El Paso’s Catholic churches now allowed to hold weekday masses at 25% capacity

EL PASO, Texas -- Bishop Mark Seitz, with the El Paso Catholic Diocese, is authorizing the second phase of church re-openings within El Paso County to include allowing weekday masses.

Weekday in-person masses can take place at 25% church capacity, he said in a statement on Wednesday evening.

Churches must strictly follow disinfection and social distancing guidelines in order to resume gatherings for masses on weekdays, baptisms, weddings, and funerals.

However, Bishop Seitz said Sunday Masses would remain suspended for now.

"This period will allow parishes to practice the disinfection and social distancing norms, making them routine before the resumption of gatherings on Sundays," the Bishop said in a statement.

Churches in the Diocese will continue to stream masses online with no more than 10 people in attendance, he said.