All Catholic Masses in Yakima Diocese cancelled over COVID-19 Virus

YAKIMA, Wash.-- All Masses have been cancelled throughout the Yakima Diocese for an undetermined amount of time because of the COVID-19 situation.

The Yakima Diocese includes Christ the King in Richland, St. Joseph in Kennewick, and Parish of the Holy Spirit in Kennewick. 

In a statement released Friday evening by Bishop Joseph Tyson, he is granting a dispensation to all area Catholics from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass, including those traveling to and through the community. Bishop Tyson cites Governor Jay Inslee's directive earlier Friday of canceling all gatherings of more than 250 people, in an effort to stem the spread of the Coronavirus.

Along with this dispensation he has suspended indefinitely the public celebration of all Masses in the Diocese of Yakima. The Diocese is also working to make the online catechetical resource FORMED available to all parishioners in English and Spanish within the next two to three weeks.

In the statement, Bishop Tyson added that he is developing further guidelines for pastoral care, and that the Church would publicize these as soon as possible.