Catholic Vancouver July 13, 2021
Sunday obligation returns for Vancouver Catholics July 17
By B.C. Catholic Staff
Two weeks after the lifting of pandemic restrictions on public worship in B.C., the obligation to attend Sunday Mass is being reinstated for Catholics in the Archdiocese of Vancouver.
Archbishop J. Michael Miller, CSB, released a decree Tuesday stating that the Sunday obligation will be reinstated Saturday, July 17.
In the decree, Archbishop Miller reminded Catholics the obligation “is not a burden, for it brings life to our spirit and nourishes our relationship with Jesus Christ.”
As was the case before the pandemic, anyone with a “serious reason” or “grave cause” is excused from the obligation to attend Mass.
The return to a liturgical normal has been a long time coming, and it’s been more than a year since the Sunday obligation applied to Catholics in the Archdiocese of Vancouver.
On March 11, 2020, the archbishop excused the elderly, anyone with an underlying health condition, and those who feel even remotely unwell” from the obligation of attending Sunday Mass.
On March 14, 2020, “in order to continue assisting local public health efforts to limit the spread of COVID-19,” the obligation to attend Sunday Mass was lifted for everyone until further notice.
A year of restrictions and several months of churches closed to public worship followed.
On May 27, 2021, the B.C. government released guidelines that allowed churches and other religious sites to allow up to 50 people indoors. On July 1, it lifted all pandemic restrictions on religious services.
Parishes are now being encouraged, but not directed, to stop or limit livestream Masses after the Sunday obligation returns.
Vancouver is believed to be the first Canadian diocese to lift the dispensation from attending Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of obligation.
The Archdiocese of Edmonton is continuing the dispensation and will reevaluate it at the end of August.
In Ontario, churches are still limited to 25 per cent capacity.
U.S. dioceses have been gradually restoring the Sunday obligation for several months.
Following is the decree issued by Archbishop Miller June 13.
DECREE
for the Reinstatement of the Obligation
to Participate in the Mass
on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation
The Sacred Liturgy, “the source and summit of the Christian life,” is the very heart of our Catholic faith. The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is an irreplaceable gift – a foretaste of Heaven itself. Being unable to gather together to worship on Sundays has been a great trial to disciples of Jesus and members of the Catholic community.
When the pandemic began, the Public Health Officer suspended all public Liturgies. Even when smaller Masses with a limited congregation were permitted, I continued the dispensation from the Sunday obligation. During the difficult months of the pandemic, our pastors, parishes, and the faithful adapted to this situation in order to ensure the health and well-being of parishioners. I offer my sincere gratitude for the efforts that were undertaken to implement and maintain the precautionary measures that kept our parishes and schools safe.
Many parishes live-streamed Masses over the Internet during the past year. While this means helped Catholics nourish their spiritual life when they could not be present for Mass, this practice cannot become the norm. The Son of God did not come to us virtually. He came to us – and continues to come to us – in the flesh. As Catholics, direct contact with the Real Presence of the Body and Blood of Our Lord in offering the redeeming Sacrifice is irreplaceable.
In gratitude for the providential lessening of the danger to public health caused by the pandemic and for the good of souls, it is with joy that I hereby restore the Sunday obligation for Catholics starting Saturday, July 17, 2021. This obligation is not a burden, for it brings life to our spirit and nourishes our relationship with Jesus Christ.
As has always been the case, anyone with a “serious reason” or “grave cause” is excused from this obligation. In the case of the coronavirus pandemic, such reasons include:
- anyone who is sick, symptomatic, or has been recently exposed to the coronavirus;
- anyone with significant health risk factors that requires them to avoid public spaces
- anyone who cares for someone with significant risk factors;
- anyone who cannot attend Mass through no fault of their own because of frailty or old age.
May the return to the Sunday celebration of the Eucharist deepen our devotion and reclaim Sunday as a day of worship, leisure, and time for family and friends.
Given at Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, on this Memorial of Saint Henry, the Thirteenth Day of July, in the Year of Our Lord, Two Thousand and Twenty-One.
+ J. Michael Miller, CSB
Archbishop of Vancouver
Barbara Dowding
Chancellor