Bishop Zubik eases limits on Mass attendance in Pittsburgh diocese

Now that Pennsylvania has raised indoor dining capacity to 50%, Bishop David Zubik has decided parishes in the Pittsburgh diocese can do the same for services.

Beginning this weekend, parishes will be allowed to increase attendance to 50% capacity at each Mass.

“People need Jesus now more than ever. We have been longing to be able to welcome more people home to celebrate Holy Mass and receive the Holy Eucharist,” Zubik said.

All health and safety protocols, including mask-wearing, social distancing, and cleaning and sanitizing procedures, must still be followed, according to the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh. It will be up to individual pastors to determine their own safe reopening plans based on their particular spaces, resources, and staffing, officials said.

“After a challenging six months learning how to adjust to safe gathering and worship during the covid-19 pandemic, our clergy and our parishioners are better equipped to be able to support larger groups for in-person worship,” Zubik said.

The diocese is also encouraging priests to make arrangements to allow for Holy Communion or distributing the Body of Christ within the Mass as opposed to the end of the service, if that has been the custom in the parish. However, the other covid restrictions remain: Communion wine is not offered, and the parishioners are asked not to share the sign of peace.

The dispensation from the obligation to attend Mass remains in effect in the diocese and throughout Pennsylvania, meaning those most vulnerable to covid can stay at home. The diocese said many of its parishes are still livestreaming Masses.

“I appreciate and respect that everyone is in a different place with how comfortable they feel about venturing out, especially to our churches. We continue to create and maintain as many opportunities as possible to satisfy the spiritual hunger of our people,” said Zubik.