Archdiocese of Boston tweaks Mass traditions amid coronavirus concerns
"We will focus at all times on the health, safety and well-being of our faith community."
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston has rolled out changes for how parishioners celebrate Mass amid coronavirus concerns.
For the time being, churchgoers are to exchange signs of peace without physical contact; clergy will not serve the Precious Blood during the Eucharist; and Holy Water fonts will be regularly drained and cleaned, the archdiocese told parishes Friday, The Boston Globe reports.
The amendments took hold Saturday. The changes will remain in place until further notice by the archbishop.
While most who attend services will not be able to receive the Precious Blood — the wine served as part of Communion observance — the archdiocese indicated exceptions would be made for those who are unable to receive Eucharist wafers due to dietary restrictions.
“The distribution of the Precious Blood for the faithful is suspended, save for those who must receive from the cup due to severe cases of celiac disease,” the archdiocese said. “The faith of the Church teaches that Christ, whole and entire, is received even under only one species.”
Parishioners usually offer each other a sign of peace through a handshake during Mass. They can now, instead, bow to their fellow congregants, according to the Globe.
“As is the case with most of the world, we are monitoring all available information and guidance about COVID-19 (the 2019 Novel Coronavirus) to determine how it impacts the many activities conducted within and by the Archdiocese of Boston,” the archdiocese said in a statement Thursday. “In seeking how to respond properly, we will focus at all times on the health, safety and well-being of our faith community. While we are reassured by public health officials at national, state and local public health authorities that our country is at a relatively low risk from this virus at this time, we want to take advantage of that fact to prepare in the event that the situation changes.”
To date, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health has announced only one confirmed case of the novel coronavirus in the state.
On Friday, DPH said the state’s public health laboratory received approval to begin testing patients for COVID-19.
“This means clinicians who have patients they think may have symptoms consistent with COVID-19 who meet the current CDC definition of a Person Under Investigation can contact the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to discuss their patients and receive authorization to submit specimens for testing,” Public Health Commissioner Monica Bharel said in a statement. “This change is good news for Massachusetts as testing at the State Public Health Laboratory will speed up obtaining test results for Persons Under Investigation and expedite ongoing testing of any confirmed case in recovery.”
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