Amarillo churches aim to stay open as COVID-19 continue rising across the Panhandle Amarillo churches aim to stay open as COVID-19 continue rising across the Panhandle By Gissel Olivas | December 11, 2020 at 5:56 PM CST - Updated December 11 at 7:00 PM AMARILLO, Texas (KFDA) - While many Amarilloans continue battling the coronavirus pandemic, local church leaders feel worship might help in the fight. “I think it’s important for churches to be open during the pandemic because a person’s life of faith is essential to who they are as human beings. So, if food for the body is essential, food for the soul is essential,” said Father Anthony Neusch, rector at St. Mary’s Cathedral.