Expert: Fr. Michael - 3/20/2011

Question
My husband and I like to garden as a hobby.  We donate extra food to the needy. We try not to buy on Sunday or do any heavy work or job related work on Sunday. What about planting a few seeds and light garden work. Do you think this is okay to do on Sunday?

Answer
What you are describing does not seem like a grave violation of the Third Commandment, including the precept not to perform servile work on Sundays.  Sometimes, because of the nature of people's secular work schedules, over which they often do not have control, they must do such work out of necessity on Sunday.  Obviously, one would try to do such work on other days, if possible.