At St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Ann Arbor, confession has resumed, 8:30 Sunday mass is back and the parish school will be offering both in-class and online instruction this fall.

“As you know, attendance at Sunday Mass is a sacred obligation on the part of all faithful Catholics— never to be ignored without serious cause,” Fr. James Conlon told parishioners in a recent letter to the church. "With the advent of COVID, the Bishop initially dispensed this obligation until early September. He has now extended this dispensation to the end of the Church year on Nov 28.“

He explained the dispensation.

“For the term of the dispensation, the obligation is simply set aside,” Conlon said. “But please understand that the Church is not saying that Sunday Mass is no longer necessary or important. Indeed, one could say that the need to attend Mass and to receive Holy Communion is all the more essential in these challenging days. ”

Fr. Conlon also asked parishioners to consider giving a financial gift to the church.

“The virus has meant a decline in our Sunday attendance and giving but not in expenses and ministry costs,” he said.