On March 31, 2020, Governor Abbott of Texas issued an order extending the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions throughout the month of April. However, he made one change: religious services conducted in places of worship are given exemption and are considered to be essential activities.

https://gov.texas.gov/news/post/governor-abbott-issues-executive-order-implements-statewide-essential-services-and-activities-protocols

However, our Bishop Edward Burns in the Diocese of Dallas has made the decision to continue suspending public masses, adoration, and scheduled confessions, and to postpone baptisms, weddings, and the reception of catechumens into the Church.

https://www.cathdal.org/DECREE_03312020editFINAL.pdf

We believe that the celebration of mass, the sacraments, and access of the faithful to spiritual support during this stressful and difficult time is an essential service, and we would like to respectfully ask our bishop to please reconsider his decision. While we should maintain prudent precautions, treating the mass as "non-essential", in opposition to what our governor has deemed safe and necessary, is a stance we do not want to take.

Bishop Burns, your flock is spiritually hungry. We wait on the threshold of eternity for the comfort Christ ordained for us in His Church and Sacraments. A city on a hill cannot be hidden, and we want to stand in the sight of the world in witness that the Kingdom of God must be sought first above all things. We want our bishop to stand with us.