How long is a Catholic funeral mass?

[snipsnsnails]

Is it something appropriate for me to bring my 2 year old?

[alleinesein]

Long. The last one I attended was just shy of 2 hours. Leave the kid at home; they will be bored to tears.

[karinothing]

Around an hour. Catholics are generally fine with kids. That being said, I bring my 2 yr old to regular mass a the time. It is not fun for me. Bring lots of snacks.

[bcv513]

About an hour. I wouldn't bring a two year old unless it was a close relative.

[snipsnsnails]

Oh, wow, I didn't realize it would be that long. We can't leave the kids at home-it is a close relative-but, no way, can my kids last 1+hours. I guess we'll duck into the back as needed?

[karinothing]

People will be fine with kids. Just bring snacks and activities. No one expects the kids to sit still the entire time.

[brooklyn]

About an hour. I took my then 2 year old to my uncle's funeral. Yes, he got antsy, but I had multiple family members come up to me and say that seeing my cute kid helped bring them joy during the mass, so don't worry about your kid's presence.

[Eagles]

You'll be fine with snacks, coloring books, crayons, etc. Depending on the priest, it's usually around an hour.

[bugandbibs]

Yeah, about an hour. Catholics encourage kids to attend mass and are used to noises in church. My kids sit with books, crayons, and quiet toys. No one will bat an eye though if you have to step into the Narthrax during Mass.

[MixedBerryJam]

Sit in the back or next to a side door if your family status requires you to be near the front, bring some quiet toys and snacks, and just be ready to duck out but it'll be fine. And I think an hour is optimistic. I'd say at least that.

[underwaterrhymes]

We took both boys to H's grandmother's Catholic funeral.

It was over an hour and I sat in the back and ducked out to nurse N at one point, but overall both boys were super. (Until K sobbed when H gave the eulogy and explained he wanted his Daddy to hold him, and then asked H, "Daddy, why didn't you talk about meeeee?" LOL.)

I'm sorry you have a funeral to attend. Sending hugs your way.

[Deleted]

You could also check if the church has a 'cry room' available. You will be able to follow the ceremony, but in a separate room where he could wander/make noise without disturbing others. It is do-able, just a bit stressful, if you don't have that option.

[bugandbibs]

Also, I'm sorry for your loss. Peace be with you.

[roo54]

As others have said, bring snacks and quiet activities and hopefully they will be fine. My girls sit through mass normally but I have a special "church bag" filled with coloring books, crayons, snacks, and quiet toys for them to entertain themselves with.

[Gwen]

I am a practicing Catholic and I would not encourage you to give your little one snacks during the mass. I'm trying to think of one time I've ever seen an adult or child eating in the pews and can't think of one. Well, besides communion.

Coloring books and puzzles are cool. Leaving and coming back is fine, too. Eating outside the main church is okay.

[brooklyn]

I have 15 years of Catholic school under my belt, and countless years of attending Sunday Mass weekly. Kids under the age of 4 or so definitely get a pass on bringing snacks and quiet toys/books.

My mom and grandmother definitely roll their eyes a bit (my grandmother always tells me how she kept 9 kids quiet in church without snacks, lol) but all the moms of young kids now bring snacks and toys. Any time I try to tough it out without them, my kid is just envious of his friend's toys.

And I'm sorry you have a funeral to attend.

[housewife]

Mine have been to their fair share of Catholic services (XH has a large Catholic family so lots of funerals & Baptisms) and every church has been cool with kids. One priest encouraged parents with antsy kids to quietly walk around, come up to the front, go to the back - pretty much anything within reason that would keep you in the service. Lots of babbling babies and the occasional toddler loudly asking a question. A matchbox car for DS and paper and a pen for DD and they were fine.

[karinothing]

Jul 7, 2017 5:58:23 GMT -5 Gwen said:

I am a practicing Catholic and I would not encourage you to give your little one snacks during the mass. I'm trying to think of one time I've ever seen an adult or child eating in the pews and can't think of one. Well, besides communion.

Coloring books and puzzles are cool. Leaving and coming back is fine, too. Eating outside the main church is okay.

All of the kids in my church eat throughout church. But we go to a super liberal casual church. Adults dont eat snacks during church....

[gummybear]

Kids can def eat in church. In the old days (and many still subscribe to this) you weren't supposed to eat anything until you had the host.

I agree with everyone that kids are welcome. There might even be a crying room if things gets dicey. It's not uncommon for me to see little kids in the vestebule acting like little crazies either.

I'm sorry for your loss.

[karinothing]

Jul 7, 2017 7:14:40 GMT -5 gummybear said:

Kids can def eat in church. In the old days (and many still subscribe to this) you weren't supposed to eat anything until you had the host.

I agree with everyone that kids are welcome. There might even be a crying room if things gets dicey. It's not uncommon for me to see little kids in the vestebule acting like little crazies either.

I'm sorry for your loss.

Yeah, I told DS that he can only eat in church until he has his first communion, then no more!

[irishbride2]

We tend to keep everything to an hour, unless you get a long winded priest. My parish had a priest who managed to turn every mass into 1.5 hours. We switched churches lol.

[carrotsmakemefat]

My sister's is an hour.
My good friend is not bringing her 3 yr old but is coming to the reception

[lostrn]

Jul 7, 2017 5:58:23 GMT -5 Gwen said:

I am a practicing Catholic and I would not encourage you to give your little one snacks during the mass. I'm trying to think of one time I've ever seen an adult or child eating in the pews and can't think of one. Well, besides communion.

Coloring books and puzzles are cool. Leaving and coming back is fine, too. Eating outside the main church is okay.

Little kids definitely eat snacks at the churches I have attended since having my DS (4 different ones). I used to give him one little fruit snack or cheerio at a time to keep him distracted longer.

I've brought DS to both of my grandparent's funerals and I think family appreciated him being there.