Come Back to Hope

Citing the “essential and central nature of the Eucharistic Sacrifice” in the life of the Church, Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron on Feb. 9 announced the general dispensation from Sunday Mass for Catholics in the Archdiocese of Detroit will expire on March 13. 

However, while the general dispensation — which relieves all Catholics in the archdiocese from their moral obligation to attend Mass on Sundays and holy days — is expiring, the archbishop said he will continue to grant “particular dispensations” to those in need, including those who are at high risk of COVID-19.

Others who may continue to be excused from their Sunday obligation include:

• Those who are ill or whose health would be significantly compromised were they to contract a communicable illness;
• Those who care for the sick, homebound or infirmed or someone in a high-risk category;
• Pregnant women;
• Those age 65 or older;
• Those who cannot attend Mass for other reasons (such as a lack of transportation or being turned away because of capacity limits); and
• Those who have “significant fear or anxiety of becoming ill by being at Mass.”

Anyone who exhibits flu-like symptoms or believes they might be asymptomatically carrying COVID-19 or another communicable illness also are asked not to attend Mass “as an act of justice and charity” toward others, Archbishop Vigneron said in a  letter to the faithful.