“You’ve almost certainly seen it. It’s a problem at virtually all Catholic parishes..…some Catholics will attend Mass, receive communion and they immediately leave Mass before it’s finished,” an article from ChurchPop reads. 

It goes on to note that Mass has to be seen in its totality, and while there are parts, “they all go together, ‘going to Mass’ means going to all of it. We’re not called to simply ‘get communion’ and leave. Thanking Jesus after receiving communion, the final prayers, and the dismissal are all essential parts of Mass” 

The article also outlined that, if there is a good reason, or an emergency comes up, of course you can leave early, but claims that’s not why the vast majority of Catholics who leave Mass early are doing it. 

Threads on online platforms have mixed views on whether or not it is OK to leave Mass ‘early’. While some are of the view that it is important to stay throughout, others argue that there should be no judgement on the actions of others without knowing their circumstances.