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As of Sunday, Communion cup on hold
By TOM MOOR
Tribune Staff Writer
SOUTH BEND ?
Although pastors at Corpus Christi and St. Matthew Cathedral schools in South Bend have reported no attendance dips because of the flu, the way they practice Communion will change during the upcoming months in light of the H1N1 virus.
All Catholic churches in the area ? including 17 in South Bend and four in Mishawaka ? will temporarily halt the practice of administering Communion from a common cup.
Bishop John M. D'Arcy told The Tribune this week that although flu has not apparently slowed attendance during Mass at churches across the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, he felt the step was needed to avoid the possible spread of flu.
D'Arcy said the practice of sharing the cup of consecrated wine ? or precious blood ? among parishioners will stop Sunday morning indefinitely, which likely could mean three to six months, he said. Priests will continue to drink from the chalice.
The suspension applies to all parish Masses, both weekdays and Sundays. The greeting of peace also will be optional or given verbally or by a nod of the head.
"Actually, we've just told people that if they're not feeling well they should not come to church," said the Rev. Michael Heintz of St. Matthew Cathedral. "My attitude is to rely on good sense. There's no scare here, or panic about it, but we'll do whatever the bishop asks us."
D'Arcy said that if attendance has been down at churches, it hasn't been noticeable. He said the decision was made after consulting with vicars and medical professionals.
"They said that it is a pandemic in the sense that people do not have the immune system for this particular virus," D'Arcy said. "(Medical experts) recommended not using the cup."
D'Arcy added that the University of Notre Dame stopped taking from the cup in August. In May, a memo from the diocese said people are not obligated to drink from the cup if they are sick.
The host, or Communion bread, will continue to be handed out at services.
D'Arcy, who will next be in the area when he attends Mass at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in Elkhart, said some schools within the diocese have been hit harder than others, noting that St. Adalbert School in South Bend has had a significant drop in students.
"Others have had very little," he said.
Mary Anne Retseck, principal at St. Matthew, said absenteeism is about 10 percent there, which is higher than average.
"We're telling them basically what the health department has been saying," she said: "Cover your coughs and use hand sanitizer."
By TOM MOOR
Tribune Staff Writer
SOUTH BEND ?
Although pastors at Corpus Christi and St. Matthew Cathedral schools in South Bend have reported no attendance dips because of the flu, the way they practice Communion will change during the upcoming months in light of the H1N1 virus.
All Catholic churches in the area ? including 17 in South Bend and four in Mishawaka ? will temporarily halt the practice of administering Communion from a common cup.
Bishop John M. D'Arcy told The Tribune this week that although flu has not apparently slowed attendance during Mass at churches across the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, he felt the step was needed to avoid the possible spread of flu.
D'Arcy said the practice of sharing the cup of consecrated wine ? or precious blood ? among parishioners will stop Sunday morning indefinitely, which likely could mean three to six months, he said. Priests will continue to drink from the chalice.
The suspension applies to all parish Masses, both weekdays and Sundays. The greeting of peace also will be optional or given verbally or by a nod of the head.
"Actually, we've just told people that if they're not feeling well they should not come to church," said the Rev. Michael Heintz of St. Matthew Cathedral. "My attitude is to rely on good sense. There's no scare here, or panic about it, but we'll do whatever the bishop asks us."
D'Arcy said that if attendance has been down at churches, it hasn't been noticeable. He said the decision was made after consulting with vicars and medical professionals.
"They said that it is a pandemic in the sense that people do not have the immune system for this particular virus," D'Arcy said. "(Medical experts) recommended not using the cup."
D'Arcy added that the University of Notre Dame stopped taking from the cup in August. In May, a memo from the diocese said people are not obligated to drink from the cup if they are sick.
The host, or Communion bread, will continue to be handed out at services.
D'Arcy, who will next be in the area when he attends Mass at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in Elkhart, said some schools within the diocese have been hit harder than others, noting that St. Adalbert School in South Bend has had a significant drop in students.
"Others have had very little," he said.
Mary Anne Retseck, principal at St. Matthew, said absenteeism is about 10 percent there, which is higher than average.
"We're telling them basically what the health department has been saying," she said: "Cover your coughs and use hand sanitizer."
