Church holds Palm Sunday service with 18 people, Diocese says it was a one-time mistake
EL PASO, Texas (CBS4) — The Catholic holiday, Palm Sunday, is being celebrated a little different due to covid-19.
Sunday morning, Saint Peter and Paul’s church had 18 people inside.
“What probably ended up happening the pastor was in the middle of celebrating already and maybe lost count,” a spokesperson for the Catholic Diocese of El Paso, Fernando Ceniceros, said. “St. Peter and Paul was probably doing a streaming service of the mass.”
A crowded parking indicating a large gathering not allowed because of the coronavirus. The stay-at-home order issued for the borderland said that churches may stream services online.
Ceniceros said there was 18 people inside the church for the service.
“Is that still too many people,” CBS4 asked.
“Yes, it is. It shouldn’t be more than 10 people to help,” El Paso county judge, Ricardo Samaniego, said.
There are 48 parishes within the county. Ceniceros says this hasn’t been issue throughout.
“This was a one-time problem and I can assure you that bishop Seitz has been made aware of the situation,” Ceniceros said.
Samaniego said there’s been communication with Bishop Seitz, with no failure to comply.
“I don’t feel that’s the case with the bishop or any of the religious leaders have been cooperative,” Samaniego said.
A message to the faithful community; the Diocese said it won’t happen again..
“Bishop Seitz has made it aware that this is the last time something like this happened,” Ceniceros said. “Rest assured that our pastors and priests are doing everything that they can to minister to our community.”
Services are being streamed on Facebook and Youtube.
If you do not have access to internet, you can watch televised services.
A Spanish service airs at 7 a.m. on Ch. 26.
An English service airs at 11 a.m. on the CW, Ch. 7.2.
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