Valley Catholics are expected to return to in-person mass starting March 20.

In a letter posted Tuesday on Facebook, Bishop Daniel E. Flores with the Catholic Diocese of Brownsville announced he will end the dispensation — an exemption from the obligation to attend mass on Sundays — because COVID conditions have improved. 

The dispensation was issued at the height of the pandemic to stem the spread of the coronavirus.

Flores also encouraged churchgoers to receive the COVID-19 vaccine and practice COVID-19 safety measures such as staying home if people feel any symptoms and frequent handwashing.

“In some ways, the withdrawal of this dispensation is a sign of a tentative return to normalcy,” Bishop Flores stated in the letter. “But at the same time, the lessons of these many months must not be forgotten.”

The dispensation will be withdrawn on Sunday, March 20.

One church leader says he'll be happy to see more people in the pews, but safety precautions will still be in place. 

"It's not just a small thing," said Father Roy Snipes. "The ideal is that everybody would come because they want to come, because we love to be here and we feel at home here."

Snipes says he'll continue to encourage parishioners to get vaccinated. 

On top of precautions, Father Roy said he will continue to livestream services.