Catholic priest on board

[sleepless]

I do not want to sound anti-catholic but there are lots of other religions in the world beside catholicism. Why should there just be a catholic priest on board. How about one of each religion or none at all.

 

I completely agree with you, if Celebrity were actually employing the religious leaders.

 

DON

 

Well Celebrity is a private company and can do whatever they want.

 

Maybe, maybe not - it depends on the situation.

 

It is my understanding Celebrity no longer supplies a Catholic priest (or any other religious leader) for religious services.

 

However, if a priest, minister or rabbi is on board the ship, and wants to do a religious service, Celebrity makes space available for him/her. I am okay with that.

 

I get frustrated with people who feel that Celebrity should provide for "their" religious needs. Celebrity is a cruise line, not a religious institution.

Edited December 23, 2015 by sleepless

[spookwife]

Can someone please confirm that Celebrity always has a catholic priest onboard for Christmas?

 

 

 

Also when is mass celebrated?

 

 

No they do NOT gty Catholic. Or Protestant. Or Baptist. Or any specific religion. Mass ,if it is held, will be up to the Chaplain and at the mercy of several factors if there is no dedicated chapel on board or if it is too small to accommodate the need.

[Gracie115]

When we did our Holyland cruise there was a Catholic priest on board and at least at that time, late 2011, Celebrity stated there would be a Catholic priest on all their Holyland cruises, but no promises about any other cruises anywhere in the world and we have not encountered one on any cruises since then......I suspect it is strictly based on if one happens to be on board....

[sylmack]

I do not want to sound anti-catholic but there are lots of other religions in the world beside catholicism. Why should there just be a catholic priest on board. How about one of each religion or none at all.

 

DON

 

 

Celebrity does not employ the priest or even do anything to ensure one is on board.

 

Catholic priests celebrate mass everyday even when they are alone. So, if one happens to be cruising, it is not unusual for them to ask to do masses for the Catholics on board.

 

Celebrity does the same thing for any other religions who want services and have a pastor or Rabbi sailing. On our past sailing out of Rome, we had daily services with 3 priests, there were ecumenical services, Jewish services, and even Mosque.

[sylmack]

A Chaplin is trained to give communion to all - christians. In fact, a Chaplin can even do a Jewish service. And, a Jewish Chaplin can do a Christian service - including communion. I have a family member who is a trained Chaplin.

 

A Chaplin can work in a hospital, ministering to the needs of those in the hospital, and on a military base.

 

 

Remember that communion to a Catholic is not the same as communion to other Christian religions.

 

A Chaplain cannot give Catholic communion unless :

 

1. He is a Catholic priest or trained as a eucharistic minister

AND

2. The host has been previously consecrated in a Catholic eucharist

AND

3. He is Catholic

Edited December 23, 2015 by sylmack

[ghstudio]

Celebrity does not employ the priest or even do anything to ensure one is on board.

 

 

I believe they do make arrangements for a rabbi and a priest to be on board for major holidays. We enjoyed a passover service on the equinox, attended by over 200 people. Celebrity had arranged for a traditional passover meal to be served as well (at no extra charge)...something that likely took months to arrange.

 

On non major holiday cruises, I believe it's "whoever's on board"...but don't hold me to that. We just completed a cruise on the Equinox during Hanukkah which is not a major jewish holiday despite all the hoopla around it, and there was a rabbi leading services...might have been arranged...not sure....didn't attend.

[dkjretired]

The whole issue boils down to supply and demand...

[donaldsc]

Celebrity does not employ the priest or even do anything to ensure one is on board.

 

Catholic priests celebrate mass everyday even when they are alone. So, if one happens to be cruising, it is not unusual for them to ask to do masses for the Catholics on board.

 

Celebrity does the same thing for any other religions who want services and have a pastor or Rabbi sailing. On our past sailing out of Rome, we had daily services with 3 priests, there were ecumenical services, Jewish services, and even Mosque.

 

Obviously if a member of clergy is on board and has paid the same fare as everyone else and wants to conduct services, the cruise company should accommodate them as well as they can. I do have a serious problem if the cruise company discounts or eliminates fares for clergy of any faith including mine so that they can perform services. I also recognize that neither Celebrity or any other cruise company cares at all what I think.

[dkjretired]

Obviously if a member of clergy is on board and has paid the same fare as everyone else and wants to conduct services, the cruise company should accommodate them as well as they can. I do have a serious problem if the cruise company discounts or eliminates fares for clergy of any faith including mine so that they can perform services. I also recognize that neither Celebrity or any other cruise company cares at all what I think.

 

Actually Don they may have listened to someone since up until a few years ago that is exactly what happened and they changed their policies.

[marion10]

Having a clergy discount is no different that military discount or senior discount or past cruiser discount. It's up to the cruise line. For some people , having access to clergy from a particular faith or denomination is important to them and others not. Given the shortage of Catholic priests, it's probably difficult to have a priest on all ships. My cruise last year on RCCL included a retired rabbi group- so if you wanted a Jewish service, you were set. They did a service commemorating the 50th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz on board- which I heard was very moving- in the "chapel" where they usually perform weddings.

 

If it's really important that clergy from your faith be on board your cruise, invite and pay for your local priest, pastor,rabbi or iman to come with you - problem solved.

[waterbug123]

 

If it's really important that clergy from your faith be on board your cruise, invite and pay for your local priest, pastor,rabbi or iman to come with you - problem solved.

 

We actually sort of did that a number of years ago. Well, didn't actually pay for his cruise fare, but the associate pastor at our church and his wife were part of our particular social circle, and 15 of us went on a cruise and they were among the 15. The cruise was over Ash Wednesday and he did a private communion service and imposition of ashes for us that evening. Very memorable!

[Silvery Seas Cruiser]

Catholic Mass is usually celebrated in the theater at either 8:30 am or 9 am depending on the day.

 

On the Solstice Class ships I have sailed, the mass is held in the smaller theater on Deck Four where they do conferences, guest lectures and similar activities.

[Host Jazzbeau]

Obviously if a member of clergy is on board and has paid the same fare as everyone else and wants to conduct services, the cruise company should accommodate them as well as they can. I do have a serious problem if the cruise company discounts or eliminates fares for clergy of any faith including mine so that they can perform services. I also recognize that neither Celebrity or any other cruise company cares at all what I think.

 

I object that they pay for jugglers on board. I know that some passenger like jugglers, but I don't. Why should part of my fare go to paying for something that I don't like?

[sylmack]

Obviously if a member of clergy is on board and has paid the same fare as everyone else and wants to conduct services, the cruise company should accommodate them as well as they can. I do have a serious problem if the cruise company discounts or eliminates fares for clergy of any faith including mine so that they can perform services. I also recognize that neither Celebrity or any other cruise company cares at all what I think.

 

Serious Problem ? It's called supply and demand.

 

Some passengers find value in having religious services during their cruise and it may be advantageous for a cruise line to provide that if the demand is there. My last Med cruise had daily services that were so full they had to change venues to accommodate everyone.

 

Not everyone's cup of tea, OI know. I've never been into the casino, but I don't expect it to be closed just because I don't go there.

[elkay68]

Catholic priest onboard constellation. There will be a midnight mass.

[Nachosdelux]

Can someone please confirm that Celebrity always has a catholic priest onboard for Christmas?

 

Also when is mass celebrated?

 

Merry Christmas!

 

Hope you guys are having a great time.

[phxbne]

We were onboard the Summit over Christmas. There was a Catholic priest on board - Mass was listed in the program as 8:30am each day, and Midnight on Christmas Eve. There were a lot of crew at Midnight Mass.

One of the crew said there had been a rabbi on board for Hanukkah.

[mjkacmom]

Simply untrue; a Roman Catholic chaplain would be in breach of his Church's discipline to give communion to non-Catholics. Some do it unofficially, but that could lead to complaints against them, and they are trained NOT to do it.

 

Stuart

 

At my mom's funeral, her cousin, a priest, said Mass. My dad (Methodist) went up for communion, and he was refused. If I attend a Christian church service, it doesn't count as a Mass, and it's a sin to skip Mass (of course, if it's not possible, it's okay). Granted, I'm a bad Catholic, and skip Mass, but just trying to explain the importance of a weekly (or even daily) Mass, by a priest, with communion (in Catholisism, the host is the actually body of Christ, not just a representation).

[dutchclogs]

At my mom's funeral, her cousin, a priest, said Mass. My dad (Methodist) went up for communion, and he was refused. If I attend a Christian church service, it doesn't count as a Mass, and it's a sin to skip Mass (of course, if it's not possible, it's okay). Granted, I'm a bad Catholic, and skip Mass, but just trying to explain the importance of a weekly (or even daily) Mass, by a priest, with communion (in Catholisism, the host is the actually body of Christ, not just a representation).

 

I have the reverse experience. At my mother's funeral, con celebrated by her nephew an Anglican priest, all were told welcome to receive communion if confirmed in their own church. Family and friends who are practising Catholics took communion.

[mjkacmom]

I have the reverse experience. At my mother's funeral, con celebrated by her nephew an Anglican priest, all were told welcome to receive communion if confirmed in their own church. Family and friends who are practising Catholics took communion.

 

Yes, that's the way it usually works. Catholics, in that situation are welcome to receive communion, but Catholics really shouldn't, because the Catholic faith says it's a no no.

[NOSaints1]

Why do they always have a priest and not a minister, were Christian and don't follow the Catholic faith?

[Kamloops50]

It's easier to get catholic priest for the crew.

[elkay68]

Merry Christmas!

 

Hope you guys are having a great time.

 

 

Thank you! Cruise was fun but just not quite the same without you guys and Sebastian. Never met our neighbors, but heard they frequently between the connecting door, think they had kids with them.

[Kamloops50]

I've seen Rabis and protestant ministers on the ship for other people.

The Captain sometimes runs a nondenominational service Sunday mornings.

[Andy]

Hi Everyone,

 

As the question was "asked and answered", and, several recent posts required deletion, this thread is now closed.

 

Thanks for your understanding and participation. Happy New Year !