Religious Liberty

Last night, the Supreme Court vindicated our religious liberty rights. They ruled that California’s ban on indoor worship violates the First Amendment. The Court upheld the use of churches up to 25% capacity, which for our church, is 275 people. That is the number of people that can fit within our church while observing a six foot distance between families. The state cannot restrict us more than they do retail businesses. This is the result I predicted long ago and matches our diocesan plan for reopening churches from May of 2020.

Effectively immediately, all Masses will move indoors with the exception of the 9:45am and 11:30am Sunday Masses, which will remain outdoors. For indoor Masses, anyone arriving after we reach 275 people will be asked to sit outside where they can still hear the Mass, pray along, and receive Communion. And anyone who feels more comfortable remaining outside can choose to do so.

Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 3pm to 6pm, will resume. Also, the Encounter, baptisms, weddings, and funerals will move indoors.

Confessions will now be heard the courtyard in front of the church.

The Feb. 7, 4:30pm Mass is cancelled due to our experience of very low attendance as people watch this football event known as the Super Bowl.

Starting on February 14, the livestream time will be Sundays at 8am instead of 11:30am, since the 8am Mass will allow for a better livestream quality as it will be indoors.

Let us give thanks to the Lord for this small victory. His mercy endures forever.