SAN BERNARDINO—Bishop Gerald Barnes has announced the date in which parishes may begin to resume public Mass. You can read his letter below:
Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
It is with great joy that I share with you my decision to allow our churches to resume public celebration of the Eucharist beginning June 13. I know it has been so painful for our communities of faith to be unable to gather together and partake in the Sacrament of Holy Eucharist. I thank you for your patience. In the coming days, our parishes will be provided with a clear set of precautionary measures that they must put in place to protect health and safety, before they resume public Masses. The State of California has also released guidelines under which public church services can be held and we will honor those guidelines. As we come back together again our experience of the Mass will not initially be what it was before the COVID-19 pandemic. We will meet in much more limited numbers; we will continue to practice social distancing; and some parts of the liturgy will be adjusted to better ensure public health. Those with compromised health conditions, and those who are 65 and older and are not yet ready to join us at this time are encouraged to stay home and join their parishes in the livestream celebration of the Mass. In this spirit, I will keep in place the dispensation from attending Mass weekly in our Diocese.
Let us receive this opportunity to be together again with patience and gratitude to God, who has continued to walk with us in this time of uncertainty and fear. Let us also continue to support each other and pray for each other, especially those who have contracted coronavirus and those who care for them. May God bless you.
In Christ,
Most Reverend Gerald R. Barnes