SAN DIEGO COUNTY, Calif. — At places of worship throughout San Diego, people were getting ready for unprecedented changes in how they attend services on Sunday.
“Today is the last day we will be having masses in the diocese in San Diego,” said Father Efrain Bautista, the pastor of the Corpus Christi Catholic Church in Bonita.
Now instead of heading to a physical building for church, parishioners will have to watch the mass online. That goes for all 99 of the diocese’s churches in San Diego and Imperial Counties.
The Catholic Diocese isn’t alone.
The Rock Church at Liberty Station also held its final services Sunday. Leaders said they too are moving things online to hopefully help stop the spread of the virus and keep its members safe. Which is what many religious organizations are doing statewide.
While it can be easy for some to panic and go into despair, Father Bautista had a message for the community.
“Don’t lose hope and don’t lose faith.”