In 2020 we experienced a global pandemic. In January 2020, COVID swept the world and St. Johns. Civil authorities closed businesses and schools and people were encouraged to stop all social gatherings to prevent the spread of the disease. We continued to gather in the church for a few months but were forced to drastically change many things. Some pews were closed to maintain a 6’ space between parishioners, entry and exit routes were enforced to minimize individual contact, hand sanitizer dispensers were installed, and face masks were required.  Holy water was removed from the Baptismal font and the Blood of Christ was no longer offered during communion. We were able to continue to celebrate Mass and the Sacraments in the church for a short time, Bishop Barber also made the difficult decision to close the churches. Holy Mass must now be celebrated outdoors.

Slow process from no Mass to Mass in the church

For a brief period, we gathered outside by the Our Lady of Aparecida shrine for a communion service on Sunday. We stood in the courtyard for the Liturgy of the Word, filed one by one into the church for communion, and immediately exited again through the opposite door.

At Easter time, we were allowed to have Mass indoors but could have no more than 10 people in the church for Mass. Since we had many people in our RCIA class, Fr. Thuong decided we could have Mass every day during the Octave of Easter and provide the sacraments for everyone that needed them.
(need a couple more pictures here)

The celebration of Holy Mass was eventually moved outdoors to the playground area at St. John’s school. Again, we adhered to the strict requirements imposed on us: facemasks, 6 foot social distancing, and no prolonged gatherings after Mass. The Brazilians gathered in the Lady of Aparecida courtyard.

In the fall, we moved the Masses indoors.

Bishop Barber had released the faithful in the diocese from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass in person. As a result, Mass attendance shrank drastically. Most affected were families with small children and the elderly who stayed home due to the risk of catching the disease.

The church was reopened late in the year as fear of the pandemic lessened. Initially we could only use every third pew as we were required to keep people 6 feet apart. One Mass each Sunday was simulcast. However, it took a great toll on our community. Though we remain strong as a Catholic Christian community, Mass attendance did not return to the pre-COVID levels. By the grace of God, we remain firmly rooted in El Cerrito and continue to give living witness to the glory of God, through his only begotten Son, our Lord, Jesus Christ.

The pandemic cause several traditional things to disappear.

For many years the Portugues Holy Ghost societies of both El Cerrito would use our parish for the crowning of their queens. They processed from St. Johns hall to the church, celebrated Mass, crowned their queens, and processed back to their hall, and served a meal to all comers. The city had installed a plaque in the side walk to commemorate the El Cerrito group.

Since we were no longer allowed to distribute communion under both species, the Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion had no job and disbanded.