What to do after the bars close.... Go to confession at 2.30am !!

Stumped for something to do after the bars close? Church to offer a 2.30am Mass to confess sins of night before

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER
Last updated at 11:39 AM on 13th November 2010

Ephiphany: Rev. Carmen D'Amico is offering a 2.30am Mass for night owls at his Pittsburgh church

A church in Pittsburgh has had an epiphany and decided to offer a late night Mass to give local residents an alternative to boozy nights out.

Churches in the city used to offer middle-of-the-night services for employees who worked odd hours but Rev. Carmen D'Amico from Epiphany Church is bringing the tradition back with a 2.30am service.

Father D'Amico said he's adding the weekly Mass on Sundays, timed for just after the bars close.

He hopes to attract those out late on Saturday nights - especially local college students who are up into the early hours but is also appealing to people who want a quiet alternative to a wild night out.

Officials have been handing out fliers at nearby universities to publicise the new service to draw in the younger crowd.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports the service was dubbed the 'Printer's Mass' because it used to be popular with newspaper employees but the early Mass hasn't been held since 1991. 

Members of the parish worship committee agreed earlier this year that there may be a renewed need for the pre-dawn liturgy and to give it a trial run to see what kind of crowd the special service will draw.

The appeal of sinning on the Saturday night and then going straight to confession to cleanse might also be appealing for some.

Pittsburgh Catholics have been able to fulfill their Sunday attendance obligation by attending Mass early Saturday evening since 1966.

Italians enjoy this tradition by parading in their finest fashions around the piazza on Saturday in what is called the passagiata.

Pre-dawn confession: Father D'Amico said he timed the Mass for after the bars close but also wants to give people a quiet alternative to a sinful Saturday night

Father D'Amica who is a self-confessed Italian night owl understands people liking the flexibility and wants to ensure all his parishioners are catered for.

The early morning 'Printer's Mass' was first celebrated on April 30, 1905 and attracted employees from seven daily newspapers who opened the church doors and lit the candles.

Pittsburg Sun-Telegraph workers wanted to take Communion after finishing their shift at 2am.

Press truck drivers often served on the altar and then began delivering papers at 3am.

With only two main daily papers left, there are fewer printers but Father D'Amico hopes a new wave of parishioners will enjoy the pre-dawn service.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1329210/Church-offer-2-30am-Mass-confess-sins-night-before.html#ixzz15AfnXC8C