NORTH HOLLYWOOD, Calif. – The day after Governor Gavin Newsom announced churches could no longer have indoor service, St. Patrick’s Church in North Hollywood started holding mass outdoors.

Ada Acosta has been coming to St. Patrick’s for about 10 years. This is the first time she’s attending an outdoor service at her church.

She says she was initially worried to attend but her faith and seeing all the precautions being taken helped her feel at ease with attending mass. Churches were moved outdoors after Governor Newsom ordered a stop to indoor church services due to a surge in coronavirus cases.

Acosta says it’s not the same experience praying at home by herself, she’d rather be at her church, surrounded by her fellow parishioners.

Preparing for the outdoor service took a lot more work, even before walking into the parking lot where the mass took place, people were asked if they had any symptoms or if they had been in contact with anyone who had COVID-19. There were hand sanitizers located throughout the church property and all seats are six feet apart.

Everyone wore a mask.

Father Nicolas Sanchez says his parish was ready to hold outdoor service the day after the governor made the announcement. He says they were able to use items they already had to make it happen.

“We have chairs, we have the stage, we have the alter, we have what we need, we have the space,” said Father Sanchez.

But he says he couldn’t have done it so quickly without volunteers who helped not only set up, but clean and sanitize after each service.

Father Sanchez says especially now, with a rise in cases, people are turning to their faith.

“Faith is part of life, it’s the most important part because faith for people is the meaning of life, how to live this moment,” Father Sanchez said.

That’s especially true for people like Acosta who says she wants to serve as an example to her daughters. She wants them not to be afraid, but to make sure to take precautions to protect themselves and have faith.