Roman Catholic Province of Indianapolis
Lifting of the Dispensation from the Obligation of Mass
Effect 11 June 2021
The celebration of the Eucharist at Mass is the source and summit of our life and mission as Catholics.
As of March 2020, due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, all Roman Catholics throughout the entire Province of Indianapolis, which comprises all five dioceses of Indiana, have been dispensed from the obligation to attend Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation. However, with the decrease of cases in our state, the widespread availability of vaccines and following the guidance of public health officials, we are now able to safely accommodate more parishioners for Masses. Therefore, effective June 11, the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, the general dispensation from the obligation to attend Mass is hereby lifted throughout the state of Indiana.
Except for the unique situations as described below, those who are otherwise healthy are obliged to return to Sunday Mass by the weekend of June 12-13, 2021:
• Those who are seriously ill, exhibit flu-like symptoms and/or may have a contagious disease (including quarantine due to exposure).
• Those who are unable to attend Mass through no fault of their own (e.g. transportation issue).
• Those who are homebound and/or incapacitated due to age, infirmity and/or medical restrictions.
• Those who have compromised health conditions and/or at high risk of contracting the virus.
• Those who are caretakers of person who are sick or of persons at high-risk of serious illness if they contract Covid virus.
If you have any questions about any specific needs, concerns or protocols, you are advised to contact your parish directly. Your pastor, who has the authority to dispense in individual cases, may be helpful in addressing individual fears and concerns. The obligation to attend Mass is a joyful one, reflecting the very character of who we are as Catholics.The celebration.
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October 23, 2020
“While commending our pastors and pastoral life coordinators who have gone to great lengths to assure safe worship spaces in our churches, given the continued increase of COVID-19 cases in our state, the Indiana bishops hereby extend the dispensation from the obligation to attend Mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation beyond Nov.1, 2020, until further notice. The Indiana bishops will continue to monitor the situation to determine when it might be advisable to modify or lift the dispensation,” said an Oct. 19 statement of the bishops from the Province of Indianapolis, which includes the Archdiocese of Indianapolis and the Dioceses of Gary, Evansville, Fort Wayne-South Bend and Lafayette.
Archbishop Charles C. Thompson said, “Both clergy and laity must make every effort to maintain the availability of open churches and public liturgies by following public health guidelines and employing various safety protocols,” including:
“Further guidelines, due to local situations, may be necessary in a particular parish,” Archbishop Thompson added.
SS. Peter and Paul Cathedral in Indianapolis and other parishes across central and southern Indiana will continue livestreaming Masses.
Weekday Masses at the Cathedral are celebrated Monday through Friday at 5:15 p.m. Weekend Masses include the Saturday Vigil Mass at 5 p.m. and the Sunday liturgy at 10:30 a.m. Links to these Masses are available at www.archindy.org/streaming.
Daily Mass is also offered on EWTN (Eternal Word Television Network), and Catholic Radio Indy 89.1 FM and 90.9 FM broadcasts a daily Mass at 8 a.m. each day from the EWTN chapel in Irondale, Ala. †
Related: Guidance (and some reminders) for this time in the pandemic for liturgical celebrations
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"While commending our pastors and pastoral life coordinators who have gone to great lengths to assure safe worship spaces in our churches, due to the increase in the COVID-19 cases in our state, the Indiana bishops have decided to extend the dispensation from the obligation of Sunday Mass attendance beyond August 15 until November 1, 2020, unless further developments determine otherwise."
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March 22: We are adding a tab under Sunday Bulletin on our webpage that will include Fr. Kyle's Sunday homily.
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March 17: St. Joseph Parish, Chapels and School have closed until further notice. As requested by the Archbishop of Indianapolis, we will not be celebrating Mass and our parish office and school are closed. All events and meetings are cancelled. For sacramental emergencies: (812)738-2717
Following is the release from the Archdiocese:
Statement of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis on the Suspension of Public Celebration of Mass and the Temporary Closure of the Archbishop Edward T. O’Meara Catholic Center and Agencies (03/17/20):
As the health and safety conditions in our archdiocesan community have shifted, the spread of the COVID-19 virus is a moment for Catholics and all people of goodwill to offer special prayers of intercession for the healing of those infected, for the protection of the elderly and infirm who are at greatest risk, for the prevention of the disease’s spread, and for the courage and strength of care providers who minister to the sick, their families and those most in need. With deep trust in the Lord and with a close attentiveness to the guidance given by experts in the fields of health and safety, the following decisions have been made about our operations and the liturgical life of those within the Archdiocese of Indianapolis.
Based on the recommendations from health officials concerning the danger of the COVID-19 pandemic and the urgency to stem the spread of the virus, the five Catholic bishops of Indiana have suspended effective March 18 and until further notice all public Sunday and weekday Masses throughout the Province of Indianapolis, which is comprised of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis and the Dioceses of Gary, Evansville, Fort Wayne-South Bend, and Lafayette.
Archbishop Charles C. Thompson, the Archbishop of Indianapolis, has also suspended all other liturgical services and gatherings of the faithful effective Wednesday, March 18 and until further notice. Of course, the archbishop’s dispensation from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass from March 13 continues until further notice.
Provincia Católica Romana de Indianápolis
Levantamiento de la dispensa de la obligación de la misa
A partir del 11 de junio de 2021
La celebración de la Eucaristía en la misa es la fuente y la cumbre de nuestra vida y misión como católicos.
Desde marzo de 2020, debido a la pandemia de COVID-19, todos los católicos romanos de toda la Provincia de Indianápolis, que comprende las cinco diócesis de Indiana, han sido dispensados de la obligación de asistir a misa los domingos y días de precepto. Sin embargo, con la disminución de los casos en nuestro estado, la disponibilidad generalizada de las vacunas y siguiendo la orientación de los funcionarios de salud pública, ahora podemos recibir con seguridad a más feligreses para las misas. Por lo tanto, a partir del 11 de junio, solemnidad del Sagrado Corazón de Jesús, se levanta la dispensa general de la obligación de asistir a misa en todo el estado de Indiana.
Salvo las situaciones singulares que se describen a continuación, las personas sanas están obligadas a acudir a la misa dominical a partir del fin de semana del 12-13 de junio de 2021: • Quienes estén gravemente enfermos, presenten síntomas gripales o puedan tener una enfermedad contagiosa (esto incluye la cuarentena por exposición).
• Los que no pueden asistir a la misa por causas ajenas a su voluntad (por ejemplo, por problemas de transporte).
• Las personas confinadas en casa o incapacitadas por edad, enfermedad o restricciones médicas.
• Aquellos que tienen afecciones de salud que los pongan en riesgo de contraer el virus.
• Las personas que cuidan de enfermos o de personas con alto riesgo de enfermarse de gravedad si contraen el virus de la COVID-19.
Si tiene alguna pregunta sobre alguna necesidad, preocupación o protocolo específico, le recomendamos que se ponga en contacto directamente con su parroquia. Su párroco, quien tiene la autoridad para otorgar la dispensa en casos individuales, puede ayudar a abordar los temores y las preocupaciones individuales de los feligreses. Asistir a la misa es una obligación alegre, que refleja el carácter mismo de lo que somos como católicos.