Archdiocese of LA Christmas Masses to be broadcast on TV, livestream

LOS ANGELES (CNS) -- Churchgoers who traditionally attend Christmas services will be able to watch Masses live from the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels or stream the services on their digital devices amid increased COVID-19-related public safety measures.

Univision Los Angeles will broadcast Christmas morning Masses in Spanish at 7 a.m. on UniMas KFTR-TV, Channel 46. ABC7 Los Angeles will broadcast the services in English at 9 a.m. on the Localish Network, over the air on digital channel 7.2 -- check local listing for provider -- and via cable on Spectrum 1246 or 703, Frontier 467, Cox Cable 1133 and Mediacom 520.

Masses will also be livestreamed on Archdiocese of Los Angeles' Facebook page and Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels. For the full schedule, visit www.olacathedral.org/downloads/2020_ChristmasSchedule_1222.pdf.

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"We have never seen daily death rates this high during the course of the pandemic and the model predicts the worst is yet to come."

Catholics can find a listing of available livestreams and broadcasts of services in the Archdiocese at lacatholics.org so that they may continue to pray at home with their families.

The Archdiocese previously announced updated guidelines for its indoor religious services according to protocols issued by the Los Angeles Department of Public Health.

Parishes in Los Angeles County may resume indoor religious services, provided there is space for social distancing of at least six feet between family units, all in attendance wear face coverings, and measures for cleaning and sanitization are followed.

RELATED: LA County churches allowed to resume indoor services with restrictions

Los Angeles County is allowing places of worship to resume indoor services, with some restrictions ahead of the Christmas holiday.

In a letter to priests and pastors in the Archdiocese, Archbishop Jose H. Gomez noted it will be safer to continue celebrating outdoor Masses. Likewise, the public health department strongly recommends that places of worship continue to hold services outdoors.

However, if a pastor believes it is better to offer livestreamed Masses only or to celebrate indoors -- if permitted by his county and in keeping with their protocols -- he may proceed accordingly, according to the Archdiocese.

Parishes that can and choose to return to indoor in-person worship must observe all protocols issued by their respective county.

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, while acknowledging the debate over indoor worship services and its own revised guidelines permitting them with safety protocols, issued a statement urging churchgoers to avoid services held indoors.

"No matter what a Superior Court judge says and given what's happening now, it is simply too risky to gather indoors with other people who do not live with you,'' according to the department.

"Public Health urges you to continue to more safely worship as you have during the pandemic by attending remotely via streaming service or at outdoor services only.''