Buffalo, NY (WBEN) The Buffalo Catholic Diocese says it's not looking to suspend giving communion at services yet in light of coronavirus. It says suspending communion or sign of the peace should be done already during flu season.
The diocese says it is giving advice in stages:
Stage 1: Our CURRENT status (relatively few cases in USA, no known cases in local parishes in theDiocese) The recent memorandum from the USCCB Committee on Divine Worship (2/28/20) gives two,fundamental principles:
● Ensure everyone (priests, deacons, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion etc.) maintainsgood hygiene (we should be doing this already, not least in the flu season) especially at Massand parish gatherings. The best way of protecting us from spread is for everyone to useuniversal good hygiene, which will effectively disrupt spread of the virus.
● Assure the faithful that if they are sick or are experiencing symptoms of sickness they are notobliged to attend Mass, and even out of charity they ought not to attendFollowing these principles, key actions for the parish to take would be:
1. Ask anyone with cold or flu symptoms to refrain from the physical sign of peace, taking communion from the Chalice and advise they should receive the host on the hand only. (We should be doing thisanyway, every 'flu season.) (Note: Concern has been raised over whether the sharing of the cup at Holy Communion contributes to the spread of the flu and any other contagious disease. The best information available regarding the risk of transmission of disease from the use of a common Communion cup is that the risk is "very low." A report by the Center for Disease Control published in the American Journal of Infection Control stated that "the risk for infectious disease transmission by a common communion cup is very low, and appropriate safeguards-that is, wiping the interior and exterior rim between communicants, use of care to rotate the cloth during use, and use of a clean cloth for each service-would further diminish this risk."Nevertheless, the CDC advises that persons with an "active respiratory infection, e.g., a cold or flu," should refrain from receiving from the common cup/chalice.)
2. Ensure good regular cleaning of surfaces lots of people touch regularly, including such things as door handles
3. Ask everyone attending Mass to sanitize their hands as they come into church using sanitized gel dispensers (make these available in porches or entrances).
4. Ensure ministers of the Eucharist sanitize their hands before and after distributing communion (we should be doing this anyway as a matter of course.) This can be done by washing hands thoroughly (for20 seconds at least with soap and water) discreetly before proceeding to the sanctuary or using good quality hand gel discreetly.
5. At this stage, there is no need for a universal withdrawal of the Chalice, or the of sign of peace to be universally suspended; although this might be done as a precautionary measure. However, people withcold and flu like symptoms should refrain from the sign of peace or receiving from the chalice if they are present.
NOTE. It can be helpful to remind people that: "Christ is present whole and entire in each of the species and whole and entire in each of their parts." (Catechism of the Catholic Church, n. 1377)
6. When visiting parishioners at home, wash hands and/or use hand sanitizer before giving the sacraments. No pastoral visits should be made to people who are self-isolating until isolation ends. However, do offer phone support.
7. Visits to people in care homes or hospitals should follow advice from the staff on infection control.
8. It is important to note again that Catholics have the obligation to attend Mass on Sundays and other Holy Days of Obligation (Code of Canon Law, canon 1247). However, extraordinary circumstances, such as serious sickness, excuse the faithful from this obligation.
9. PRAY! The USCCB has issued some sample intercessions that can be used at Mass or other liturgical events. Also, in the Missal, under Masses for Various Needs and Occasions, there are three Mass formularies under n. 48 "For Any Need." These may be used, following liturgical norms (cf. GIRM, n.374)
Stage 2: A number of cases nationally, or in local communities (such as a State or Diocese), or a case specifically linked to a parish community. The precautions and actions above should be continued. In addition:
1. A Diocesan-wide suspension of the distribution of the Eucharist under both kinds and that the host is to be given on the hand only.
2. When giving communion in the hand seek to ensure you place the host in the hand of the recipient in such a way that you do not touch their hands.
3. Suspend the physical sign of peace. People can, for example, still turn to each other and say "peace be with you."
4. Remove or empty holy water stoups
5. Public veneration of relics and the Cross on Good Friday should NOT be by kissing or physically touching them (that is if we are at Stage 2 on Good Friday)
6. Advise those most vulnerable (elderly, people with weakened immune systems and long term conditions like cancer, diabetes and heart disease) to refrain from large parish gatherings and stay at home.
7. Cease use of shared hymn books and missals which could help transmit the virus
8. Ask everyone attending Mass to sanitize their hands as they come into church using sanitized gel dispensers (make these available in porches or entrances).
9. Ensure everyone maintains good hygiene especially at Mass and parish gatherings. Again, THE best way of protecting us from the spread of the virus is for everyone to use universal good hygiene.
10. Ask anyone with cold or flu symptoms to refrain from attending Liturgy, public events not attend the sacrament of reconciliation if symptomatic (They may have an ordinary cold but equally it is importantto adopt a precautionary approach.)
11. Ensure very regular cleaning and sanitizing of surfaces many people touch regularly (for example, ideally clean door handles, railings etc. before and after every Mass)
12. If it is the usual practice, do not pass the collection plate around from person to person.
13. Ensure Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion sanitize their hands before and after distributing communion (we should be doing this anyway as a matter of course.) This can be done by washing hands discreetly before proceeding to the sanctuary or using good quality hand gel discreetly
14. When visiting parishioners at home, wash hands before giving the sacraments. No pastoral visits to people who are self-isolating until isolation ends. However, do offer phone support.
15. Visits to people in care homes or hospitals should follow advice from the staff on infection control.
16. Suspend catering at large parish gatherings where multiple people touch mugs, utensils, cookies etc .
Stage 3: Many Cases in local parishes It is currently unlikely, but not impossible, that we will get to this stage. This could be at either Vicariate, or Diocesan, or even national level.
● Again, we will know we are at this stage because public authorities will give general advice on suspending large public gatherings. These are the current circumstances in Singapore, for example.
● Mass and Liturgy in public would be suspended and parish gatherings also suspended by the Bishop. (The Bishop has the authority in Canon Law to grant a general dispensation from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass.) Specific and detailed guidance will be produced, should we come to this stage. At the time of writing this is not needed.
