Bishop Zubik's
Letter to Priests about the Flu Season

Dear Father:

Over the years as each flu season arrives, concerns are raised over the possibility of transmitting viruses during liturgical celebrations. With concern this year over the epidemic potential of the “Swine Flu” virus, we are called to be particularly vigilant.

The potential for an individual to contact the flu virus exists everywhere. Liturgical practices are one of many encounters throughout the day that are capable of transmitting viruses.

Given that fact, and having consulted several of the diocesan boards on this matter, it is a wise pastoral practice to remind parishioners that each person should be responsible for taking precautions as he or she sees fit. The decision whether or not to receive the Body and Blood under both species remains with the individual communicant. Christ is real and truly present under each species. Those uncomfortable receiving from the Cup during the flu season should not feel obligated to do so.

Similarly, it would be good to remind parishioners that there is no single gesture required for the Sign of Peace. If during the flu season a handshake or an embrace raise concerns, a bow is a perfectly acceptable means – at any time of the year – to express our peace in Jesus Christ before we share the Eucharist.

It is also a good time to remind all parishioners of important hygienic practices. Doctors inform us that viral diseases are most often passed along through coughs, sneezes or physical contact. Parishioners should be reminded to have clean tissues or handkerchiefs with them and to put them away for proper disposal later. Most of all, it is very important to remind parishioners that they are not bound by any obligation to attend Mass on Sunday if they are sick or have been exposed to the flu. They should return to church only when they are well.

All liturgical ministers should be reminded of the importance of good hygienic practices. Our diocesan website (www.diopitt.org) offers solid hygienic practices for all ministers of Communion, clergy and laity:

• Wash hands with an alcohol-based anti-bacterial solution and dry with a clean towel. At the Sign of Peace, consider using a gesture that does not involve shaking many hands.
• When folding hands, don’t raise them to touch your face.
• Do not wipe your mouth with the purificator.
• Never use the purficator as a handkerchief.
• In distributing the sacred Host, carefully avoid direct contact between your fingers and the hand or tongue of the communicant.
• In Communion from the chalice, be sure to wipe both inside and outside of the rim after each communicant. Then turn the cup a bit for the next communicant. Also, remember to keep shifting the purificator so that you are not wiping with the same part of the cloth over and over again.
• After the ritual cleansing of the chalices, they should be carefully cleaned with anti-bacterial soap and warm water, then dried with clean towels.

Common sense and good hygienic practices can accomplish far more in lessening the impact of the flu than any mandates.

At this time, there appears to be no need for the introduction of widespread liturgical adaptations to counter the flu. Still, we will continue to monitor all this together as a diocese, along with the Church throughout the country.

Grateful for our belief that “Nothing is impossible with God,” I am,

Your brother in Christ,

Most Reverend David A. Zubik
Bishop of Pittsburgh