If you’re Catholic, the Diocese of Green Bay is giving you the all-clear to come back to church in about a month.

Bishop David Ricken announced on Wednesday he was lifting the dispensation for Catholics to forgo their Sunday obligation of going to mass. The dispensation has been in effect since early last fall when COVID-19 numbers started to rise after lifting it for a brief time during the summer. In his statement, Ricken said he made the decision based on “greater health in our communities and our parishes.”  Pastor Dan Schuster of St. Mary and Holy Trinity Parishes in the Luxemburg-Casco area says attendance is still down from the pre-pandemic levels. He thinks people will come back after the dispensation is lifted, but not because the bishop is specifically telling them.

 The obligation to attend Sunday mass does not apply to those who due to illness or age believe their health would be placed in serious jeopardy. The dispensation is officially lifted on August 15th when the Catholic Church celebrates the Assumption of Mary.