RSS Feed

MEMORIAL DAY
Program that was set May 25 by VFW Post 4222 at the Morgan City cemetery has been canceled.

A Louisiana House of Representatives committee on Thursday rejected a bill that would have allowed parish and local governments to establish leave policies for workers in their jurisdictions.
As business restrictions meant to control the spread of COVID-19 are loosened and employees are called back to work, guaranteed leave would protect workers from having to do so while sick, risking their own health and potentially making the pandemic worse, supporters said.
Opponents countered the bill could create complications for companies that do business in multiple jurisdictions while putting unfunded mandates on employers at a time when they can least afford it.
Rep. Royce Duplessis, the New Orleans Democrat who authored House Bill 797, said it would give business owners and employees the opportunity to work with the level of government closest to them and develop leave policies that work in their communities.
He said he expected only a few parishes would consider mandating worker leave policies.
“I don’t think we would see sweeping changes across the board,” Duplessis said. “This is what my community wants.”
Devante Lewis with the Louisiana Budget Project, which advocates for policies it believes will benefit low- and moderate-income families, said implementing local leave policies could help communities attract tourists who may be wary of traveling because of public health concerns. If potential visitors know workers in a city won’t be forced to come to work while sick, they would be more confident the city is safe to visit, he argued.
Some supporters argue Republicans who support a parish-by-parish approach to lifting business restrictions also should support a similar approach to worker protections.
They also cite research suggesting paid sick leave policies can help limit the spread of respiratory infections.
But in arguments similar to the case made last year against letting local jurisdictions establish a local minimum wage, business advocates said the bill could lead to a confusing patchwork of regulations for businesses to navigate. Rep. Mary DuBuisson, R-Slidell, said it could lead to “mind-boggling” complications for business owners.
The Louisiana Association of Business and Industry and the Louisiana chapter of the National Federation of Independent Business spoke against the measure, and several business groups turned in red cards indicating their opposition.
“Small businesses cannot afford new unfunded mandates,” said Dawn Starns with NFIB.
Jim Patterson with LABI said that while government can mandate regulations, it cannot tell businesses how many people they will employ.
He said the bill, while not creating new costs in and of itself, could lead to companies cutting jobs.

As the days grow warmer, we begin to watch the weather reports for news of the tropics and the big storms that breed there. Maybe this year we don’t want to look. Practically all of the experts predict that this will be the fifth above-average hurricane season in a row, and some of them say it will be “very active.”
The 65-year norm is 11 tropical storms, six of which become hurricanes, with three of those becoming major storms with winds of 111 miles per hour or more.
Unfortunately, we haven’t seen “normal” seasons in recent years. Far from it.
The 2016 season produced 15 named storms, seven hurricanes and four major hurricanes. In 2017 we saw 17 named storms and 10 hurricanes, six major. That was the costliest season on record, notably because Harvey drowned southeast Texas and part of southwest Louisiana. The 2018 season brought 15 named storms, including Category 5 Michael, which struck the Florida panhandle. 2019 tied as the fourth-most-active season on record, with 18 named storms, including Category 5 Dorian, which devastated the Bahamas.
We could have another year like those, but probably not as bad as 2005, which was by far the most active storm season in modern times. There were 27 named storms that year, 14 of which developed into hurricanes. Seven of those were major storms, including two unforgettable Louisiana storms, Rita and Katrina.
The official NOAA forecast won’t be published until later, but it is likely to agree with other generally reliable agencies that say weather patterns this year are likely to be more amenable than usual to storm development, particularly in the late summer.
The Colorado State University meteorology team, which has been issuing increasingly accurate hurricane forecasts since 1984, predicts 16 named storms. Of those, the researchers expect eight to become hurricanes and four to reach major hurricane strength.
CSU says there is a 44% chance that a hurricane of some size will hit somewhere on the Gulf coast. That’s well above the 30% average for the last century.
Lead CSU researcher Phil Klotzbach said in a recent release that “right now every group is calling for an above-normal season. There’s a spread in how [much] above normal, but every group is going above average.”
AccuWeather forecasts 14 to 20 tropical storms, seven to 11 of which will become hurricanes with four to six of them being major storms. Weather Channel analysts expect 16 to 18 named storms, eight or nine of them hurricanes. The European center for long-range weather forecasting does predict a normal season, but it is the only one of more than a dozen agencies to make such an optimistic projection.
We can take some solace in the fact that early season estimates are often unreliable. There is a chance that all of them are wrong, or that weather patterns will change and the predictions will also change. That’s why most organizations give updated forecasts near the start of the season on June 1 and again during the season’s peak, August through October.
But there’s more confidence than usual in this year’s forecasts because of the way the weather patterns compare with other active years, according to Klotzbach. “I would say the confidence is higher than normal,” he said.
We can pray that the predictions do turn out to be too high, but we also might want to pray that if we must have an active season, it will be more like 2010 than 2005. A dozen storms developed into hurricanes in 2010, but not one of them struck the United States.
A collection of Jim Bradshaw’s columns, "Cajuns and Other Characters," is now available from Pelican Publishing. You can contact him at jimbradshaw4321@gmail.com or P.O. Box 1121, Washington LA 70589.)

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux issued these guidelines for the resumption of indoor Mass this weekend.
—Wear a mask.
—Social distancing: No physical contact and a distance of six feet.

Do I have to go to Mass?
—Until further notice, all Catholics in the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux remain dispensed from their obligation to attend Sunday Mass.
—Therefore, you do not have to attend Mass if you are unable or feel unsafe in doing so. You may observe the Lord’s Day by praying together as a family, by watching a Mass via livestream, or by doing some other act of devotion.

What should I expect?
—Mass will feel a bit different for the time being. It will likely not be the triumphant return that many of us are imagining.
Safety precautions required are not ideal; however, your health and safety remain a priority. In order to resume the public celebration of Mass, there are procedures that must be in place.

How many people?
—Mass size will be limited to no more than 25% of Diocesan calculated maximum capacity.
—Limiting the number of people at each Mass is difficult. We thank you for your patience and understanding.

What can I do beforehand?
—Mass attendance will be limited, either through an RSVP system or on a first come, first served basis. Please consult your parish website or social media communication for more information.
—If your parish is using an RSVP system, you can assure your spot at Mass by signing up via the RSVP system of your parish. This can generally be done either through a phone call to your parish office or through the online system your parish has set up. Again, consult your parish website or social media communication for more information.
—If your parish is using a first come, first served system, it is recommended that you arrive as early as 30 minutes before Mass time, but not earlier. If you arrive earlier, you should remain in your vehicle until you can enter the church.
—None of us want to turn away someone from attending Mass; however, the restrictions are for the health and safety of you, your family, those others attending, and those serving you at Mass. Please be understanding if you are not able to attend Mass.
—If any of the lay faithful are high-risk, or present any symptoms of illness, they are asked to NOT come to Mass. Out of respect for others we ask that they participate from home during the illness.

Are there any requirements
I should know about?
—The lay faithful who attend a Mass must bring their own cloth mask, which must be worn at all times. No one will be allowed to stay for Mass without a mask. They must be taken off so that you might receive Holy Communion, but otherwise they must be worn for the entire time that you are at Mass.

What about when
I get to church?
—Members of the same households may sit together, but there must be a six-foot distance between households at all times.
—Ushers will ensure that this distance is respected.

What should I expect?
—At all times, a six-foot social distance will have to be maintained between households. To help with this, your parish may rope off certain pews or designate pews for people to sit.
—Multiple households can sit in a pew as long as the six-foot distance is maintained.
—Masks are to be worn at all times. They must be taken off so that you might receive Holy Communion, but otherwise they must be worn for the entire time that you are on church grounds.
—Hand sanitizer should be available and used regularly.
—Follow the instructions of your parish in terms of physical contact and distribution of Holy Communion. You are asked to receive Communion on your hand, holding it out flatly such that the priest can distribute without any physical contact.
—Parents with small children should remember that cry rooms will not meet the social distancing criteria.
—Music will be limited to one instrumentalist and one cantor. Choirs will not be allowed. There are to be no altar servers.
—It is preferred that a priest or deacon proclaim all the Scripture readings. However, if a lay lector is utilized, only one is permitted.
—There is to be no offertory procession. There is to be a designated basket, away from the sanctuary, in which the lay faithful may place their financial
offerings as they arrive to or depart from Mass.
—The Sign of Peace must be given without physical contact.
—We respectfully ask that there be no congregating after Mass. The lay faithful are respectfully asked to depart immediately after Mass is concluded.

What should I expect?
—As the lay faithful process to receive Holy Communion, a six-foot distance must be maintained. Ushers will assist in coordinating said distance.
—The communicant approaches, removing their mask.
—If the communicant is wearing gloves, they must remove their gloves before receiving Holy Communion.
—Considering the health risks associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, the risks associated with its transmission, and health of those distributing Holy
Communion, the lay faithful are strongly urged to receive Holy Communion in the hand.
—The priest, deacon, or lay extraordinary minister, holding one edge of the consecrated host, places the outer edge of the consecrated host in the communicant’s outstretched hand.
The minister then reverently releases the consecrated host, allowing the remainder of the consecrated host to reverently fall into the communicant’s outstretched hand without the hand of the minister making contact with the communicant’s outstretched hand.
—Should any physical contact occur during the distribution of Holy Communion, the priest, deacon, or lay extraordinary minister must stop and sanitize their hands immediately.

How can I help my parish?
—First and foremost, pray for your parish and pray for your priests! These are extraordinary circumstances and difficult guidelines to enforce. No one enjoys having to do this. Your prayers and your patience are greatly appreciated.
—Offer to assist! Ushers and hospitality ministers will be more important than ever and will have to be present at each Mass. Offer to volunteer your time or any particular gifts you have to assist your parish in these new endeavors.
—Follow the guidelines as they have been explained here. Take proper hygiene measures and adhere to any system which your parish may institute.
—Continue to offer your financial support to your parishes. Only together can we continue to move forward! We are grateful for your generosity.