COVID-19 Updates: What Catholics in the Diocese Need to Know.

In order to keep the Catholic community of Delaware and Maryland’s Eastern Shore up-to-date regarding our efforts to respond to the coronavirus (COVID-19), the Diocese of Wilmington has set up this webpage.

COVID–19 GUIDANCE FOR PASTORS
EFFECTIVE FEBRUARY 15, 2022

In light of the easing of COVID-19 restrictions in both Delaware and Maryland, parishes are advised to discontinue all previous COVID-19 guidance beginning as soon as possible with the exception of the following:

1. Parishes are still encouraged to practice safety measures that include a consistent sanitizing of common areas, hand sanitizer available at all entrances and support a welcoming environment for those members of your parishes who wish to wear masks.
2. All concelebrating priests, as well as deacons assisting at the Mass, may continue to receive Communion at the usual time and in the usual manner. However, each must continue to use a separate chalice from the main celebrant or receive by intinction.
3. Distribution of the Precious Blood continues to be prohibited.
a. Parishes should also continue to have sanitization readily available if an individual distributing communion believes they made                contact with the person’s mouth or saliva.

Lent and Easter 2022– All parishes are encouraged to return to or maintain accepted liturgical norms and practices that were in place pre-COVID-19. If a parish wishes to maintain any modified practices (such as the sprinkling of ashes or using cotton swaps) due to specific concerns at the parish, please ensure these practices are consistent with what was adopted for Lent and Easter last season. All decisions concerning these practices will be up to the discretion of the pastor.

How are Catholic schools in Delaware and Maryland’s Eastern Shore keeping students safe? Read the Superintendent’s memo to parents here.

revised 2/28/2022

Maryland Bishops encourage use of the COVID vaccine. Details here.

Sunday Mass is live-streamed from the Cathedral of Saint Peter in Wilmington, Delaware, every Sunday morning at 9:30 on the Diocese of Wilmington’s YouTube Channel. Watch it live, or as a replay at www.YouTube.com/DioceseofWilm 

For information from the State of Delaware, click here.

For information from the State of Maryland, click here.

Visit this page often for updates.