LOS ANGELES (CNS) - Restrictions related to the coronavirus pandemic will limit Easter events in Los Angeles County for a second consecutive year but unlike last year, there will be opportunities today to celebrate Jesus' resurrection in person.
While many sunrise and outdoor services have been canceled, outdoor services conducted by Purpose Church will be held at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. at the Grandstand at Fairplex in Pomona. A nursery will be open for children through 3 years old. A concert, crafts, games a bible story and held for children from 4 years old through fourth grade.
La Crescenta Presbyterian Church will hold outdoor services at 8 a.m., 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. in its courtyard. All services will have a capacity limit.
Masses at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels will be limited to 130 people. Face masks or coverings over the nose and mouth must be worn at all times by anyone over 2 years old. Social distancing is required.
The cathedral's full capacity is 3,000. The Archdiocese of Los Angeles continues to encourage the elderly and those with underlying health problems to stay home and watch Mass through social media.
The Rev. Brian Nunes, the archdiocese's vicar general, will celebrate the Easter Sunday Mass in English at 10 a.m. Archbishop Jose H. Gomez will celebrate Easter Sunday Mass in Spanish at noon.
The Masses will be streamed on the Archdiocese of Los Angeles' website and Facebook pages, lacatholics.org/holyweek and facebook.com/lacatholics, and the cathedral's website, olacathedral.org/live/.
They will also be broadcast on KABC-TV Channel 7's digital Channel 7.2, which is carried on Spectrum cable systems on Channels 1246 or 703, on Channel 467 on Frontier systems, Channel 1133 on Cox systems and Channel 520 on Mediacom systems.
Guadalupe Radio (guadaluperadio.com) will transmit the Spanish- language Mass live at noon and El Sembrador (elsembradorministries.com) will rebroadcast it at 5 p.m.
A listing of livestreams of Masses from parishes in the archdiocese is available at lacatholics.org/mass-for-the-homebound.
Churches were closed last Easter because of the stay-at-home order issued by Gov. Gavin Newsom in an attempt to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
The feast of the Resurrection of Christ is the oldest and most important Christian celebration. Christians believe that, by rising from the dead, Jesus demonstrated his power over sin and death, manifesting his divinity as the Son of God.
According to the Christian Scriptures, Jesus is the long-awaited Messiah who offered his life for the sins of the world as was prophesied in the Hebrew Scriptures.
``As we prepare once again this year to celebrate Easter in the midst of a pandemic it is a great blessing to bring the celebration of the resurrection into the homes of our people especially those who are sick or vulnerable,'' Gomez said.
``I am encouraging people to return to their parishes when possible, but the virtual Mass via television, radio and the internet is a beautiful option for those who are unable to get to church. We will keep worshipping God and keep praying for the sick, our health care workers, and an end to this pandemic.''
The Midnight Mission will not hold its traditional Easter event due to the COVID-19 pandemic but will provide special Easter-themed take-out meals at lunch. Each guest will also receive socks, hygiene kits, masks and sweet treats.
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