Goa Archdiocese revokes dispensation of Mass SOPs issued during pandemic

PANAJI: Almost two years after it dispensed faithful from physically participating in Sunday mass and other Holy Days of obligation due to the pandemic, the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman has revoked the dispensation.
"For the last two years or so, our social, cultural and liturgical life had been severely curtailed due to the threats posed by the pandemic and the restrictions imposed by authorities," Filipe Neri Cardinal Ferrao stated.
"These threats, at present, seem to have minimised. People are seen moving freely in public and at social gatherings and life appears to have returned to normal. It is expedient that we too return to our normal liturgical and community life as a Church, gathering physically around the Altar of the Lord to celebrate our faith and our life," Ferrao stated in a circular to all clergy on Monday.
The Archdiocese had issued a Circular in March 2020 granting the dispensation. It also issued SOPs on social distancing, with restrictions on the number of persons in sacred places
It has now called upon individuals to take any necessary precautions.
"Holy Communion is to be administered on the hand or on the tongue, the choice lying with the communicant. It is left to the individual faithful to take the desired precautions concerning hygiene and other related acts," Ferrao further stated.