As Holy Week approaches, the Episcopal Conference of Haiti informs of the new directives in accordance with the decisions of the Government on the behaviors to adopt and taking into account the decree promulgated by the Sacred Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of Sacraments.

"The Commemoration of the Lord's Entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday will be celebrated inside the parish church with the doors closed. The Priest will take care to add the participation of 10 faithful at most. We will use the third form provided by the Roman Missal.

The chrism mass will take place at the cathedral and will be presided over by the Bishop surrounded by a very small number of Priests. The confreres and the People of God will be able to experience the celebration live on the RMK YouTube channel and the Diocese Facebook page.

The Last Supper Mass will be celebrated in the parishes with the participation of a maximum of 10 faithful. The washing of the feet, the procession of the Blessed Sacrament and the rite of worship will be omitted. It would be preferable for the faithful to be chosen from among the members of the Parish Pastoral Council and those of the Institutes of Consecrated Life. All the faithful of the parish community will be informed of the time of the celebration so that they can be in prayer communion with their pastor. Where resources allow, this mass will be radio broadcasted or retransmitted via new information technologies.

On Good Friday there will be no Way of the Cross procession. The celebration of the Passion will take place in the parishes while taking into account the instructions concerning the number and choice of direct participants. Note also that the veneration of the cross will be done by a simple prostration.

Regarding the celebration of the Resurrection, the Easter Vigil will be celebrated in all the parishes with the same number of faithful around 5:30 p.m. in order to respect the curfew. We will omit the blessing of fire. The Paschal Candle will simply be lit and the Exultet proclaimed. There will be no baptismal celebration, but the renewal of baptismal promises will be maintained.

I would like to emphasize that if the parish priest has a flu or a fever, he will not celebrate in the presence of even a small audience. It is better that he celebrates alone.

Given the weaknesses of our care structures, the best attitude consists in prevention. Wash your hands, avoid the crowd and go out as little as possible.

I invite you to incessant prayer in union with all the victims and their families. Pray for Haiti. Pray for all countries around the world. May Our Lady of Perpetual Help intercede for us and may the protection of the Lord be upon you all.

Chibly Cardinal Langlois

Bishop of Les Cayes."

HL/ HaitiLibre