COVID-19 UPDATE, March 16, 2020

Archdiocesan Announces Suspension of Masses Amid COVID-19 Pandemic

The Archdiocese of Los Angeles announced this afternoon the suspension of Masses amid the current health threat due to COVID-19 (novel coronavirus).

“I deeply regret that we are forced to temporarily suspend public celebration of the Mass in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles,” said Archbishop José H. Gomez in a statement to the faithful of the Archdiocese.

“What we do in the Church, we do out of love for God and love for our brothers and sisters. We are taking this extraordinary step today out of love and concern for those in our families and communities who are most vulnerable to this deadly coronavirus.”

Archbishop Gomez stressed that the decision was “not made lightly,” and that it was made after “much prayer and reflection” and in consultation with the Archdiocese's auxiliary bishops, Council of Priests, lay advisors, and government and public health officials.

“I ask your continued prayers for all those who are afflicted with this virus and those who are afraid and vulnerable. I also ask you to pray and reach out to help the many families who are facing difficulties as a result of this emergency.

We also need to keep in our prayers all the doctors, nurses, caregivers, and public health and civil authorities working to contain the outbreak of this virus and treat those who are sick,” stated the Archbishop.

Catholic are encouraged to continue to pray at home with their families and join to the sacrifice of the Mass by making an act of spiritual communion. They are also encouraged to participate in the Holy Mass via the Internet.

The Archdiocese will provide a livestream of non-public Masses celebrated by the priests from the Cathedral of Our Lady of Angels daily and on Sunday via Facebook, @lacatholics, (facebook.com/lacatholics/) or visit lacatholics.org/emergency/.

The daily Mass (M-F) in English at 12:10 p.m. and the Sunday Masses in English at 10 a.m. and in Spanish at 12:30 p.m. will be livestreamed.

LITURGICAL ACCOMODATIONS DURING THE SUSPENSION OF THE PUBLIC CELEBRATION OF MASS DUE TO COVID-19 HEALTH THREAT

(Updated: March 16, 2020)

The current public health emergency has brought about fears and anxiety in the hearts and minds of many people. However, it has also unified us as a people seeking the good for the other. In these trying times, faith is to be lived with reason, prudence, and wise judgment.

Therefore, in order to help priests perform their ministry with faith, prudence, and wise judgment, the Archbishop in consultation with the Auxiliary Bishops and the Council of Priests have established the following liturgical accommodations. These accommodations are to be followed until further notice.

MASS

The public celebration of Mass has been suspended in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles effective March 17, 2020 until March 29, 2020, or otherwise extended.

Churches may remain open for individual, private prayer observing their normal open/closure hours. We will keep our church open for private prayers Monday-Friday from 9:00am - 12:00pm.

You are invited to view the Mass via livestream. The weekday and Sunday Mass will be livestreamed from the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angles via the LA Catholics Facebook page (facebook.com/lacatholics).

For more information on additional Mass broadcasts on TV and radio, visit lacatholics.org/emergency.

We are reminding and encouraging the faithful in our parish to keep the Lord’s Day holy. Some ways to do this include: reading the Gospels, praying with your families, and to joining yourself to the sacrifice of the Mass by making an act of spiritual communion.

RECONCILIATION/CONFESSION

Parishes are asked to cancel all Lenten penance services. Our parish will cancel penance service scheduled on April 2. However, we will continue offering the Sacrament of Reconciliation according to the parish’s regularly established reconciliation times.

We will consider offering confessions in spaces other than small confessionals, and observe good spacing between the penitent and priest, while at the same time observing privacy for the penitent. Those waiting for the priest are asked to observe “social distancing.”

ANOINTING OF THE SICK

Fr. Truc will continue to attend to the needs of those who ask for the Anointing of the Sick.

If a priest is sick or considered to be a high-risk individual (e.g. elderly, suffers from respiratory conditions, immunocompromised, etc.), he should request assistance from another priest.

Priests attending to the needs of the sick are to observe all proper sanitary protocols and, if necessary, check-in with proper medical personnel before entering the room of the patient.

For the time being, sick calls and distribution of Holy Communion for the homebound are reserved to priests only.

Priests are asked to clean and refresh their oil stocks before visiting the sick.

BAPTISM

Unless an emergency, the celebration of the Sacrament of Baptism is to be postponed.

CCSV will cancel Baptisms scheduled for March.

WEDDINGS

Weddings are limited to celebration of the Marriage Rite itself and must be limited to a total of 10 people, including ministers.

CCSV will notify couples who have already scheduled weddings.

FUNERALS

Funerals may take place only in the form of “The Rite of Committal with Final Commendation” (also known as the “graveside”). If desired by the family, a memorial Mass can be scheduled appropriately at a later date.

CCSV will notify family members who have already scheduled funeral Masses.

CONFIRMATIONS

All Confirmations from now until Easter Sunday are postponed. The Office of the Confirming Prelate will contact parishes with Confirmations scheduled during the affected dates. Rescheduling will be handled at a later time.

HOLY WEEK

An announcement regarding the parish celebrations for Holy Week will be issued on or before Friday, March 27, 2020.

OTHER CCSV EVENTS

All remaining Stations of the Cross on the Fridays of Lent are cancelled

All Novenas and Prayer Groups are suspended

All Religious Education classes (First Communion, Confirmation & RCIA) are suspended until further notice

Confirmation Retreat in Big Bear is postponed until further notice.

Your Sunday Offering

We thank you for your continued generosity and support. Our parish depends on your Sunday weekly giving. We will continue to minister to your spiritual needs however we need your help in doing this.

Please continue to support the parish during this time. There are three ways that you could give electronically:

1. Online banking through your bank
    
2. Debit or Credit card donations processed by Square.
    
3. Transfer money using Zelle mode of payment. With Zelle, one can receive and send money with peace of mind. Safely and easily, you can send your donations through your trusted banking app - or the Zelle app if your bank doesn't currently offer Zelle. Cathedral Chapel's Zelle identification is: (call the parish office).

If you have any questions about transferring through Zelle, please call the parish office.

The parish office will remain open to service your needs until further notice.

Thank you again for your love and support of our parish during these trying times.

May God bless us all.