As Long Island health care workers join with health care professionals across the world in battling COVID-19, the Most Reverend John O. Barres, Bishop of Rockville Centre (DRVC) will celebrate a special Mass in recognition of their heroic work.

On Sunday, May 17, 2020, in the Cathedral of Saint Agnes, Bishop Barres will celebrate a White Mass, offering prayers for the safety and well-being of all Health Care Workers. Named for the white coats and uniforms worn by many health care professionals, White Masses are special opportunities to ask God’s blessings for all those serving in the health care field.

The White Mass will be broadcasted on Catholic Faith Network (CFN), beginning at 11:00 a.m. on Sunday, May 17. CFN is found on Optimum channel 29/137, Verizon FiOS TV channel 296 and Spectrum channel 162/471. The Mass can be viewed any time after 11:00 a.m. on cfntv.org, drvc.org and on Diocese of Rockville Centre social media platforms. You can also watch CFN on Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV and Android or by downloading the CFN iOS mobile app at the app store by searching for “Catholic Faith Network” or “CFN”. In the tri-state area, the Mass will also air at 11 a.m. on WLNY-TV 55, Ch. 10 and on select CBS stations nationally, check local listings.

“On behalf of the People of God of the Diocese of Rockville Centre, I thank each and every one of our first responders, our doctors, nurses, health care workers, health care chaplains, volunteers at our Catholic Health Services hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, Catholic Home Care and Hospice, Maryhaven and all of the hospitals across Long Island,” said Bishop Barres. “God has blessed our diocese with incredible health care workers for this battle against COVID-19.”