St. Ann Church 

& Shrine

IMPORTANT NOTICE The Bishops across all five Indiana dioceses have extended the dispensation from the obligation of Sunday Mass attendance until Nov. 1, 2020. In a joint statement, the bishops of the Province of Indianapolis announced that the dispensation was extended from a previously set day of August 15, because of the increasing number of COVID-19 cases in Indiana. As your parishioners consider their ability to attend Mass, please advise them to keep the following 6 guidelines in mind which should influence their decision-making process: 1. You cannot attend Mass through no fault of your own (e.g., no Mass is offered, you are infirmed, or, while wanting to go, you are prevented for some reason you cannot control {e.g., your ride did not show up, the church was at capacity}). 2. You are seriously ill, or if not seriously ill, your health condition will be compromised if you were to contract a communicable illness (i.e., you have underlying conditions or are in a high risk category) for as long as this endures. Use the dispensation and do not attend Mass. 3. You have good reason to think you might be asymptomatic of a contagious illness (e.g., you were in recent contact with one who contracted a contagion). Use the dispensation and do not attend Mass. 4. You exhibit flu-like symptoms. Use the dispensation and do not attend Mass. 5. You are overcome by anxiety and fear of becoming ill by being at Mass, such that you will not be able to participate in the Mass in a full and active manner; you should rather speak with your pastor about this anxiety. 6. You care for the sick, homebound, or infirmed. The diocese encourages those who have been away to contact their local parish to learn of the various protocols that have been put in place for their safety.