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Swine flu

Parishioners told to skip peace handshake

Directive from Catholic Bishops of Pennsylvania also instructs churches to suspend offering of wine during Communion in order to prevent infection.

By Steve Mocarsky smocarsky@timesleader.com
Staff Writer

The Catholic Bishops of Pennsylvania, in an e-mail, have issued directives to all pastors throughout the state to suspend certain practices during Mass to protect parishioners and clergy from the spread of seasonal flu and the H1N1 virus.

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Parishioners have been directed to have no physical contact during the sign of peace, and will not receive wine during Communion.

TIMES LEADER FILE PHOTO/fred adams

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Effective Sunday, parishioners will be directed to have no physical contact during the sign of peace, and will not receive wine that Catholics believe is the “Precious Blood” of Christ traditionally provided in a community chalice during communion. That’s according to the text of the letter.

“Catholic Bishops of Pennsylvania encourage the clergy and faithful to observe the necessary standard precautions to protect the health of others during this flu season, and especially with the risks related to H1N1 influenza (swine flu),” the letter begins.

The bishops went on to issue directives for the celebration of the Sacred Liturgy and for flu prevention.

“The distribution of the Precious Blood for the faithful is generally suspended. The faith of the Church teaches that Christ, whole and entire, is received even under only one species,” the letter states.

Priests at some Catholic churches distribute only a wafer, believed to be the “Body of Christ,” at Communion, while others distribute both the “Body” and “Blood.”

In addition, the exchange of the sign of peace is to be offered without any physical contact, the bishops directed.

“If the priest celebrant chooses to extend the invitation for the sign of peace, the faithful, instead of a handshake, may bow to the persons nearby,” according to the letter.

The directives will be in effect “until determined otherwise by the local Bishop,” the letter states.

Bill Genello, executive director of communications for the Diocese of Scranton, said the issuance of those directives is “something that is occasionally done during flu season.”

“In this case, with the concerns over swine flu, there’s a greater emphasis being placed on it and we’re trying to take appropriate cautions,” Genello said.

Some parishes have already implemented the directives.

Monsignor Joseph Rauscher, pastor of St. Nicholas German Catholic Church in Wilkes-Barre, said the announcement was published in parish bulletins distributed at Masses this past weekend.

“I think most (parishioners) think it’s a good idea. Before (the letter was published), some people were expressing concern,” Rauscher said.

Rauscher said he had been publishing recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention regarding flu prevention in the weekly bulletins since Sept. 6. Also published was a request for parishioners to “be considerate of those who would prefer not to shake hands in the greeting of peace,” he said.

Rauscher also directed a few weeks ago that the parish’s Eucharistic ministers who distribute communion use a hand sanitizer before doing so. He said his sister told him that is done in parishes in Langhorne, and a parishioner told him it’s done at parishes in Boston.

The Rev. Patrick McDowell, pastor of Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church in the Weston section of Black Creek Township, said that although he received the directives prior to a Confirmation Mass on Sunday, he did not implement the sign-of-peace directive for that Mass.

McDowell said the “Precious Blood” was not offered to congregants because it was “not convenient with the large number of people who attended the Mass.”

Although a couple weeks ago he heard from one parishioner who thought the sign of peace should be suspended, McDowell said he has received no response from people, either positive or negative, about the bishops’ directives.

Steve Mocarsky, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 970-7311.