From Fr. Steve Lacroix, CSC
As you’re all aware by now, our Bishop (in conjunction with the other Indiana Bishops) has issued a revised set of guidelines for Masses. First and foremost, the dispensation from the Sunday Mass obligation will end on June 11th, so after that date, Sunday Mass attendance will once again be obligatory. Of course, people are not under obligation if they are ill, homebound, incapacitated, or unable to attend Mass through no fault of their own. Anyone with flu-like symptoms is also asked to stay home, including those who are quarantined due to exposure. For the Bishop’s complete statement, go to the diocese’s website: https://diocesefwsb.org/lifting-of-the-dispensation-from-the-obligation-of-mass/.
You can also view a complete list of the diocese’s revised directives on their website at https://diocesefwsb.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Directives-for-Conducting-Public-Liturgies-in-FW-SB-May-2021-Revision.pdf. You have already noticed that last week we removed the requirement to wear masks at Mass, and we removed the ropes from the side pews so that those areas are no longer socially distanced. (We’ve left them in the center sections for people who are more comfortable socially distancing, and please remember that it is recommended that those who haven’t received the vaccine should continue to wear masks.) We’ve also returned to distributing Communion on the tongue in the regular Communion line, for those who wish to receive in that manner, and we have stopped disinfecting the pews between Masses. By the time you read this, there will probably be some other changes in effect. (The Pastoral Team continued to work through these directives after the bulletin went to print.) For the time being, we are still not distributing the Precious Blood to the faithful from the chalice.
We are so relieved that, although things aren’t completely back to normal, we’re able to relax these restrictions. […]