On March 21, 2020, the Diocese of El Paso announced it would innovate in order to continue serving the community during the COVID-19 crisis. KVIA initiated a partnership with the Diocese of El Paso and offered to broadcast Mass on the El Paso-Las Cruces CW every Sunday at 11am to give the opportunity to Catholics across the Borderland to continue to celebrate Mass. Parishioners kept their faith with virtual Masses during the pandemic and one year later Bishop Mark says, “I’m so grateful that KVIA saw this as an opportunity to step out and serve so many people that were feeling orphaned in a certain way.”

Diocesan Communication Director Fernie Ceniceros shared that the team was shocked when they heard that 21,000 people tune into the weekly virtual Sunday Mass on KVIA which tapes every Friday. Today, churches in the Diocese of El Paso are open at 25%. Temperatures are taken, masks and face coverings are required throughout Mass, parishioners are socially distanced, and pews are sanitized between Masses. Parishes are still offering a livestream Mass option. Bishop Mark’s Mass in Spanish at 11am on Sunday is streamed on the Diocese’s Facebook page. The English Mass is broadcast at 11am on the CW. “We hope that we bring joy to people’s lives, right where they live,” said Bishop Mark Seitz.

The Catholic Foundation set up online giving for parish Sunday collections called My Sunday Parish Offertory beginning on March 19, 2020 to provide support to churches in the Diocese of El Paso. Parishioners make their donation online and the full amount of the gift goes to the parish. To date, $599,049 has been raised for the Sunday Collection through the Catholic Foundation. If you’re able to give during this challenging time, find out what your local parish has set up for online giving. Envelopes can still be mailed or dropped off at the parish office.

For more information on Mass schedules, gatherings, and protocols, visit the Diocese of El Paso website.