October 23, 2020
Dispensation for Sunday Mass extended until further notice

The five Catholic bishops of Indiana have extended the dispensation for the obligation to attend the public celebration of Mass on Sundays to all the faithful until further notice.

“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:

• The wearing of face coverings;
• Social distancing;
• Enhanced cleaning measures.

“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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August 3, 2020 - A statement from the five Indiana bishops on the dispensation from the obligation of Sunday Mass attendance

"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.

• We encourage all priests to celebrate Mass privately for the good of the People of God, the Church and the intentions of the day. The archbishop has given permission (GIRM, 374) for the Masses and Prayers for Various Needs and Occasions as well as Votive Masses on Lenten weekdays during this time.
• Televised and online Masses provide opportunities for the faithful to remain connected in some way to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass during this difficult time.  Parishes with the potential to broadcast their own Masses should do so.  All permission requirements for the online use of the prayers and readings of the Mass in both English and Spanish have been granted.
• The archbishop and some of the priests on his staff will be making online Masses available soon. Please visit the homepage of the archdiocese, www.archindy.org, for more information.
  • During a time of prayer on Sunday or while viewing the Mass on T.V. or online, the faithful are encouraged to make an act of Spiritual Communion. This beautiful devotional practice in the Church is a real source of grace in communion with our Lord.  Below is an example of a prayer for spiritual communion:

• The faithful are also encouraged to prayerfully read the readings of Sacred Scripture for the day or to pray the rosary.

• To provide for the pastoral needs of the people, pastors and parish life coordinators are invited to utilize staff in parishes in a safe and limited way to perform the most essential functions and to attend to routine maintenance.
• Out of an abundance of caution, parishes and chapels, including perpetual adoration chapels, should remained closed until further notice. 
• Decisions about the celebrations during Holy Week and beyond will be made in the coming days.
• As to the celebration of other Sacraments, whenever possible any scheduled celebrations should be postponed until further notice. This includes the celebration of the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Matrimony.

• More information will be forthcoming regarding the health precautions that should be taken for the celebration of the Sacraments of Penance and the Anointing of the Sick (and other Rites in Exceptional Circumstances), which should be administered whenever possible for those in danger of death. Regularly scheduled visits to vulnerable persons and to the homebound should be suspended until further notice.
• Finally, the celebration of funerals should be postponed whenever possible.  If a funeral is offered, then it should be celebrated outside of Mass and in the presence of a very small number of the faithful who practice the prescribed precautions for hygiene and social distancing.  A Mass for the intention and the repose of the soul of the deceased may be offered privately by the priest.

• Additionally, the archbishop has mandated the closing of the Catholic Center and related agency offices until further notice.  Those employees who are able to work remotely from home are encouraged to do so.
• All Catholic schools in the archdiocese will continue to be closed until further notice.