Dear Brother Priests:

Based on the increase of the Delta variant of COVID-19 Governor John Bel Edwards has implemented a statewide mask mandate beginning today through September 1, 2021, for vaccinated and unvaccinated people (Proclamation Number 137 JBE 2021).

At this time, I ask each of you to continue to make every effort to minister to the sick utilizing health precautions. Secondly, all pastors and administrators of church parishes are to implement the following directives in church buildings and other facilities.

            1. Pastors should strongly encourage congregants gathered in churches for sacred                                worship to follow the Governor's indoor mask mandate. Excluded from the Governor's                    requirement are those who are less than five years of age and those whose health is                        jeopardized by wearing a mask. However, these or other individuals refusing to wear a                    mask should not be turned away or treated harshly.

2. In consideration of those who want an even safer environment to worship, pastors are to designate a social distancing section in each church - the size of which is left to the discretion of the pastor.

3. Eucharistic Ministers (Ordinary and Extraordinary) of Holy Communion are to sanitize their hands before and after distribution and to wear a mask throughout distribution of Holy Communion. They are also to sanitize their hands if there is contact with a communicant's hands or tongue.

4. Pastors should remind individuals that underlying health conditions, advanced age, those whose health is jeopardized by wearing a mask, as well as those who are caring for the sick are, as before, not morally obligated to attend Mass.

5. Masks are to be required for all indoor gatherings including meeting spaces, offices, and parish halls in which individuals are not socially distanced from one another.

6. If you choose to continue the rental of your parish hall, it is recommended that you utilize the addendum to the rental agreement.

7. Employees must wear a face covering when social distancing cannot be maintained, and they must continue to self-screen each day. Pastors may opt to encourage electronic communications for meetings, utilize screening protocols of visitors to the offices, and limit work related travel for employees. Our most recent chancery directives are attached.

Thank you for your hard work and patience.

Faithfully yours in Christ,

Most Reverend J. Douglas Deshotel, D.D.
Bishop of Lafayette