[OnTheJourney]

I missed mass on Sunday as we were gone camping but my Mom called to tell me that the Priest announced some changes to the Mass within the dioceses. We are in the same province (Alberta Canada) but not the same city so I will be curious to see this Sunday if they apply in our church as well. Apparently the health board is "cracking down" on the church...
They are:
- no more holy water at the fonts when entering the church ... instead there will be hand sanitizer available
- no more hand shakes at the offering of peace ... instead bow your head to your neighbor
- no more taking the Eucharist on the tongue
- no more shaking the priests hand after mass
- no more wine offered

Here are the articles:
CBC story

CTV Story

What do you think of this? My initial thought is WHAT! WHOA NOW!! These are the things that are the most exciting to my children at mass... blessing themselves when entering, offering peace, hugging and giving Father high fives after mass.

I think I am not in agreement with these recommendations. I think that there is an opportunity for each individual parishioner to make these decisions on whether to participate in that part of mass on their own without taking them out of the mass... I don't know, I am feeling kinda sad about it... It sort of removes the "family" and "community" feeling I have when I go to Mass...

Anyone else have any thoughts on this? Agree or disagree?

[lovemy2boys]

I'm good with it.

My kids go to Catholic Schools, so we go to mass 3 times a week (2 weekdays and Sunday). There are 380 students in mass in addition to the regular parishioners. I don't have to tell you how many germs are being passed around SIJ, haha.

We implemented these rules a month ago when school started, and I have to say that I don't feel it's taken anything away from the Mass.

I remember when MRSA was going around, a child in our school contracted it. Parents were literally pulling kids out of school as they were walking to Mass because they were worried about the germs. I hope to never see that again.

I'd rather we all celebrate in good health than be half full because of an outbreak.

[robandjulie]

I'm torn like the OP. We were out of town this weekend at my parent's parish (my home parish where DH and I were married) and they announced that sign-of-peace was now to be no-contact. Of course within our own family pew we were still hugging, kissing, etc but then we all sort of waved at our neighbors and it felt rather stupid and forced.

I carry hand sanitizer and diaper wipes in the diaper bag and always sanitize my hands and the kids' hands before and after handshakes, anyhow, so I dont' pass my kids' cooties on to the people around us and minimize what comes back to us. If any of us are coughing/sneezing we refrain--it seems similar measures would suffice without having to tell everyone no touching!

We also did away with the wine for now. I'm hoping the pope/bishop will give the OK for intinction where the euch. min. dips the host in the chalice and you get both at once. We've had that in the past during flu seasons in general.

Communion on the tongue always squicks me out--I have no problem with that stopping.

And to me, shaking the priest's hands/touching holy water/etc again goes to personal responsibility and choice. Don't do it if you're sick; wash yourself off if you do it. Don't make it a rule.

[blessedbybug]

Not catholic, but very church involved here (we do serve communion every week...Hubby is the pastor and we do intinction) and when I heard this, I thought it was interesting and have mixed feelings about it too. On one hand, it raises awareness about how viruses are spread. And I appreciate their desire to make sure people know there is a risk.

OTOH, I think personal responsibility is top priority. The fact the church has to mandate these things just seems to be a distraction from what their responsibility is to the faith community. Considering that church life together ~ the gathering anyway ~ is much less than kids going to school... that is where the real risk is to me.


And I had a little giggle about it too, thinking "why aren't they giving up taking the offering?" That money has got to have lots of germs on it! Okay, so maybe I'm the only one who finds that a little funny...

[lovemy2boys]

I think that's why it is so easily accepted at our church...because it HAS a school, and there are so many kids attending weekdays without their parents to make sure they are all tended to...

And Blessed, we found a way to work around that germ infested money...WE use their direct deposit option...

[blessedbybug]

Originally Posted by lovemy2boys

And Blessed, we found a way to work around that germ infested money...WE use their direct deposit option...

perfect!!!!

[joskids]

We belong to a very warm, huggy, affectionate (black Catholic) church. The priest read the new suggested rules. And then most of us ignored them.

[lovemy2boys]

I actually forgot about this thread, but now that it's up and running again, I was wondering if you all could say an extra prayer for Reverand Gerry, who is at our neighboring school/church.

St. Clair Shores priest stricken with H1N1 | detnews.com | The Detroit News

Ours are two of the three struggling parish schools in our city, so when something like this happens, we really rally together for support.

[OnTheJourney]

Love - will be saying a prayer... I am very sad to hear about this.

So it has been several weeks since I first posted this and had my initial reaction of digging in my heals. Since then, we have all had "the" flu. We stayed home from mass for 2 Sundays while we were sick.

At mass - well I really do not like the changes still.
But we have somewhat excepted and adapted. But I will never hold my children back (unless they are sick) from offering their affection. They always go and stand beside our priest until they are given a hug. And our priest always happily obliges. I still offer peace and a hug or handshake to my family, even though it is skipped over. Those things are important to my children and this works for us. We do not push ourselves upon others - well I guess my kids sometimes do with the priest, but he is fine with it.

The only part that really bothers me is the absence of the holy water. That empty font gets me every week. We have holy water at home from our children's baptisms and we bless ourselves with it at home. I really hope that the absence of holy water is not permanent. We were at a neighboring parish where there was a baptism and the priest did not even pour water on the babies head. He just sprinkled it with the old style hand held thingy. To me, a mom who had her babies baptized with full immersion, that is very sad.

[lovemy2boys]

Thank you for your prayers. He is a beloved part of their parish, and there is great concern for him.

And you know, the removal of the Holy Water is one change that didn't "stick" in our parish...It was pretty much returned by mid October (strangely enough, right in the start of flu season...Go figure ). It's in the baptismal font and at the church entrances, and people still use them without pause.

I would be sad, as well, to see a baptism such as you described. In an effort to control myself and not become a sappy mess, let's just say that I am very overcome with emotion when I see a baby emersed at baptism.

[redbonec]

I remember reading this when you first posted it, but at either of our churches here, nothing was ever said or done from what you posted.
K and I had the flu too.

Holy water still here, went to baptism last Sunday and water poured over baby's head.
Still doing sign of peace, wine offered, both priests still shaking hands.

I wonder if these were things that were supposed to be done everywhere? Or if it was just ignored here?
I don't know.

I hope you get your holy water back soon too!

[OnTheJourney]

Originally Posted by lovemy2boys

I would be sad, as well, to see a baptism such as you described. In an effort to control myself and not become a sappy mess, let's just say that I am very overcome with emotion when I see a baby emersed at baptism.

Our church has the most beautiful baptismal font at the front that our priest designed. It is full of symbolism that is all explained during your prep class. For older children and adults, there are stairs that lead right into it and our priest gets right in with the candidate and, if they are ok with it - almost all are - he lifts them up and takes them right under with him. The first time I saw it was with about a 6 year old and I was shocked, giggled and cried all at the same time, overcome with emotion. Eveytime a baby is baptized I feel sooo emotional it is unexplainable, but yes, I too well up and am overcome even more so when a baby is immersed.

redbonce - I hope our holy water comes back soon too!