St. Patrick's Catholic Parish

Cessation of Dispensation

 Brothers and sisters in Christ,

At the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, I granted to all Catholics in the Diocese of Reno a general dispensation from the obligation of attending Sunday Mass.  Since there has been a significant decline in the number of cases, hospitalizations, and deaths due to the novel Coronavirus in our region, and given the lifting of mitigation restrictions, this dispensation will cease on July 1, 2021.

I encourage all Catholics to return to the practice of in-person participation in the Sunday Eucharist.  The experience of the pandemic underscores the need for us to gather together physically for worship and the sacraments.

The safety of all continues to be a priority as we gather.  For this reason, I encourage all to get vaccinated if they have not already done so.

Some of the faithful cannot attend Mass in person due to illness or other health issues.  Obviously, they are not obligated to attend Mass for this reason.  They are asked to engage in appropriate prayer in honor of the Lord’s Day.

In Christ,

From: Bishop Calvo, Apostolic Administrator
SUJB: Mask Mandate

Due to substantial or high transmission of Covid 19, Nevada Emergency Directive 045
goes into effect starting Friday, July 30, and will be for seven of the twelve counties
comprising the Diocese of Reno: Carson, Churchill, Douglas, Elko, Lyon, Mineral, and
Washoe.

The directive requires all persons, vaccinated or unvaccinated, to wear masks at public
indoor gatherings.

The new diocesan protocol, therefore, is that all persons, whether vaccinated or
unvaccinated, wear masks when participating at indoor Masses and other liturgies and
all indoor gatherings. This protocol applies to the seven counties identified by the state

Since many parishioners will not know of this new protocol before the weekend Masses,
full compliance with this protocol will understandably not be possible this weekend, for
which reason allowance will be necessary for those who come to Masses unprepared
for the news.

I know we are all tired of these restrictions, but the key to stopping the spread of Covid
19 is within our reach: vaccination. Please encourage parishioners who are not
vaccinated to do so. Concern for one another’s health and safety comes from Christ’s
command to love one another.