Dispensation for Sunday Mass extended until Nov. 1

Susie Dickman, prays after receiving Holy Communion at St. Louis Church in Batesville on May 23. (CNS photo/Katie Rutter)

The five Catholic bishops of Indiana have extended the dispensation for the obligation to participate in Mass on Sundays to all the faithful until Nov. 1, 2020. 

“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 Aug. 15 until Nov. 1, 2020, unless further developments determine otherwise,” said an Aug. 3 statement of the bishops from the Province of Indianapolis, which is comprised of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis and the Dioceses of Gary, Evansville, Fort Wayne-South Bend and Lafayette.

All people 65 or older and those who are sick or have medical conditions that make them especially vulnerable to the coronavirus are encouraged to remain at home.

This extension is motivated in part by the continued need of social distancing because of the coronavirus, which will limit the seating capacity of churches and affect the distribution of Communion.

After closing churches on March 18 and suspending public worship across Indiana in an effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus, a phased resumption of the public celebration of the Mass and other sacraments began in archdiocesan parishes in late May and early June.

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 89.1FM and 90.9 FM broadcasts a daily Mass at 8 a.m. each day from the EWTN chapel in Irondale, Ala. †