Coronavirus: San Angelo Catholic Bishop Further Restricts Church Gatherings

SAN ANGELO, TX – Bishop Michael Sis of the Diocese of San Angelo has released the following statement announcing further restrictions within the diocese in order to promote public health and to limit the spread of COVID-19.

As we face the increasing spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, the situation changes every day, and all of us must continually discern the most prudent actions as this worldwide health crisis reaches our own towns, friends, and families.

The parishes and people of the Diocese of San Angelo have shown tremendous zeal and creativity in providing opportunities for people to participate as fully as possible in the prayer life of the Church within the parameters of public health authorities.

However, in the light of the most recent developments of the Coronavirus in Texas, it is now necessary for us to make further restrictions in our practices, in order to promote public health and to limit the spread of this disease.

Effective immediately, and until further notice, it is my sad duty to announce that we must discontinue the “parking lot Masses,” “outdoor car Masses,” and Masses in outdoor facilities.  All Catholic Masses in the Diocese of San Angelo are to be celebrated without an assembly, whether indoors or outdoors, including people gathered in cars.  The practice of distributing Holy Communion outside the church after Masses without an assembly is also to be discontinued.

Moving forward, Sunday Masses, daily Masses, Palm Sunday Masses, the liturgies of the Paschal Triduum, and Easter Sunday Masses will be celebrated without an assembly.  The number of ministers assisting to carry out these Masses must be ten or fewer in the same room at the same time.  This practice will continue until further notice.

Catholics in the Diocese of San Angelo are still dispensed from the obligation to attend Mass on Sundays, until further notice.

According to the declaration by Texas Governor Greg Abbott, the number of people who are allowed to be physically present for funerals must be limited to 10 or fewer.  Later, when the Coronavirus crisis has passed, Memorial Masses or Memorial Services could be offered for the deceased.

Many parishes have found that a good solution to this dilemma is for someone to livestream the funeral through a service like Facebook, so that a larger number of people can watch it remotely.

Any church activities involving gatherings of more than 10 people in the same place at the same time are to be canceled or held virtually until further notice.

We are all very grateful to all our priests, deacons, and other parish leaders, as they seek to do everything they possibly can to minister to the people entrusted to their care.  We must continue to seek ways to provide effective spiritual guidance to our people in these painful times, while also protecting people as much as possible from the danger of the Coronavirus.

This is a time for prudence, but not for panic.  We must be vigilant, but not fearful.  The Easter mystery assures us that life will overcome death.   This Coronavirus will eventually be overcome. As Christian believers, we say with St. Paul: “We also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us” (Rom 5:3-5).

This notice presents a revision of the practices outlined in previous communications regarding the Coronavirus.   Other developments and subsequent instructions will come in the future, since the present situation is fluid and could change from day to day.