As of the 5:30 Mass tonight, we had a letter from the Archbishop outlining almost identical guidelines.
Catholic Ping!
They tried #4 a few years ago. Not the other just this one. Then they never went back. What a scam.
Well, going to 7:30 Mass this morning.
I guess if the Archdiocese of Washington implements rule #4, I won’t be receiving communion this week.
Parishioners are no longer allowed to hold hands during the Lord's Prayer.
This is a stickler for our priest anyway. He is a traditionalist and has often explained to those who attend scripture study that members of the parish should have their hands in an attitude of prayer.
It is only the priest who should have their hands outstretched towards Heaven.
Yes. I received an email about this yesterday afternoon. My daughter is making her First Communion next Saturday and I warned her earlier in the week that they might suspend the chalice.
Here’s ours from Detroit
TO: Pastors, Parochial Vicars, Staff, and Parishioners
FR: Msgr. John Kasza, Secretary to the Archbishop and Vice Chancellor
RE: Precautionary Measures for Parishes Concerning Swine Flu
In the past week, the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have issued warnings about the possibility of a pandemic arising from an increase in the swine flu virus. Many have been infected, some have died. Archbishop Allen Vigneron and his staff are monitoring the situation. Please know that the Archbishop is keeping all who are affected by this virus in his prayers. He recognizes the challenges faced— and appreciates the expertise displayed— by our government and health care professionals in dealing with this situation.
In our effort to be prudent without becoming alarmist, the Archdiocese of Detroit, after consulting with local medical experts, and following the lead of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, issues these reminders. You are strongly encouraged to follow these practices and inform your congregations about them as to prevent the spread of disease.
Flu viruses are ordinarily transmitted from person to person through bodily fluids by physical contact, including contact with inanimate objects or by inhalation. The flu virus is more active in larger gatherings of people. However, there are ways to prevent the spread of the virus. These practices are strictly voluntary; however, in the interest of Christian charity, all persons are strongly urged to follow them:
1. If you suspect you might be infected with the flu virus, stay at home and do NOT attend Mass until you feel healthy. Missing Mass due to illness is not sinful; it is prudent and shows a respect for your brothers and sisters. Stay at home, watch “Mass for Shut-Ins” on television or the Internet, pray devotional prayers such as the rosary or the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, make a spiritual Communion, etc.
2. During Mass, at the Sign of Peace, you may choose to simply say “Peace be with you,” without offering your hand.
3. During Communion, you may elect to receive the Blessed Sacrament in the consecrated host and not receive the Precious Blood from the chalice.
4. Ministers of Holy Communion should wash their hands prior to coming to Church. The use of hand sanitizers, even during Mass, is acceptable for all ministers of Holy Communion, including the priest and deacon.
5. Reception of the Blessed Sacrament on the hand is the best way to reduce the possibility of flu virus transmission.
6. Following the celebration of each Mass, after the vessels have been properly purified, the sacristans should wash the vessels with hot, soapy water, then towel dry them, and put them away.
7. While scientific evidence is inconclusive at this point, some health professionals are recommending taking precautions when using holy water. Water from the fonts should not be ingested, nor should it enter the body via the eyes or nose.
8. Remind people to practice respiratory etiquette: cover your mouth and nose when you sneeze or cough; wash hands frequently with soap and water and scrub for at least 30 seconds; avoid the transmittal of mucus or bodily fluids if you suspect you may be infected; refrain from shaking hands; refrain from sharing a common cup; and above all, if you feel sick, DO NOT come to places where you might infect others.
The latest information and advisories for our parishes and schools will be continually updated on our Archdiocesan website:
www.AODonline.org/fluadvisory
Thank you for your attention to these matters and for all that you do going forward to avoid spreading the flu virus.
I will find out this morning, but I doubt it. It won’t matter with the choir. We’re secluded and pass around other sorts of bugs all the time.
All except communion on the tounge were mentioned,implemented, and followed at my nieces first communion yesterday afternoon. I receive on the tounge and will NOT extend my hands. My priest will have to decide to deny me communion if that one comes to pass....
It was very strange yesterday in the fact that they did note even DO the sign of peace, they completely skipped it, went straight to the Angus Dei? Didn’t even say Peace be with you, and also with you and then the Angus? I can’t imagine THAT was what was intended, please post if your Church does the same. I am going to 10:30 Mass with my middle son who was unable to attend the communion yesterday due to work, at a different parish. Will let you know what happens there. Good luck all!
I’m not sick, but have been exposed - a close co-worker rides a commuter (long-distance) bus with one of the confirmed cases and he was sneezing all over the office Friday. I cancelled all my weekend plans including Mass. I’ll watch it on EWTN.
People who normally have the priest place a communion host on their tongues will now receive it in their hands.
How could Holy Water and the actual Body of Jesus Christ get contaminated with a virus??? Surely there must be some Catholics wondering that as well...
My home archdiocesse, Hartford,CT, the archbishop put something similar up late last week.
Will be attending the 10:30AM Mass at my parish, plus it is the first of two first Holy Communion celibrations. Will see what will happen.
I haven't checked the whole diocese, but yesterday at the 430p Mass, our priest gave out those guidelines. He also said, "If you would like to greet your own family members with a handshake, and forgo shaking hands with others, it is your decision." (BTW, he is an older man, and I could swear that he called it "swan flu." Giggle. It's the next big epidemic--a new variant of the avian (bird) flu)
Anyway, heathen that I am, I said to the lady behind me, "Something"s going to kill me. I might as well shake hands." She laughed, grabbed my hand and said, "I feel the same way!"
BTW, I have attended Latin Masses in another parish, and I really don't recollect doing the whole hand shake thing.
We did not stop this. The priest said it was a personal choice whether to receive under both forms. Actually, I noticed more people receiving from the cup. Could be my imagination, though.
They should have eliminated the handshaking “sign of peace” anyway a long time ago.
Ok, back from Mass, here’s my report:
Nothing announced at the beginning of Mass about it. Prior to the Liturgy of the Eucharist priest announced that due to the current situation we were requested from handholding during the Our Father, exchanging handshakes during the SOP and there would be no chalice until further notice. Communion on the tounge still permitted in our Church. That one would be hard to stop where we are, as we have a High Mass at 10;30 and Latin Mass at 12:30. During the week we are permitted to receive on the knees at the altar. No noticable difference in number receiving on the tounge that I could see, and as I posted before Mass, the priest would have to deny me communion b/c I would NEVER take the host in my hand (personal conviction here).
I hope someone posts the 10 liturgical abuses thingy again, as I am going to print and bring to my priest the next time I see it. We don’t do any as a practice, and I want to point that out to him that we appreciate it, but I do notice they don’t discourage hand holding during the Our Father, and let him know that this is considered a liturgical abuse. I just don’t think he is aware of it, as he corrects rubrics whenever he sees one, in my experience.
No one said anything in our Parish. I didn’t see any notice in the bulletin, but I didn’t read it all the way through. I had read in the Diocesan newspaper, that those who are concerned could refrain from receiving from the Cup. Folks were still holding hands when we sang the Lord’s Prayer, and at the Sign of Peace.
Looks a lot like the ELCA one you sent.
"What God Ordains Is Always Good" by Samuel Rodigast, 1649-1708
V. 3. What God ordains is always good.
His loving thought attends me;
No poison can be in the cup
That my Physician sends me.
My God is true; Each morn anew
I'll trust His grace unending,
My life to Him commending.