When the COVID-19 pandemic first struck, St. Boniface Catholic Parish in Germantown first responded with liturgical restrictions, Fr. Mike Petrie said in the church's Sept. 6 bulletin.  

The coronavirus took everyone by surprise, but it didn't take long to know that large gatherings helped the virus spread. This led to many churches in the nation closing. 

"The closure gave us time to develop safer procedures for gather," Petrie said in the bulletin. "We opened at reduced capacity. The Archbishop also determined that during this phase, it would be unjust and unreasonable to expect any Catholic in our area to celebrate Mass every Sunday. The pandemic situation has not radically changed in the past few months, but parishes now have procedures in place to lessen the threat of spreading the disease, so the archbishop has decided not to extend the general dispensation." 

Sept. 12 began a new phase of safety protocols for the church in which it is up to the individual to examine their conscience and determine for themselves whether or not they are excused from weekly Mass. 

Petrie noted that these situations excuse an individual from attending Mass: the person has symptoms of any illness, is at risk of catching the coronavirus, has underlying medical conditions, is caring for a sick person, lives in a nursing home that requires limited outside contact, or is put in danger of spreading the virus due to their job.

There are other circumstances that would excuse a person, but it will be up to the individual and their conscience to decide if they are excused from weekly Mass.  

"If you decide not to celebrate Sunday Mass, it would be wonderful to choose an act of charity, choose to attend a daily Mass because fewer people are present or choose another form of prayer as a way of exercising your baptismal responsibility to pray with your community on behalf of the world," Petrie said in the bulletin.