S t. pet er C atholic Ch ur ch A letter Bishop Conley A letter fromfrom Bishop Conley
23, theof Solemnity Pentecost the a parent is of taking care of aorsick child, On May 23,On theMay Solemnity Pentecostof2021, the 2021,Likewise, ifLikewise, a parent isiftaking care a sick child, and holyobligation day Masswill obligation will beifrestored if militarywould personnel would compromise their duty fo Sunday andSunday holy day Mass be restored military personnel compromise their duty for in the Lincoln Diocese. the common good, then one is morally prevented fro in the Lincoln Diocese. the common good, then one is morally prevented from I have joined myisbrother bishops, attending Mass and theno obligation no longer applies. attending Mass and the obligation longer applies. my ifbrother bishops, Archbishop st 2021, the I have joined Likewise, a parent taking care of a Archbishop sick child, or Lucas and Bishop Hanefeldt in making this announceWhat about COVID-19? Here I would offer like to offer Lucas and Bishoppersonnel Hanefeldtwould in making this announcell be restored if military compromise their duty forWhat about COVID-19? Here I would like to ment. During the season Easterprevented the Southern some when thedoes obligation does not apply ment. During the season Easter Southern some guidance of guidance when the of obligation not apply: the common good,of then one the isof morally from Nebraska Register will publish a catechetical series Register willand publish a catechetical seriesapplies. 1 If you have attending Mass the obligation no longer bishop Nebraska 1 Ifbeen youdiagnosed have beenwith diagnosed with or COVID-19 or COVID-19 on this. Yet, I would like to use the of thishave good reason on this. Yet, I would like to use the occasion of this What about COVID-19? Here I wouldoccasion like to offer his announcehave good reasonthat to believe that you may have to believe you may have by the deepest reasons by recalling therecalling deepest reasons why someannouncement guidance of when the obligation does not apply:why uthern announcement contracted itcontracted it Catholics a gravetoobligation to attend Mass as a gravehave obligation attend Mass as ical seriesCatholics1have If you have been with the COVID-19 or 1 areaill or have athat condition that would seri If you are1illIforyou have condition would seriwell clarify, indiagnosed light of COVID-19, when the obliinaslight of COVID-19, when oblion of thiswell as clarify, good to believe that you may have ously compromise ously compromise if you contracted your health your if youhealth contracted gation doesreason not apply. gation does have not apply. asons why contracted it COVID-19 COVID-19 TheCatholics reason allhave Catholics a grave obligation a gravehave obligation d Mass as The reason all 1 If you are ill or have a condition that would seri-1and of being physically present for Mass on 1 for If you the sick, homebound, of being physically present for Mass on Sundays andSundays If you care the care sick,for homebound, or infirmed or infirmed en the obliously compromise your health if you contracted daysthe is because theisEucharist is of at the heart ofand have a compelling and have a compelling reason for believing that holy days isholy because Eucharist at the heart reason for believing that COVID-19 what it is to be a Christian. In the Eucharist, Jesus you would infect them by going to Mass what it is to be a Christian. In the Eucharist, Jesus you would infect them by going to Mass obligation Christ, the Risen ishomebound, truly present. When the1Mass Christ, the1 Risen is present. When theor Mass Sundays and If youLord care fortruly theLord sick, infirmed 1 significant If you haveand significant andorgrave fearofor anxiety If you have grave fear anxiety is celebrated, heaven comes to earth and the redempis celebrated, heaven comes to earth and the redempe heart of and have a compelling reason for believing that becoming illbecoming by being at Mass by being ill at Mass tion would Jesus attained on the to us personalon the cross comes to uscomes personalist, Jesus tion Jesus attained you infect them by cross going to Mass If you or arepregnant elderly or and have a seriou 1 If you are1elderly andpregnant have a serious ly. When the scriptures are proclaimed, God Himself ly. When the scriptures are proclaimed, God Himself hen the Mass 1 If you have significant and grave fear or anxiety of reason to believe you would put yourself or you reason to believe you would put yourself or your speaks to His people. speaks to His people. the redempbecoming by being Mass him at risk byMass attending Mass child at riskchild by attending In Holy ill Communion, when we receive when we at receive worthi-him worthius personal-In Holy Communion, If pregnant have a serious and ly,you thatare is, elderly without mortal sin, and we are physically ly, that is,1without mortal sin,or we are physically and God Himself thiseach guidance, applying In thisapplying guidance, personeach mustperson use must use reason believe would yourself spiritually united to Him andput to our andInsisspiritually united totoHim and you our brothers andbrothers sis- or your their goodIfjudgment. is unsure, confused their good judgment. someone If is someone unsure, confused, child risk by attendingparticipation Mass tersLikewise, inatChrist. Likewise, in the celebraters in Christ. participation in the celebrahim worthior concerned about a scenario not listed here please or way concerned about a scenario not listed here please tion of theonEucharist Sundays is the tion of the Eucharist Sundays on is the primary wayprimary sically and any priest for clarity. priest for clarity. keep the Lord’s Day andmust so live out the any consult In that applying thisDay guidance, each person useconsult that we keep thewe Lord’s holy and so holy live out the ers and sisIt and is my hope that and the prayer that the Holy It is my hope prayer Holy Spirit will Spirit will These are some of the deepest third Commandment. These If aresomeone some ofis the deepest their third good Commandment. judgment. unsure, confused, he celebracontinue to bring us all together as a Catholic comcontinue reasons there is anand obligation why we should to bring us all together as a Catholic comreasonsorwhy there iswhy an obligation why weand should concerned about a scenario not listed here please imary way munity the throughout the Easter season and that Pentemunity throughout Easter season and that Pentefreely fulfill this obligation. freely want to fulfill thistoobligation. consult anywant priest for clarity. live out the Nevertheless, thereinstances are instances when will a time of vital renewal in the there when a costawill be cost a time ofbe vital renewal in the Church in Church in It is my hopeare andcertain prayer thatcertain the Holy Spirit will he deepest Nevertheless, person is “excused for a serious reason” (CCC 2181) person is “excused for a serious reason” (CCC 2181) Southern Nebraska. Southern Nebraska. hy we should continue to bring us all together as a Catholic comfrom the obligation to attend Mass on Sundays from the obligation to attend Mass on Sundays and munity throughout the Easter season and that Pente-and holy days. A serious reason oneinis holy days. serious reason occurs whenoccurs one iswhen s when a cost A will be a time of vital renewal in the Church or morallyfrom prevented fromFor attending. For physically orphysically morally prevented attending. CCC 2181) Southern Nebraska. example, if a person is sick from a bodily example, if a person is sick from a bodily illness or if illness or if ndays and one hasofno means of transportation, reasonable transportation, then reasonable then one is one has no means he or she is physically prevented from attending Mass James he or she is physically prevented from attending Mass Bishop James D. Conley Bishop D. Conley nding. For and the obligation no longer applies. and the obligation no longer applies. Bishop of Lincoln Bishop of Lincoln illness or if
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ation, then Father Nicholas Kipper, Director of Communications fr.nicholas-kipper@lincolndiocese.org 402-326-8243 Father Nicholas Kipper, of Communications fr.nicholas-kipper@lincolndiocese.org 402-326-8243 ending Mass Bishop James D.Director Conley 6 Bishop of Lincoln
