Statement of Archbishop Pérez Regarding Safety As Mass Obligation Resumes


Dear Parishioners,

 

I present below the statement by our chief shepherd regarding the reimposition, effective today – the Solemnity of the Assumption of Mary – of the mandate to attend Mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation.  As you know, an essential component of the observance of the Third Commandment by Catholics is to attend Mass in person.  The willful violation of the obligation to attend Mass on Sundays and holy days is a grave offense against God.  All who are guilty should seek absolution by a sacramental confession as soon as possible.  There are circumstances which human beings face, however, which may prevent them, against their will, from attending Mass.  When this is the case, there is no sin in not attending Mass, but the Lord’s Day should be honored in some way by prayer, Scripture reading and other spiritual practices.  I am grateful to the Archbishop for his pastoral sensitivity in explaining how the mandate ought to be observed.  May we approach this and all the commandments of God with a good will and a heart set on pleasing Him.  -  Father Scott

 

Statement of Archbishop Pérez Regarding Safety As Mass Obligation Resumes

 

Ensuring the health and welfare of those entrusted to the pastoral and temporal care of our Church, especially as we navigate a global pandemic, is a paramount priority as the Archbishop of Philadelphia. During this time of acute hardship and struggle, I have worked in conjunction with the Catholic Bishops of Pennsylvania and the senior administration of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia to implement best practices intended to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and protect those most vulnerable.

As the COVID-19 landscape evolved, we continuously re-evaluated those efforts in consultation with public health officials and based on data.

 As your Shepherd, I am called to provide the Eucharist in a safe environment. To that end, I ask that you prioritize your own health and the health of your neighbors and faith communities.

As previously announced, the Catholic Bishops of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania are reinstating the obligation to attend Mass in person on Sundays and holy days beginning on Sunday, August 15, 2021. However, by longstanding Church law, this obligation does not apply to those who are

  • sick;
  • have a serious health risk;
  • live in a household with those at risk;
  • serve as primary caregivers to those at risk;
  • have serious anxiety or concerns about being in a large-group setting due to COVID-19; or
  • are unable to attend Mass in person

As an act of charity, all who are able should become fully vaccinated. Anyone who believes they might have COVID-19 or one of its variants should seek testing and take every precaution for the preservation of public health. As a people of hope, let us pray for an end to this health crisis.

Most Reverend Nelson J. Pérez
Archbishop of Philadelphia

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