Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

In a communication about the H1N1 flu (swine flu) sent last night to parishes and pastors, the Diocese of Providence instructed Catholics to follow recommendations issued by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, which draws its guidelines from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The recommendations give pastors discretion based on the health of their individual congregations in such matters as whether to allow the sign of peace, in which worshipers at Mass greet each other, sometimes by shaking hands. At this time, the bishops and diocese are not recommending the exchange, which is always optional, be suspended.
Pastors are advised to follow good hygiene before and after services.

In a posting on its Web site, the U.S. Conference states:
"Priests, deacons, and extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion should be especially reminded of the need to practice good hygiene. Ministers of Holy Communion should be encouraged to wash their hands before Mass begins, or even to use an alcohol based anti-bacterial solution before and after distributing Holy Communion. They should instruct people who feel ill not to receive from the cup."

The Conference's guidelines are also posted on the diocese's Web site, where updates will be posted.

"We are monitoring it very closely," said Bishop Thomas J. Tobin at 1:15 p.m. on Friday.
"We have shared these guidelines with our parishes. Any changes in our Masses, in our liturgy, really should be determined at the level of the local parishes. Our pastors are smart guys. They know the situation in their own communities. They know the anxiety level of their own parishioners."

 Tags  Diocese of Providence swine flu

Comments

me said:

Hand shaking is fine. Use hand sanitizer after. Sharing the wine cup with people you don't know on any given Sunday is not ever healthy. They should either have every one dip the Host, or not do it it all.

Link | May 1, 2009 5:01 PM
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