A: Helen, like yourself, I have personal thoughts and opinions on this subject. But, what is important, is what Holy Church says! "It is the whole community, the Body of Christ united with its Head, that celebrates. "Liturgical services are not private functions but are celebrations of the Church which is the sacrament of unity, namely, the holy people united and organized under the authority of the bishops. Therefore, liturgical services pertain to the whole Body of the Church. They manifest it, and have effects upon it. But they touch individual members of the Church in different ways, depending on their orders, their role in the liturgical services, and their actual participation in them.' For this reason, rites which are meant to be celebrated in common, with the faithful present and actively participating, should as far as possible be celebrated in that way rather than by an individual and quasi-privately¹ (my emphasis)." "You can pray anywhere and anytime and read the Bible alone or with others whenever and wherever you want, but you must go to Church to attend Mass (my emphasis). Catholics can't just get together and hold Mass at home or someplace that's mutually convenient."²

There is no specific Canon Law which says anything about the locations where the Mass may be celebrated. However, bishops seem to have authority to grant, as occasions warrant, permission for themselves or their priests to say Mass outside of the Church building proper. Obvious exceptions are dedicated chapels in hospitals, at colleges, at monasteries or convents, even in private homes where retired priests live. Other exceptions are on makeshift altars at Catholic conferences, stadiums (the Pope), and the like. Bishops have also given permission for private home Masses being said for the bed-ridden dying, to rid a home of evil spirits (a type of exorcism) or for some infirm or elderly people who can no longer travel to Church. I know of some other cases where permission was granted for a reason such as your own where an organized group of Catholics are gathered in a private home for an important religious reason. Lastly, if priests cannot occasionally celebrate Mass outside of their Church, then why would all priests have (which they do!) portable Mass kits? Some priests even have portable, foldable, dedicated altars. So, the key to your questions is two-fold: Is there an important reason to have a Mass in a home and did the local ordinary (bishop) give his permission directly or through some guideline or policy that he has provided to his priests?

I hope that this information has answered your question.