Inclement Weather Policy

CURRENT STATUS: Open as normal
 1. ACTIVITIES (classes, meetings, presentations, etc.)
​Good Shepherd follows the Fairfax County Public School (FCPS) system regarding weather-related cancellations.
  •  If Fairfax County Schools are closed, parish facilities are closed, and ALL day and evening activities and meetings, including religious education classes, are CANCELED. This also applies for weekends. 
  • If FCPS announces a 2-hour delay, the parish facilities open 2 hours later than normal. Activities scheduled for those two hours are canceled; all remaining activities continue as scheduled.
  • If FCPS announces an early dismissal, parish facilities close early and all evening activities are canceled.
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2. OFFICE (staff)
The parish office follows the Federal Government regarding closures due to weather or other emergencies. If the Federal Government remains open, the parish office will be open (hours of operation may be affected).  If the Federal Govt allows unscheduled leave or telework, some parish staff members may telework.   

3. LITURGY: MASS at Good Shepherd* is never canceled.
Please use your best judgement and keep personal safety in mind if weather or other conditions make travel dangerous. Please heed warnings of local government and transportation officials about road safety. 
(Mass is not canceled at GS because we are fortunate that the priests live on the property. Each parish may make its own cancellation decisions based on their circumstances, so consult local information if attending elsewhere.)
(* Adoration and Confession also are not canceled)

If the weather is severe, am I still obligated to attend Sunday Mass? 
All baptized Catholics are obliged to attend Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation. However, there are particular circumstances or conditions that may excuse a Catholic from this obligation. If you are ill, homebound, or if there are severe weather conditions that make attending Mass dangerous to your safety or that of others, 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 some time in prayer. 

The Sunday Mass on television allows those who are homebound to still participate spiritually ​ in the Mass. The Mass airs Sundays at 10:30am on WDCW (CW50). To locate the channel on which the Mass airs in your area, click here. The Mass is filmed at the Basilica of the National Shrine in Washington, DC (Click for info).  EWTN also airs a televised Mass. Check your local cable provider for scheduling.

CLICK HERE for the readings of the day. (USCCB)