The current weather conditions in many parts of our diocese are very dangerous for driving. I encourage all Catholics to follow the precautions of public safety authorities and avoid the risk of driving on icy roads.

January 1, the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, is a holy day of obligation, but God does not expect the impossible. There are particular circumstances or conditions that may excuse a Catholic from the obligation to attend Mass. If you are ill, homebound, or if there are severe weather conditions that make attending Mass dangerous to your safety or that of others, our Church teaches that you are excused from the obligation. In such cases, if you are unable to attend Mass, the Church recommends making a spiritual Communion and spending time in prayer.

Please do not feel obligated to participate in the Holy Day Mass during an ice storm. Please use good judgment. Please do not place yourselves at risk, nor others who may need to be on the roads for urgent reasons.

Masses at Sacred Heart Cathedral for the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, are canceled. This includes the Mass at 6:00 p.m. on Dec. 31 and the Mass at 12:10 p.m. on Jan. 1.

Depending on local weather conditions in the various parts of our diocese, some pastors might choose to cancel Masses for reasons of safety. This will be a local decision of the particular pastor. Please consult your local parish.

For those who will not be able to attend this Holy Day Mass because of the dangerous weather, I recommend praying at home with the readings for that Mass, which can be found at www.usccb.org/bible/readings/010115.cfm. I also recommend prayer of the Angelus, or the Rosary, or a prayerful reflection with gratitude for the blessings received in the past year.