Changes at church because of the H1N1 virus

[whatevergirl]

*We still have the chalice of Precious Blood, but the one thing that stands out that I’ve noticed, is hardly anyone is shaking hands during peace. Other than that, no other changes. *

 

[Cat]

Maybe we should all sign a liability waiver before mass.

In all seriousness, I do see this point of view, but why can’t parishoners who are afraid just abstain for a while? Why should those of us who wish to recieve the Lord on our tongue be tossed aside? I for one am not afraid of H1N1.

As MusicMan has stated, I am one of those who fear Communion on the tongue will be taken away forever.

I agree with you, but I think that there are certain people in the U.S. who see $$ and would love to take advantage of any situation to acquire those $$. If they are given a chance, they’ll take it. So the best thing to do is take the chance away from them.

 

[Liz_Hansen]

I know Catholic priests often wash their hands before Mass.

However, I am concerned about the Lay Eucharistic Ministers sitting in the congregation who cough, sneeze, rub their noses, shake hands, and are regular people worshiping, then help with distribution of Holy Communion. I like how the priests of our Orthodox brethren distribute Communion using a long-handled gold spoon meant specifically for the purpose. I am sure there are greater reasons than “germs” for using this. However, I’d feel better if our LEM’s used a bit of hand sanitizer before distributing communion. I don’t think the Lord Jesus would be offended. I, for one, have an extremely weakened immune system, and I don’t want to receive Communion and then wind up in the hospital. It’s happened before.

I love Jesus so much, but we live in a fallen world with abundant germs that people inadvertently spread.

 

[RosalieM]

I don’t get it. A few months back, when the swine flu first appeared, we had no cup, no hand shaking, no communion on the tongue. But there was always holy water in the fonts.
Then the bans were lifted.
Now there is the cup, communion on the tongue, hand shakes, but no holy water in the fonts. I’ve never been to a Catholic church without making the sign of the cross with holy water. There weren’t any sponges in the fonts. Another church still has holy water. I really miss the holy water. I’ll get some more from the church supply to keep at home.

 

[Brenda_V]

I know Catholic priests often wash their hands before Mass.

However, I am concerned about the Lay Eucharistic Ministers sitting in the congregation who cough, sneeze, rub their noses, shake hands, and are regular people worshiping, then help with distribution of Holy Communion. I like how the priests of our Orthodox brethren distribute Communion using a long-handled gold spoon meant specifically for the purpose. I am sure there are greater reasons than “germs” for using this. However, I’d feel better if our LEM’s used a bit of hand sanitizer before distributing communion. I don’t think the Lord Jesus would be offended. I, for one, have an extremely weakened immune system, and I don’t want to receive Communion and then wind up in the hospital. It’s happened before.

I love Jesus so much, but we live in a fallen world with abundant germs that people inadvertently spread.

First it is Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (EMHC), just a gentle correction. I say this because it took me a second or two to figure out what you meant by LEM .

Now to address your valid problem/issue, at my Parish, the EMHC’s have hand sanitizer near the altar to use before going up to receive themselves and prepare to distribute Communion. We also as a Diocese have been asked to omit the Sign of Peace and not hold hands during the Our Father. Holy Water has been removed from the fonts as well but Father suggested another way to still be able to bless oneself upon entering the church, get a bottle of holy water from the holy water container and use that - this allows one to still use holy water while not sharing it with the entire congregation. We have no been told to discontinue communion on the tongue and those who have a gluten intolerance still can share the precious blood (in my Parish it is only three of us, two are sisters and myself and we police ourselves pretty well already, as in we don’t present ourselves if we are sick).

Brenda V.

 

[leonie]

no changes at our parish

 

[SwizzleStick]

Our priests, deacons and EMHC are now required to use hand sanitizer before distributing the Eucharist. Distribution of the Precious Blood to lay people has been suspended and an annoucement was made that folks shouldn’t be offended if during the sign of peace a hand is not extended, but a nod, smile or brief verbal greeting is offered instead. So far, we still have holy water available in Church.

 

[rasbneon]

This is a link to the letter from the Archbishop of San Antonio. archdiosa.org/txtfiles/attachment_185.pdf His instruction is, “Communion ministers should distribute communion on the hand and not on the tongue.”

Yes it does say should and not must but it seems many Catholics in the city of San Antonio are being denied communion because they want to receive on the tongue.

Code of Canon Law 912 states “Any baptised person who is not forbidden by law may and must be admitted to holy communion.” I am missing where it says unless there is an outbreak of the swine flu.

This is a liturgical abuse and I for one will be reporting it to the Vatican.

I should note that this is not dissimilar to when communicants were denied communion for kneeling. catholic.com/library/liturgy/cag_changes.asp POSTURE AT COMMUNION

 

[Phemie]

This is a link to the letter from the Archbishop of San Antonio. archdiosa.org/txtfiles/attachment_185.pdf His instruction is, “Communion ministers should distribute communion on the hand and not on the tongue.”

Yes it does say should and not must but it seems many Catholics in the city of San Antonio are being denied communion because they want to receive on the tongue.

Code of Canon Law 912 states “Any baptised person who is not forbidden by law may and must be admitted to holy communion.” I am missing where it says unless there is an outbreak of the swine flu.

This is a liturgical abuse and I for one will be reporting it to the Vatican.

I should note that this is not dissimilar to when communicants were denied communion for kneeling. catholic.com/library/liturgy/cag_changes.asp POSTURE AT COMMUNION

It’s unfortunate but I don’t think 912 is being violated since they can still receive in the hand. It’s their choice to abstain.

In our parish the one person who receives on the tongue goes last (well at least last before the choir) and Father is careful.

 

[rasbneon]

It’s unfortunate but I don’t think 912 is being violated since they can still receive in the hand. It’s their choice to abstain.

In our parish the one person who receives on the tongue goes last (well at least last before the choir) and Father is careful.

The same could be said when people were denied communion for kneeling. The Vatican did not see it that way however. They were very clear that this was unacceptable. ''Another fundamental right of the faithful, as noted in canon 213, is “the right to receive assistance by the sacred Pastors from the spiritual goods of the Church, especially the word of God and the Sacraments”. In view of the law that “sacred” ministers may not deny the sacraments to those who opportunely ask for them, are properly disposed and are not prohibited by law from receiving them" (canon 843 ¶ 1), there should be no such refusal to any Catholic who presents himself for Holy Communion at Mass, except in cases presenting a danger of grave scandal to other believers arising out of the person’s unrepented public sin or obstinate heresy or schism, publicly professed or declared." (letter of Monsignor Mario Marini, July 1, 2002 [Prot. n. 1322/02/L] adoremus.org/Notitiae-kneeling.html

I was last in line to receive and the Eucharistic Minister still attempted to deny me communion. I stood my ground and she finally relented. I have found out that my father has been denied communion for over a month. It is the pastoral duty of the bishop and priests to make the sacraments available and it has been made very clear that reception on the tongue is the nominative means of receiving and is at the discretion of the communicant and not the bishop.

As I said before my letter to the Vatican will be sent today. Not because it affects me since in my diocese there is no such restriction. I only discovered this because I was in San Antonio on vacation. I can not stand by however knowing Catholics are being denied access to the sacraments.

 

[tmancath]

Last Sunday our pastor informed us that, because of the flu epidemic, we would temporarily discontinue having the congregation drink from the Communion cup, and the holy water would be removed from the font at the entrance. Has your parish done anything like this?

Our parish has taken away the chalice and suspended the sign of peace and no holding of the hands at the Pater Noster. Our priest has been trying to get the parishioners to not hold hands at the Pater Noster, but few have listened to him.