2018 Liturgical Guidelines for the Flu Season

In light of the widespread outbreak of flu, our Diocese has asked all parishes to implement a few precautionary guidelines and recommendations to help minimize flu transmission.  If you don't feel well and suspect that you may have the flu: remain at home.

1. Wash your hands frequently with soap and water or an alcohol based hand cleanser.
2. Sign of Peace: If you feel uncomfortable with exchange of the sign of peace through a handshake you are under no obligation to do so. You may extend the sign of peace to your neighbors by a nod of the head.
3. Distributing and Receiving the Eucharist: Priests, deacons, and extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist must thoroughly wash their hands with soap and water or an alcohol based hand cleanser both before and after the distribution of the Eucharist. Receiving Holy Communion in the hand is the most practical means to distribute the Blessed Eucharist in a sanitary way.
4. Receiving the Eucharist by also drinking the Precious Blood from the chalice is discontinued until the level of flu cases is dramatically decreased.
5. During this time of extra precaution we will temporarily suspend our tradition of holding hands during the Our Father.

God bless you for your cooperation and support with these temporary guidelines and recommendations.