Bishop Duca Announces Palm Sunday, Triduum Guidelines

Bishop Michael G. Duca has issued guidelines for Palm Sunday and the Easter triduum, urging parishioners to wear masks at all times and continue to practice physical distancing.
 
Episcopal Vicar Father Jamin David said the bishop’s protocols are quite similar to what has been issued by the Holy See. Regarding Palm Sunday, which is March 28, Father David said the church has discouraged the traditional procession of palms at the beginning of Mass. 
 
He said palms are allowed to be blessed at the beginning of the ceremony and distributed in some fashion but there should no procession from one place to another.
 
“The protocols will force some people to rethink also how our churches are using congregational parts for the reading of the Passion,” Father David said. “Without having books, there might not be an opportunity to do that.  Some parishes might recreate disposable worship aids, others might simply go a more traditional route and have a priest and deacon read the Passion without less congregational participation.”  
 
The annual Chrism Mass will be celebrated one day earlier than its traditional Wednesday before Easter date. Bishop Duca will celebrate the 10 a.m. Mass at St. George Church in Baton Rouge on March 31, also marking a departure from St. Joseph Cathedral, where it is normally celebrated. The Mass this year is by invitation only, though, due to physical distancing regulations.
 
One significant change regarding the Triduum concerns Holy Thursday, April 1, where the traditional washing of the feet (which is already optional) has been cancelled for 2021. 
 
“That ritual will disappear for this year,” Father David said.  
 
Additionally, following Mass many churches typically have a procession with the priest carrying the Blessed Sacrament to a different altar, perhaps a chapel outside of the church. According to the Holy See’s directives, the Blessed Sacrament must remain within the Church building.
 
The veneration of the cross will be allowed on Good Friday but only without touching or kissing of the cross. The cross can still be venerated by bowing.  Only the celebrant should kiss the cross.
 
Easter Vigil will look largely the same, with the fire and lighting of the candles allowed outside before Mass but with the congregation already in place. But Father David said some of the larger parishes might have to consider bringing the catechumens in for their baptism outside of the Easter Vigil, perhaps on Easter Sunday or on another Sunday in Easter, because of seating capacity. Bishop Duca has given permission to pastors to do this if pastoral necessity warrants it.  
 
The ritual for the Easter Vigil, April 3, remains largely unchanged, with the only adjustment being that instead of using baptismal pools or the same water for baptizing the catechumens, the water being poured must be distinct for each person and separate towels should be used.
  
Father David said he will use a large pitcher of water at St. Margaret Queen of Scotland Church in Albany, where he is pastor. 
 
Easter Sunday Masses will remain unchanged, although Father David said pastors will likely have to deal with potentially larger crowds while maintaining physical distancing, encouraging mask wearing, and following capacity protocols.