COVID-19 Update - Current diocesan guidelines remain in effect through April 30, 2021

 All,

As always, we are truly grateful for all you have done and continue to do as we navigate these challenging times. We thank you especially for your efforts to welcome as many of your parishioners as possible back to Mass during Holy Week and the Easter season to follow.

Gov. Eric Holcomb has announced some changes to the state’s COVID-19 guidelines that will take effect in early April. Two changes are most notable:

• The state’s face-covering mandate becomes an advisory. Face coverings are still required in state-owned facilities and other properties (e.g. hospitals), but a full mandate is no longer in effect. Some cities, Evansville among them, have followed Gov. Holcomb’s lead and are transitioning from a face-covering mandate to an advisory in early April. Also like the state’s approach, Evansville will continue to require face coverings in city-owned buildings and its METS busses. If you are outside of Evansville, please consult your local health officials and governments to be certain of ongoing requirements in your area.
• Please note that Indiana schools, including the Diocese of Evansville Catholic schools, will follow all guidelines currently in place through the end of this school year, including the face-covering requirement.
• County health departments are now responsible for guidelines regarding capacities for gatherings of various types in a variety of venues.

Bishop Siegel has consulted with priests, diocesan directors and local health officials, and has directed that current parish and diocesan guidelines remain in effect without changes through April 30. At that time, all factors will be reevaluated to determine whether adjustments can be made.

A variety of reasons have led to this decision. The most important among them include the potential impact of spring and Easter breaks on COVID-19 numbers across our 12 counties, the ongoing process of administering COVID-19 vaccines to a large segment of our population, and the still-significant number of people who remain at high risk for infection due to underlying health conditions who have not yet been vaccinated.

Following are the guidelines that remain in effect through April 30:

• The use of face coverings is strongly encouraged during Masses and other worship services.  Some parishes have designated at least one Mass at which coverings are required.  If you have done this, please be sure that this is enforced so that those who attend can be confident that all present will be in compliance.

• The use of face coverings remains required for other gatherings and non-worship events on parish property (e.g., meetings, etc.).

• The faithful are strongly encouraged to receive Holy Communion in the hand. If any Communion minister administers on the tongue, he or she must halt distribution and sanitize his or her hands before continuing.

• The use of music should be limited to one cantor and one musician, who must remain more than six feet from one another and others.

The cantor should, as much as possible, sing from one place in the church, at least six feet from anyone else.

Depending on the space, it could be permissible to use two cantors if they can be spaced at least 9-12 feet apart.

• Parishes must thoroughly clean and sanitize facilities after every use.

• Capacities in our churches for Mass and other liturgies and devotions are still limited by social-distancing requirements of at least six feet of space between individuals and family groups living under the same roof.  Please continue to enforce distancing requirements in church, school and other parish facilities.

• Please note that school facilities can be used for overflow crowds at Mass and other liturgies and devotions. Social-distancing is required, and the use of face coverings is strongly encouraged.

Should Gov. Holcomb announce additional changes in the coming weeks, we will notify you of any potential impacts on these diocesan and parish guidelines. Thank you again for all of your wonderful work on behalf of our Catholic community across Southwestern Indiana.

Communications Office

Catholic Diocese of Evansville
(812) 424-5536
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During this time, the faithful should be encouraged to make an act of spiritual communion. When unable
to receive the Eucharist, one can pray for Jesus to enter their heart spiritually, that they may be filled with
the graces they miss in the sacrament. A prayer attributed to Saint Alphonsus de Liguori is included below.

My Jesus,
I believe that You are present in the Most Holy Sacrament of the altar.
I love You above all things, and I desire to receive You into my soul.
Since I cannot at this moment receive You sacramentally,
come at least spiritually into my heart.
I embrace You as if You were already there
and unite myself wholly to You.
Never permit me to be separated from You.
Amen. – Saint Alphonsus de Liguori

Applications are currently being accepted for the House of Discernment this fall. Attached are the APPLICATION and GENERAL CALENDAR. Please pass this along to any young men (high school seniors through young adults) who might be interested in a year discerning the call of Christ for their lives while they go to college or work.

Please contact Father Tyler with any questions, or share his email address with any young who might want to talk with him.

Thank you!

Father Tyler