Scotland’s Catholic bishops have announced that with effect from Sunday 2 January 2022 the obligation to attend Mass on Sundays and Holydays of obligation will be reinstated.

The requirement was dispensed at the beginning of the pandemic and although churches opened and communal worship resumed, attendance was not obligatory.

In a pastoral letter, to be made available at all Masses across Scotland this weekend, the bishops say: "Thanks to the effort and good sense of so many, our churches have proven to be safe places.

"So, saving any serious worsening of the situation, we believe that Christmastide provides an opportune moment to restore the obligation."

The bishops’ letter states that anyone who is ill, showing symptoms of COVID, having underlying health conditions or those with responsibilities for people in need of special care are not obliged to attend and anyone in those groups can continue to participate online.

The bishops go on to point out that “online participation does not fulfil the obligation” noting that “Nothing can adequately replace actual presence".

It continues: "At the heart of our Christian life is the event of the Word becoming flesh and our incorporation through the Sacraments into his Body. It’s to experience this that we come to church.”

Read the Bishops' letter here.

Archbishop Cushley has thanked those who joined him in prayer at his online Sunday Mass as he announced this week's would be his last.

The Mass, broadcast on Facebook, and available on YouTube and this website, has been a weekly fixture since March last year.

But with Scotland now in the lowest level of lockdown measures he is encouraging people to return to Mass at their parish if they can.

He said: "These online masses were an important measure to allow us to worship in safety, bu in thits country we are able to return to a certain level of normality.

"For those of you watching in Scotland and in this Archdiocese, let me therefore encourage you to return to the practice of your faith and to going to church.

"This will be the last of my Masses online, at least until such times as a need arises again here. I'd like to thank our clergy and the hundreds of volunteers who still work to keep our churches open and safe for everyone.

"Let me finish with a big thank you to all of you who have joined me for Mass here in my chapel in Edinburgh and have accompanied me in prayer since last March.

"It’s been a pleasure to serve you in this way."