Diocese of San Jose issues guidelines to deal with swine flu spread

Diocese of San Jose
NEWS RELEASE
April 30, 2009
News Contact: Roberta Ward, Director of Media Relations (408) 983-0267

In a letter to priests and parish liturgists, San Jose Roman Catholic Bishop Patrick J. McGrath called for temporary liturgical “adaptations” in response to the spread of swine flu. He also noted that the Diocese of San Jose has been in contact with the Santa Clara County Public Health Department regarding a response to the disease and taking precautions to limit its spread.

Bishop McGrath is asking all parishes, missions, schools and religious communities to implement immediately the following, until further notice:
1. The faithful should be encouraged to refrain from holding hands during the recitation or singing of the Lord’s Prayer.
2. The faithful should be encouraged to share the Sign of Peace in ways other than shaking hands or touching, perhaps just a reverent bow. If the assembly is invited to greet each other at the beginning of the liturgy or to gather after Mass, the same precautions should be taken.
3. All who distribute Holy Communion, both clergy and extraordinary ministers, as well as those who minister to the sick and homebound, are to wash their hands with an alcohol-based anti-bacterial solution before and after they administer the Sacrament. This should be done as discretely as possible so as not to make this action seem part of the normative order of the Mass.
4. Holy Communion is to be distributed only under the species of the consecrated bread. Special care should be taken to ensure that those who are unable to consume the host because of disease or age are given the option to consume safely from the cup if they desire.
5. Holy Communion should be distributed only into the hands of communicants and not on the tongue.
The bishop added that the obligation to participate in Sunday Mass does not hold for those who are seriously ill or who may have flu or cold symptoms.

He also noted, “As pastoral ministers, we are often among the first to care for others, yet we must first take care of our own health so that we may minister effectively and responsibly.”

He urged prayer “for those, especially in Mexico, who have been affected by this flu virus and all the sick who rely on the skill of medical personnel and the mercy of our Lord.”