BEAUMONT, Texas — Southeast Texas Catholics will now be able to receive communion from their vehicles on the parish grounds, the Diocese of Beaumont announced Friday.
Public masses are still under the same restrictions that began in March 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Bishop Gulliory told the diocese in the letter the question he hears most often from them is: “When will we be able to worship in our church, especially receiving the Eucharist”.
The letter allows pastors to set up specific times to drive through a designated area to receive communion. Bishop Gulliory also encouraged Catholics to "attend" a livestream Mass the same day they receive the sacrament.
The bishop came to this decision after meeting with many priest consultants as well as physicians about how and when to resume worship in churches.
“Whatever we do has to be dependent on what the virus does and not on any target date,” he said.
“We want to find a safe and simple way to accommodate the spiritual needs of our people. As result of the availability of testing, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in our area continues to increase.”
The bishop said he has plans to meet with his group of clergy counsel again in three weeks to assess the situation.
Bishop Guillory asked Southeast Texans to pray for each other and to remember what St. Paul told the Romans: “Rejoice in hope, be patient under trial and persevere in prayer.”