PITTSBURGH (Newsradio 1020 KDKA) - You'll likely see more people in church this weekend if you attend mass in a Diocese of Pittsburgh church.
Starting the weekend of October 3-4, the church will be allowed to increase attendance to 50 percent capacity amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Previous capacity limits were set at 25 percent for weekend masses.
COVID-19 mitigation rules incuding the wearing of masks, maintaining a distance of at least six feet from others, will remain in place.
Bishop David Zubik said "People need Jesus now more than ever. We have been longing to be able to welcome more people home to celebrate Holy Mass and receive the Holy Eucharist," Bishop David Zubik said. "After a challenging six months learning how to adjust to safe gathering and worship during the COVID-19 pandemic, our clergy and our parishioners are better equipped to be able to support larger groups for in-person worship."
The church said priests will be encouraged to practice communion in the middl eof mass rather than at the end.
Despite the capacity increase, dispensation from obligation to attend Sunday mass remains in effect for parishioners in the diocese.
"I appreciate and respect that everyone is in a different place with how comfortable they feel about venturing out, especially to our churches. We continue to create and maintain as many opportunities as possible to satisfy the spiritual hunger of our people," Bishop Zubik said.
