PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Catholics who weren't going to Mass during the pandemic might want to start dusting off their Sunday best.
Each Catholic bishop in Pennsylvania is reinstating the obligation to attend in-person Mass on Sundays and Holy Days, beginning August 15th.
That, of course, includes Philadelphia.
“(This) should be seen as a very positive moment, as we’re passing out of the pandemic, for Christians to freely come together and celebrate their faith,” said Father Dennis Gill, rector of the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in Center City.
The obligation was put on hold in March 2020 as the pandemic was getting underway.
“Now, with the impact of the pandemic considerably reduced,” Archbishop Nelson Perez said in a statement, “it is again possible for the faithful to assemble for the Eucharist.”
Father Gill called not having everyone at Mass “a great loss to the celebration of our faith,” but said he doesn’t expect a noticeable difference in attendance come August 15th because a lot of parishioners already started coming back in-person on their own.
In-person attendance at Catholic Mass in Pennsylvania has been allowed with no restrictions for more than a month now.
Jack is someone who came to church as often as he could during the pandemic.
After stopping by the Cathedral for a mid-week prayer, he said reinstating the obligation is “long overdue.”
“We might have lost in numbers, but gained in faithfulness,” Jack added.
The obligation does not apply to people who are seriously ill, have a serious health risk, or are caring for someone who can’t attend in person, but Father Gill said they are still expected to pray in some way on Sundays.
Then there are the people who don’t feel comfortable yet.
“If someone has serious anxiety about being together in a group at this time, that would be sufficient to excuse them,” he said.
"However, if anyone has a doubt about their obligation for Sunday Mass, they should speak to their parish priest.”
Mass from the Cathedral Basilica will continue to be live-streamed for parishioners who can’t make it in person. That’s been the case there well before the pandemic started.