{"id":16878,"date":"2022-05-21T18:15:19","date_gmt":"2022-05-21T17:15:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/11host.me\/stmary\/?p=16878"},"modified":"2022-05-21T20:03:19","modified_gmt":"2022-05-21T19:03:19","slug":"sunday-mass-obligation-re-instated","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/11host.me\/stmary\/sunday-mass-obligation-re-instated\/","title":{"rendered":"Sunday Mass Obligation Re-instated"},"content":{"rendered":"

Returning to Mass at Pentecost  pdf copy here:  2022.05.06 – Returning to Mass at Pentecost – FINAL<\/a>
\nAn invitation from the Bishops of England and Wales<\/h3>\n

This is the bread come down from heaven (John 6:58)<\/h3>\n

A beautiful hallmark of the Catholic faith is the profound desire to participate in the Holy
\nMass and share in the Eucharist. We do so with deep gratitude and joy. The Eucharist gives
\nthe Church her identity – \u201cThe Eucharist makes the Church, and the Church makes the
\nEucharist.\u201d It enables us to worship Almighty God, to support each other on our journey of
\nfaith, and to be a visible sign of faith in the world. This hallmark is supported and
\nstrengthened by the precept that our fundamental Christian duty is to worship God by
\nparticipating in the celebration of Mass. Attending Mass on Sundays and Holy Days is the
\ngreatest of all privileges, sometimes referred to as \u201cthe Sunday Obligation.\u201d
\nSince the beginning of the Covid pandemic, until the present time, we have shared with you
\nour judgment that the situation of the last two years has meant that the Sunday Obligation
\nhas been impeded and has needed to be fulfilled in other ways. We thank God that this
\nsituation has now changed. The pressing challenges of the pandemic have lessened
\nsignificantly. Most people have resumed the wide range of normal activities, no longer
\nrestricted by the previous Covid measures. We therefore believe that the reasons which have
\nprevented Catholics from attending Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation no
\nlonger apply.
\nWe understand there will still be some members of our congregations who, for reasons of
\nhealth, do not feel safe enough to return to Mass. It has always been the understanding of
\nthe Church that when the freedom of any Catholic to attend Mass in person is impeded for
\na serious reason, because of situations such as ill health, care for the sick or legitimate fear,
\nthis is not a breach of the Sunday Obligation.
\nOur Catholic people and parishes have benefitted during these difficult times from the
\nonline streaming of Mass and other services. \u201cVirtual viewing\u201d of Mass online does not fulfil
\nthe Sunday Obligation. It may, however, be a source of continual spiritual comfort to those
\nwho cannot attend Mass in person, for example those who are elderly and sick, for whom
\nthe obligation does not apply. In this context, we recognise gratefully the ministry of those
\nwho administer Holy Communion to the elderly, sick and housebound.
\nWe are grateful to our clergy, religious and lay faithful who have served our parishes,
\nschools and communities with dedication and distinction throughout this pandemic. Now
\nwe look forward with renewed faith and confidence.
\nIn the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, the Lord\u2019s Supper, the Lord Jesus entrusted to us the
\nprecious gift of Himself. With humility, we glory in being a Eucharistic people for whom
\nattendance at Mass is essential. Looking forward to the forthcoming feast of Pentecost, we
\nnow invite all Catholics who have not yet done so to return to attending Mass in person.
\nAs the Church needs the witness of the presence of each person, so too each believer needs
\nto journey in faith and worship with their fellow disciples. Nourished by our encounter with
\nthe Risen Lord Jesus, fed with His Word and His Body and Blood in Holy Communion, and
\nsupported by the presence of each other, we receive strength week by week, to serve the
\nLord and glorify Him with our lives.
\nApproved by the Plenary Assembly of the Bishops\u2019 Conference
\nFriday 6th May 2022<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Returning to Mass at Pentecost  pdf copy here:  2022.05.06 – Returning to Mass at Pentecost – FINAL An invitation from the Bishops of England and Wales This is the bread…<\/p>\n

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