With another winter upon us, we recall that daily Mass is salutary, but not obligatory, see our Catechism of the Catholic Church § 1389).
Sundays and Solemnities are ordinarily obligatory, as stated in the same Catechism section and in CCC § 2185.
However, some of our parish churches are on distant roads and highways, and if road conditions imperil our or others’ lives, our faithful and our priests need to remain in the safety of our homes.
If the cold of winter endangers your health or the health of your family, the obligation of Sunday attendance is excused (CCC § 2181).
So, if schools and businesses should be closing due to the cold winter weather, you may assume our church services, groups, and meetings will close for the day.
In these cases, our faithful are still encouraged to keep sacred the Sabbath.
Devote time to care for your families and relatives, in prayer.
Take time for reflection, silence, cultivation of the mind, and meditation which furthers growth in Christian life (see CCC § 2186).
And, on the Lord’s Day, in a time when we cannot gather in Faith, remember the reality of Spiritual Communion, with the Catholic Church, that is always gathering in Faith around the world.
Daily Catholic Mass is offered through Salt & Light Television, Vision TV, Daily Canadian TV Mass ou YouTube, and
Sunday Masses are offered to our Diocese from our Holy Redeemer Parish online (youtube.com/@HolyRedeemerSJ).
Let us conclude in prayer, over our Day of the Lord with Saint John Paul II, from Dies Domini § 48:
“Today, as in the heroic times of the beginning, many who wish to live in accord with the demands of their faith are being faced with difficult situations in various parts of the world. They live in surroundings which are sometimes decidedly hostile and at other times — more frequently in fact — indifferent and unresponsive to the Gospel message. If believers are not to be overwhelmed, they must be able to count on the support of the Christian community. This is why they must be convinced that it is crucially important for the life of faith that they should come together with others on Sundays to celebrate the Passover of the Lord in the sacrament of the New Covenant.”