Ordinariate Restores Sunday Obligation with Exceptions

The Ordinariate's Bishop Steven Lopes sent a letter to all his priests in which he announced that he is changing the commutation of the Obligation to attend Sunday Mass.

Effective October 1, the commutation only applies to those who are over 60 years of age, or anyone who is at higher risk because of an underlying medical condition, such as heart disease, diabetes, COPD, kidney disease, or are immuno-compromised.

So, if you are under 60 and you do not have any of these medical conditions, your obligation to attend Mass on Sunday is restored. In his letter, Bishop Lopes shared, "The circumstances of these last months have been exceptional, certainly.  Given the sacramental character of our worship and life, however, we risk great and lasting harm to the Church, and to individual souls, the longer people stay away from Mass and Confession."

If you have questions about this change and how it might apply to you, please talk with Fr. Davis. For persons who have additional concerns about the Sunday obligation, such as the need to care for high-risk family members, please reach out to Fr. Davis who can dispense members of his parish flock for a just cause under canon law.