NEW ORLEANS (RNS) The Good Book’s command to render to both God and Caesar can get a little tricky, so many churches around New Orleans are lending a hand by canceling or moving Sunday evening services that would conflict with the Saints’ first appearance in the Super Bowl.

The Archdiocese of New Orleans said many, but not all, Catholic parishes are scrubbing or rescheduling their Sunday evening Masses with the blessing of Archbishop Gregory Aymond. He gets to be in Miami to watch the game with Saints owner Tom Benson.

Aymond this week told pastors in about 100 parishes they could use their best judgment on canceling evening Mass, demanding only that they give parishioners plenty of notice so they could attend an earlier service.

In suburban Metairie, the Rev. Pat Wattigny said he has canceled his last Sunday service this weekend at St. Benilde Catholic Church. Two weeks ago, while the Saints were battling the Vikings in the play-offs, there were only 43 people in church anyway — and that included the priest and four assistants, he said.

In New Orleans, Pastor Debra Morton of Greater St. Stephen Full Gospel Baptist Church has canceled her congregation’s monthly Sunday night Communion service.

Two weeks ago, her congregation moved back into its sanctuary that had been damaged by Hurricane Katrina just as the Saints and the Vikings squared off. She made it a little easier then by providing televisions in a nearby reception area”but I dare not challenge them again” with another conflict, she said with a laugh.

In Metairie, Victory Fellowship, an Assembly of God church, has canceled its evening celebration, said associate pastor Chris Monnerjahn, and will host a big Super Bowl tailgate barbecue at the church beginning at 3 p.m., he said.

The church did the same for the Saints play-off game against the Vikings.

“I joked that I think I saw more people praying during that game than I’ve seen in church,” he said.