When will Fresno-area Catholic churches resume in-person Mass? Here’s what we know
While several Roman Catholic dioceses in California announced plans to resume in-person mass in June, it’s unclear when the Diocese of Fresno will restart its services.
The Stockton, Orange and San Diego diocese are resuming in-person masses on June 14. The San Bernandino diocese is resuming its service on June 13.
Parishes within the Archdiocese of Los Angeles can resume daily mass as early as June 3, and Sunday mass as soon as June 7, upon approval by the archdiocese.
Bishop Joseph V. Brennan has formed a task force that will issue guidelines to the diocese’s parishes to follow once they “are able to resume public Masses,” according to Cheryl Sarkisian, new chancellor for the Diocese of Fresno.
Sarkisian said regional church officials hope to have a notice issued very soon.
“I do not know the timeline, as that is at the recommendation of the Task Force and the guidelines will follow all state and local health and civic mandates,” she said in an email.
The Diocese of Fresno, which covers Fresno, Tulare, Kings, Kern, Madera, Merced, Mariposa and Inyo counties, serves an estimated 1.2 million Catholics.
Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday issued guidelines for reopening churches. The guidelines limit attendance by churchgoers to 25% of churches’ capacity, or a total of 100 attendees.
Fresno’s Cornerstone Church Pastor Jim Franklin earlier this month said the church would move forward with reopening on Sunday. During a Wednesday news conference, Franklin said he plans to defy the governor’s guidelines limiting capacity.
Cornerstone Church’s capacity is 1,400. The church plans to practice social distancing and will provide hand sanitizer and masks for those choosing to wear one.
The church will urge the elderly and those with compromised immune systems not to attend in-person.
Earlier this month, Franklin told The Bee: “If you can be safe at Walmart, you can be safe at church.”
This story was originally published May 28, 2020 at 1:50 PM.
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