We inform parish priests, rectors of shrines, heads of homes and other responsible persons in the Church that the Health Inspectorate of the Republic of Slovenia started performing stricter random controls of the performance of religious (ritual) and educational activities - e.g. supervision of Holy Masses, funeral rites, religious instruction, etc. Therefore, we ask everyone to strictly follow all instructions and applicable regulations, as fines are prescribed for violators.

If an inspection procedure is introduced in a parish, please inform the SBC Secretariat promptly to the e-mail address: [email protected]. We wish to keep a central record of inspections.

We urge the faithful and priests to respect our religious life's limitations, as they are an inevitable effort to protect us and our loved ones from infection.

Based on the guidelines from the National Institute of Public Health on March 22, 2021, the Slovenian Bishops' Conference adopted new Guidelines for the implementation of religious education and spiritual education to implement parish catechesis (religious instruction), spiritual education or other forms of religious education. The guidelines, which have been in force since Monday, March 29, 2021, replace all previous SBC documents for the implementation of parish catechesis (religious instruction) or other forms of education during the COVID-19 epidemic.

Dr Tadej Strehovec

Secretary General of SBC