Area Catholic parishes are making sure all are welcome for Christmas mass this year while staying safe. In the 1960s, the Catholic Church decided vigil masses taking place for major holidays like Christmas could start no earlier than 4 p.m. local time to coincide with sundown. The Diocese of Green Bay is offering dispensation for Catholics not attending mass at this time due to COVID-19 concern. Father Dan Schuster, the pastor of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Luxemburg and Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Casco, says attending mass for many families is a Christmas tradition. He says that is why many parishes including his will actually host an extra mass earlier to make sure people can welcome the newborn king safely.
Schuster says spreading out the masses will also help other pastors in the diocese that are older in age when adding more services later at the night would not be appealing. He is encouraging his older parishioners to attend the earlier mass on Christmas Eve at 2:30 p.m. at St. Mary’s as a release valve for the families who usually attend the 4 p.m. service usually filled with families.
