Cardinal Daniel Nicholas Dinardo urged Catholics to come back to Mass during the start of the New Year. Cardinal Dinardo is the Archbishop of Galveston-Houston. 

Comfort of Christmas Message

The archbishop called for Catholics to fulfill their Sunday obligations. He told the faithful that the world was gripped in a global pandemic that spanned two years. 

He told them to listen to the Christmas season's message and not lose hope. Cardinal Dinardo comforted the faithful, saying that God was always present even amid uncertainties. 

Cardinal Dinardo issued a general dispensation from the obligation to attend Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation in 2020. He said that he wanted Catholics to have peace of mind while protecting themselves from the virus.

Call Back to Mass

Two years on, he informed the faithful that he removed the dispensation on Sunday, Jan. 2. He urged Catholics to come back to Mass and fulfill their Sunday and Holy Day obligations. 

He also stressed that the elderly or those at high risk of contracting the virus might fulfill their obligations at home. These individuals could do some through prayer or reading Scripture. 

Cardinal Dinardo said that he directed local pastors to resume using holy water starting Jan. 2. 

The archbishop assured Catholics that he understood their fears. He said that he ensured to put in place COVID-19 protocols to allow for their safe return to church. 

Trustworthy Like Barnabas

In an earlier report with Catholic News Service, the archbishop called on bishops to be trustworthy like the apostle Barnabas was. 

He said that the apostles trusted Barnabas as they were still hesitant to trust Paul, who at that time had come to believe in Christ. 

Cardinal Dinardo emphasized the importance of trustworthiness amid the reports of the abuse crisis. 

Rebuilding Church Attendance

A report with AP News said that houses of worship across the United States struggle to rebuild attendance. 

Meredith Mills, the pastor of Westminster United Methodist Church in Houston, said that attendance has declined since the start of the pandemic. 

Before the pandemic, attendance in the church was flourishing. They had to follow a seven-month shutdown following government shutdowns. 

Now that churches have begun to open, the church is encouraging members to come back. She called the situation frustrating because it seemed that fewer people wanted to go back to church. 

Though the pastor understood their fears, she is only one of many church leaders struggling to keep up with the times. Like many houses of worship, the church has offered online services for its members. 

Mills admitted that the pandemic has hurt their church hard and wonders how they would be able to pick themselves up after this. 

Polls by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research showed how church attendance fell. Some denominations are now returning to regular service attendance.

According to the report, 26 percent said they now attend in-person masses every week. This figure declined from the 30 percent who said that they attended Mass each week. 

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