Bishop Michael G. Duca on Wednesday afternoon issued a mask mandate for everyone attending “any indoor church events,” including Mass, whether on Sundays or weekdays. The mandate includes all parish gatherings held indoors in a church facility and all communal celebrations of the sacraments.

Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System announced today to its organization it will require the COVID-19 vaccine for all team members, employed providers, residents, students in clinical rotations, contract staff, and volunteers. Implementation of the requirement will occur over several months concluding in December. 

Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University will take additional measures for fall 2021 to ensure a healthy and safer campus due to the progression of the COVID-19 virus. All FranU faculty, staff and students who will be on campus are required to be vaccinated with one of the following COVID-19 vaccines: Pfizer, Moderna, or Johnson and Johnson.  Proof of vaccination will be required by Aug.13.

VATICAN CITY (CNA) - New Vatican restrictions on extraordinary form Masses elicited passionate responses from Catholics nearly as soon as the motu proprio was published shortly after noon Rome time on Friday. Many Catholics reacted strongly to the promulgation of “Traditionis custodes,” a motu proprio signed by Pope Francis on July 16, offering pithy comments on Twitter as well as more detailed takes.

Bishop Michael G. Duca held a press conference May 25 at the Catholic Life Center in Baton Rouge to discuss his decision to lift the dispensation of the obligation to attend Sunday Mass and relaxing the use of masks. The Diocese of Baton Rouge recently announced the updating of these two COVID-19-related protocols in a letter dated May 21.