Covid-19 Information

Seating inside the church and in the courtyard:

Seating in the courtyard is available for all Masses; and limited seating inside the church is available for most Masses.  All Masses from Monday through Saturday are celebrated in the church with seating inside the church and in the courtyard.  In addition, the 11:00 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Sunday Masses are livestreamed from the church with seating inside the church and in the courtyard.  The other Sunday Masses (at 7:00 a.m., 9:00 a.m., and 1:00 p.m.) normally are celebrated in the courtyard with seating only in the courtyard.  However, during inclement weather (e.g., if it's too cold, too rainy, or too windy), we plan to celebrate these Masses in the church with seating inside the church and in the courtyard.

No reservations or tickets are needed to sit in the church or the courtyard.  All seating is on a first-come, first-serve basis.  Because seating inside the church is limited, latecomers (particularly on Sundays) may have to sit in the courtyard.


Strict social distancing

Strict social distancing is required in the courtyard and inside the church.  Specifically, people must wear a face covering and maintain social distancing at all times (i.e., at least six feet of separation between people from different households, although people from the same household may sit together). 

The chairs in the courtyard are spaced at least six feet apart; and the available pews in the church are also at least six feet apart.  The chairs and the available pews are cleaned after every Mass.

Inside the church, people should sit only in the available pews, not in the pews that are blocked off by tape.  Because the available pews are at least six feet apart, ideally each household will sit in its own pew.  If two households share a pew, there should be at least two empty seats (i.e., at six feet) between the two households.


Sitting in the courtyard

Tents in the courtyard provide shade and protection for about 80% of the chairs.  Those sitting in the courtyard may want to wear a sunhat, sunglasses, and sunblock and bring an umbrella and a water bottle.  For cold days, we recommend wearing a coat, gloves, a scarf, and hat.  People may also bring their own chairs or seat cushions.

Vatican:  COVID-19 vaccines are “morally acceptable”

Archdiocese of Los Angeles:  “Strongly encourages” Catholics
to receive a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine

The Vatican’s doctrinal office, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF), has determined that it is “morally acceptable” for Catholics to receive the vaccines against the COVID-19 virus.  This judgment is deeply rooted in the Catholic moral tradition.

On December 21, 2020, the CDF stated:

All vaccinations recognized as clinically safe and effective can be used in good conscience with the certain knowledge that the use of such vaccines does not constitute formal cooperation with the abortion from which the cells used in production of the vaccines derive . . . the morality of vaccination depends not only on the duty to protect one's own health, but also on the duty to pursue the common good.

In the absence of other means to stop or even prevent the epidemic, the common good may recommend vaccination, especially to protect the weakest and most exposed.
 

Therefore, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles strongly encourages Catholics to receive a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine for the sake of ourselves, our loved ones, and the common good.

If some of the faithful do not receive the vaccine, the Vatican says that those persons “must do their utmost to avoid . . . becoming vehicles for the transmission of the infectious agent.”

For more information, please see the following documents from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB):

USCCB – U.S. Bishop Chairmen for Pro-Life and Doctrine
https://www.usccb.org/news/2020/us-bishop-chairmen-pro-life-and-doctrine-address-ethical-concerns-new-covid-19-vaccines

USCCB – Moral Considerations Regarding the New COVID 19 Vaccines
https://www.usccb.org/moral-considerations-covid-vaccines

USCCB – Answers to Key Ethical Questions About COVID 19 Vaccines
https://www.usccb.org/resources/Answers%20to%20Key%20Ethical%20Questions%20About%20COVID-19%20Vaccines.pdf

USCCB – Moral Guidance on Vaccine
https://www.usccb.org/prolife/biomedical-research