The Archbishop sent the following to all pastors last week.

Dear Father:

The Sacred Congregation of the Clergy has granted to Ordinaries of the United States the faculty to permit the faithful to fulfill their Sunday and Holy Day obligation on the afternoon or evening of the previous day. The Rescript, which is valid for five years, states that the permission is granted for situations which the Ordinary judges that pastoral necessity or utility calls for this faculty to be used.

Therefore, I write to inform you that the permission is available on request where, in your judgment, pastoral necessity or utility requires it. The Mass on the day before the Day of Obligation is to be celebrated between the hours of four and eight p.m. Masses in the home will not satisfy the obligation.

In connection with this permission, the Sacred Congregation for the Sacrament permits trination on Saturdays or the day before Holy Days if Masses fulfilling the Sunday or Holy Day obligations are offered on those days. For the exercise of this faculty, these conditions are prescribed: 1. The other two Masses must be offered prior to that which is offered to fulfill the Sunday or Holy Day obligation.

2. These Masses must be for a funeral or a wedding.

3. A stipend is to be accepted for only one of the three Masses.

I hope that these permissions will be of assistance in your pastoral ministry. It will be necessary to apply them, but they will be granted on request.

With all good wishes, I am

Fraternally yours in Christ,

Most Reverend Thomas A. Donnellan