1. Organizers of spiritual retreats and other events that provide for overnight accommodations at a venue must comply with all state ordinances, NIJZ recommendations for catering and tourism activities during the COVID-19 epidemic and instructions of Slovenian bishops. The legal representative of the legal entity providing the said services is responsible for implementing the measures.

2. The implementation of spiritual retreats combines catering and tourism activities and the collective exercise of religious freedom through education. Therefore, the organizer or the responsible person must follow all instructions for the listed activities.

3. Houses of spirituality or other accommodation facilities may operate only if they consistently comply with all applicable regulations in the Republic of Slovenia and recommendations published by the NIJZ based on valid ordinances. When organizing work, the responsible person must comply with the applicable ordinances:

a. Ordinance on the temporary suspension of the sale of goods and services to consumers in the Republic of Slovenia;

b. Ordinance on the temporary restriction of the collective exercise of religious freedom in the Republic of Slovenia;

c. The NIJZ regularly prepares and updates guidelines for individual activities on the website: https://www.nijz.si/sl/sproscanje-ukrepov-covid-19. The section "hospitality and tourism" provides guidelines for tourist activities, which also apply to accommodation facilities owned by the Catholic Church (houses of spirituality, monasteries and other facilities intended for overnight accommodations).

4. If it is impossible to comply with all the above regulations and recommendations, the responsible persons or organizers should postpone an event to a more favourable time or a period when the epidemic situation will be better, and it will be possible to safely hold spiritual meetings and other events with overnight accommodations.

For questions on the implementation of religious or spiritual upbringing and education, the valid Ordinance on the temporary restriction of the collective exercise of religious freedom in the Republic of Slovenia must be observed. The SBC guidelines prepared based on the valid Ordinance may also help https://katoliska-cerkev.si/smernice-za-izvedbo-verskega-izobrazevanja-in-duhovne-vzgoje. In case of possible inspection procedures, immediately notify the SBC by e-mail: [email protected].

Dr Tadej Strehovec

Secretary-General of SBC