communication with the pastor, why not?

For my own part, I already have excellent communication with my boss. We share the same goals, and are open about our concerns in those. And you can't say "it's above my pay grade" to at least DISCUSS his concerns. Just the other day, I met with my boss to discuss attendance patterns at the Christmas services. He sought out my advice, not only as the person arranging for music, but as a creative and thoughtful person with the best interests of the parish at heart. It baffles me that there are musicians out there who will not communicate with their pastor.

Gavin, mon ami,
The vagaries of all relationships prevent cogent, coherent and comprehensive answers to your query. Congratulations on your situation. But do remember the likelihood of both your parties remaining in your current tenures may change that equation rather quickly.