The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops gathered for its 2021 Fall General Assembly Nov. 15-18, the first in-person conference since November 2019, according to the USCCB. 

More than 225 bishops attended the assembly, according to Catholic News Agency. The bishops met to discuss Church matters from the administrative, such as the 2022 budget, to the spiritual, including new translations of liturgy and whether Catholic politicians who support abortion rights should be denied communion, according to the Baltimore Sun.

The assembly of bishops included Grand Rapids Bishop David Walkowiak, the Diocese of Grand Rapids announced in its coverage of the conference on its website. The diocese provided updates and coverage throughout the conference. 

Archbishop Christopher Pierre, the Papal Nuncio to the United States, opened the assembly; Archbishop Jose H. Gomez of Los Angeles, president of the USCCB, also spoke.

“My brothers and sisters, as my brother bishops and I head into our USCCB meeting today, please keep us in your prayers!” Bishop Gomez posted on Twitter prior to the start of the conference.

The USCCB stated the pause in in-person conferences was because of the Covid-19 pandemic. The Spring 2020 conference was cancelled, the group states on its website, and the November 2020 and Spring 2021 conferences were conducted virtually. The National Catholic Reporter reported that officials involved in the conference declined to say whether vaccines were required, but journalists in attendance were not asked to provide proof of vaccination, the report states. 

Conference attendees, including the bishops, diocese officials, staff and journalists, were expected to follow indoor mask mandates and voluntary rapid tests were available throughout the conference, Chieko Noguchi, director of public affairs at the conference, said to the National Catholic Reporter. 

“We have received positive feedback from bishops who are looking forward to gathering for the first time in two years to talk, pray and discuss business together,” Noguchi. said.