Bishop Luis Rafael Zarama has announced that beginning Easter Sunday, April 17, 2022, he is lifting the dispensation that has been in place for the Mass obligation for Sundays and Holy Days for the faithful in our diocese. As we celebrate the joyous season of Easter and move beyond the challenges of the pandemic, we want to be once again reunited as one community of the faithful. Sunday Mass Obligation Returns to the Diocese of Raleigh Beginning Easter Sunday, April 17, 2022, Bishop Zarama has lifted the dispensation that has been in place for the Mass obligation for Sundays and Holy Days for the faithful in the Diocese of Raleigh. For centuries, the Catholic Church has had in place an obligation for Catholics to attend Mass on Sundays and Holy Days. Importantly, the Church specifies that the elderly, sick, those with pre-existing health conditions or other vulnerable people are always dispensed from this Mass obligation. In some instances, the bishop or pastor may “lift the dispensation” among the faithful. This may occur during severe weather, for instance. Most recently, this has been the case during the COVID pandemic. As so many of the faithful gather for Easter Masses, Bishop Luis offers this reminder that the obligation to attend Mass is also an invitation to return to our churches and renew ourselves in receiving God’s love through the Eucharist. “The doors of our churches are wide open,” said Bishop Luis. “Now let us open our hearts, embracing each other in community and fully embracing the gift of God’s love with an open and joyful heart.”

El Obispo levanta la dispensación masiva y dar la bienvenida a los feligreses de regreso a misa Como el Obispo Luis anunció previamente (adjunto), a partir del Domingo de Pascua, 17 de abril de 2022, está levantando la dispensa que ha estado vigente para la obligación de asistir a la Misa los domingos y días santos para los fieles en nuestra diócesis. La obligación de la misa dominical regresa a la Diócesis de Raleigh y les damos la bienvenida a todos los feligreses, que una vez mas seamos unidos y reunidos en la celebracion de la santa misa. Mientras muchos de los fieles se reúnen para las Misas de Pascua, el Obispo Luis ofrece este recordatorio de que la obligación de asistir a la Misa es también una invitación a regresar a nuestras iglesias y renovarnos en la recepción del amor de Dios a través de la Eucaristía. "Las puertas de nuestras iglesias están abiertas de par en par", dijo el obispo Luis. "Ahora abracemos nuestros corazones, abrazándonos unos a otros en comunidad y abrazando plenamente el don del amor de Dios con un corazón abierto y alegre".