Diocese of Tucson Announces Plans to Close Churches For 1 Month to Curb COVID-19

The Diocese of Tucson announced Monday that Catholic churches in Tucson are closing for one month in an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19.

Churches will be closed for all indoor masses starting January 8th until February 5th. Pastors will be permitted to seek permission to celebrate some indoor masses, in some circumstances,

Weddings and funerals are allowed to be celebrated indoors but will be limited to 25 people. Baptisms will have a limit of 10 people in attendance.


“A period of four weeks should make a considerable difference in the availability of the Covid vaccine for those most at risk,” Bishop Edward Weisenburger of the Diocese of Tucson said in a news release. “Hopefully it also will help us to evaluate more accurately the anticipated post-Christmas spike in infections and resulting hospitalizations.”

The Diocese is encouraging pastors to arrange for masses to be via the internet and offer communion outdoors.