“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
____________________________________________________________________________________
"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."
____________________________________________________________________________________
March 22: We are adding a tab under Sunday Bulletin on our webpage that will include Fr. Kyle's Sunday homily.
____________________________________________________________________________________
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.