COVID Guidelines

October 26, 2021
by Most Rev. Michael G. Duca
To the Clergy, Catholic School Community, and Lay Faithful of the Diocese of Baton Rouge: 

These past several months have been difficult for us as a local Church!  Aside from the challenges resulting from Hurricane Ida, our community has continued to fight the COVID-19 pandemic since March 2020.  August 2021 began with a growing surge of infections and new mandates issued by civil authorities, including Governor Edwards, all aimed at protecting public health.  To preserve hard-won successes throughout the duration of the pandemic, mask wearing in our churches, schools, and other institutions was once again implemented. 

Given declining infection rates not only in the Greater Baton Rouge Area but throughout Louisiana, I am now modifying several of our practices based upon medical advice, wisdom, and recommendations from state leaders.   

While I continue to encourage the wearing of masks by and among those who feel vulnerable, masks will no longer be required in places of worship or indoors in parochial facilities.  In addition, mask-wearing will be optional in our Catholic Schools in the Diocese of Baton Rouge. This change in policy is effective immediately.  Further guidelines will be issued by the Catholic Schools Office later this week to aid school principals and other leaders in following CDC guidelines regarding quarantine procedures and continued mitigation of viral spread.   

While these changes will come as welcome news to many, I continue to encourage diligence throughout our community since this pandemic has not yet ended.  It has been my goal and that of our diocesan leaders to ensure that everyone in our parishes and schools are kept as safe as possible.  It has also been my desire that our parishes and schools return to their operations with minimal disruptions. Should our situation change once more, guidelines may once again be revised.

Sacrifice and our hard work have brought us collectively to this moment!  I echo the words of St. Paul to the Galatians while reflecting upon these new developments: “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time, we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” 

Hope in the Lord, 

Most Reverend Michael G. Duca 
Bishop of Baton Rouge  

The obligation to attend Sunday Mass is continues to be dispensed. We urge those who have serious health issues, who are most vulnerable, who are not feeling well, or who fear their own health to refrain from attending church during this time.

General Guidelines for Mass Attendance in Church: 

• You may select your own pew at all Masses. Simply choose an appropriate seat based on the number in your party. All available seats in church are designated with card. Those living in the same household may sit together.
  • Red card is a single seat
  • Yellow card is for either 1 or 2 people
  • Blue card is family seating for 3-5 people. If your party is larger than 5, please use multiple family spots.
• Masks are optional.
• Be mindful of social distancing and maintain six feet of distance from others at all times.
• Please drop your collection envelopes in the collection boxes near the main doors from the narthex into the church as you enter or leave. No basket will be passed during offertory. 
• Congregational singing will be encouraged.
• The sign of peace may be expressed by means of a smile and/or a nod of the head. No physical sign of peace will be exchanged.
• As you leave, please leave your kneeler down. This will indicate to us where to sanitize. 
• The church will be sanitized after every mass.  To facilitate this cleaning in preparation for the next mass, we ask people not to linger or visit in church after mass.

Guidelines for Receiving Holy Communion in Church:

• Please bring hand sanitizer to use before receiving Communion.
• During Communion, please maintain social distancing in the line by spacing out six feet from the person in front of you.
• Communion will be distributed by means of the sacred Host only. There will be no distribution from the chalice.
• Out of consideration and concern for others, we ask everyone to receive Communion in the hand rather than on the tongue. 
• When approaching the priest for Communion, place your hand flat atop your other hand.  The priest will place the Host on your hand and then let go of the Host to avoid any contact with your hand.

We look forward to worshiPping with you in church soon. 

LAST UPDATED 3/4/2021

Bishop Duca has specifically asked the priests to make the following adjustments at their parishes:  

• All liturgical and social gatherings on parish grounds will require masks and physical distancing during the whole event. They are to discourage any sit-down meals where the masks must be removed for a long period of time. 

• Any Catholic organizations that is meeting on campus or even meeting outside of parish property, will require the continuous wearing of masks during their event and discourage any sit-down meals served at the table.

• Priests are to actively protect their health in order to continue to provide sacraments at their parishes. Priests are to excuse themselves from events and gatherings where masks are not going to be worn. 

Please read a letter from Bishop Duca located in the LINKS on this page.
On behalf of St .George clergy and staff, I would like to thank all of you for making St. George a safe place to worship, to gather, and to learn. Let us continue to do our part in our responsibility to each other to minimize the risk of infection of the virus.

-Fr. Yi, Pastor