The five Catholic bishops of Indiana have extended the dispensation for the obligation to participate in Mass on Sundays to all the faithful until Nov. 1, 2020. 

“While commending our pastors and pastoral life coordinators who have gone to great lengths to assure safe worship spaces in our churches, due to the increase in the COVID-19 cases in our state, the Indiana bishops have decided to extend the dispensation from the obligation of Sunday Mass attendance beyond Aug. 15 until Nov. 1, 2020, unless further developments determine otherwise,” said an Aug. 3 statement of the bishops from the Province of Indianapolis, which is comprised of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis and the Dioceses of Gary, Evansville, Fort Wayne-South Bend and Lafayette.

All people 65 or older and those who are sick or have medical conditions that make them especially vulnerable to the coronavirus are encouraged to remain at home.

This extension is motivated in part by the continued need of social distancing because of the coronavirus, which will limit the seating capacity of churches and affect the distribution of Communion.