Catholic dioceses reinstate obligation for Mass attendance starting Aug. 15

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh on Thursday said it is “overjoyed” with the news that Pennsylvania’s dioceses will be reinstating the obligation that parishioners attend Mass on Sundays and holy days.

The state’s bishops, in a joint statement, said the obligation will resume on Aug. 15.

The leaders of the state’s eight dioceses lifted the obligation in March 2020 as the coronavirus pandemic took hold and the state imposed limitations on gathering sizes and other measures to combat the spread of the disease.

In a separate release, the Pittsburgh diocese said Bishop Zubik is encouraging parishes to continue livestreaming Mass.

“Many, many shut-ins have come to appreciate such beautiful opportunities for them to be connected to the Church,” he said.

With vaccination rates rising and nearly all civil restrictions lifted, the bishops said it’s time for the faithful to return to the liturgy, the centerpiece of Catholic life.

The date of the resumption, Aug. 15, is an important holy day, the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

“We thank God that this terrible pandemic has continued to ease, and that people in our communities have been able to begin reclaiming a sense of normalcy in their lives,” Allentown Bishop Alfred Schlert said. “We also thank God that Catholics can once again get back to their normal and regular attendance at Mass.”

The statement from the bishops notes that the obligation — which is always lifted for people in ill health or in circumstances that make attendance risky, such as severe weather — does not apply to those who remain anxious about being part of large groups because of the pandemic.

People who are legitimately excused from in-person attendance are encouraged to spend time in prayer, scripture reading and meditation and to watch services online if possible.

The delta variant of the coronavirus has led to an increase in cases nationwide. Pennsylvania is still faring relatively well. As of Wednesday, it had the third-lowest, population-adjusted case rate over seven days. Only Vermont and South Dakota were lower.

More than 6.5 million Pennsylvanians — 58.7% of those eligible — are fully vaccinated, while 1.66 million need a follow-up shot.

The dioceses will continue to monitor virus conditions and guidance from medical experts and public health officials, and will adjust precautions if necessary, the statement said.