If you’re a member of the Catholic faithful who resides in the 19-county area that makes up the diocese of La Crosse, Wisconsin, you won’t be obliged to return to Sunday mass just yet, though you’re certainly welcome to. Catholics in the other four dioceses that cover the state of Wisconsin (these being Madison, Superior, Milwaukee and Green Bay) WILL be under that obligation again soon, in line with the decision made by the bishops of the four other dioceses in the state.

The decision to extend the release of the faithful within the La Crosse diocese from in-person attendance at Sunday Mass will remain in force unless or until changed by La Crosse bishop William Patrick Callahan. Individual Catholic bishops are largely sovereign within their own dioceses and so are free to decide as they choose on matters like the Sunday obligation during coronavirus.

Bishop Callahan previously released Catholics in the diocese from their Sunday Obligation on March 13 of this year, citing Mark 2:27 in partial support of his decision to do so. In extending his decision from March, Bishop Callahan cited present coronavirus statistics and the limited ability to safely social distance within church building.

“After a great deal of consultation among the leadership of the priests and the inquiry among a number of God’s people, I have decided to NOT reimpose the obligation to attend Mass throughout the diocese at this time,” Callahan wrote. “This is not to minimize the communal celebration of the Holy Eucharist…Know that while the obligation remains dispensed (lifted), the commandment to keep holy the Sabbath remains. If you are unable to attend Mass or join one of the livestream Masses then please keep the day holy through the reading of Scripture, recitation of the rosary, and other spiritual activities.”

In commenting on the letter, Father William Felix of All Saints parish pointed out that the precept behind the obligation had to do with love of God, and that he was heartened to see many returning even without the obligation being re-imposed by the La Crosse bishop. Similar to other churches resuming services in the area, local precautions taken by All Saints include spacing congregants in every other pew, encouraging the use of masks, and providing a generous supply of hand sanitizer in the church entryway, available in lesser quantity during ordinary flu season for altar workers.

As for those tuning in by 96.5 Spirit FM and hearing static the last few weeks, meanwhile, it was reported that the wrong radio transmitter had been ordered, and that the fix should be up and signal restored in the coming weeks. A lightning strike at St. Joseph’s Church in Boyd several weeks ago took out the basement radio station and several speakers, and was loud enough to wake up the village, according to at least one source who heard the strike.