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Friday, May 1, 2009 Dear OLM friends, As you can see below in the letter from Archbishop Niederauer, we are making some changes in the celebration of Mass to reduce the spread of germs. These changes are only temporary, but they are mandatory, and I ask that we follow these guidelines at every weekday and Sunday Mass until the Archbishop tells us otherwise. Here at OLM, I ask each priest to please: · avoid shaking hands with everyone just before Mass begins. Hand contact is one of the most common ways of spreading these illnesses. · ask the people not to hold hands during the Lord's Prayer. · offer the congregation the peace of Jesus ("May the peace of the Lord be with you always." "And also with you.") and then immediately begin the Fraction Rite ("Lamb of God...). Do not ask the people to offer each other the sign of peace, as this will spread germs when our people automatically try to shake hands with all those around them. They are used to doing so, and even if we ask them not to, it will happen. · make an announcement just before giving out Communion, instructing people that they may only receive in the hand -- not on the tongue. · remember that we will not be offering the Precious Blood to the congregation until this flu danger is over. Therefore, pour just a little wine into the gold chalice for the celebrant (and deacon). No one else will receive the Precious Blood. [SACRISTANS: we will not need the crystal chalices until the flu danger has passed.] · tell any young altar servers who seem to have a cold that they should not serve Mass that day. We don't need children who are sneezing and coughing handling the sacred vessels and spreading germs to the people and the priests. · explain at the end of Mass that the shaking of hands is a good way to spread germs, and that after Mass we will just greet each other verbally, to try to keep people healthy. The priest may want to clasp his hands behind his back after Mass as he greets the people, explaining "why" from the altar. · hope for the best! Thank you for your cooperation with these temporary measures. Even if you do not agree with the necessity of these changes, I ask everyone here at OLM to please comply with them, out of respect to Archbishop Niederauer, and out of concern for those who might suffer mightily should they get the flu. God bless, ~ Father Brown ................................................
The Archdiocese of San Francisco Office of The Archbishop One Peter Yorke Way, San Francisco, CA 94109-6601 (415) 614-5609 Fax (415) 614-5601
May 1, 2009
Dear Father,
As you know, there is increasing concern here in California, across the country, and around the world about the current outbreak of swine flu. We all need to be more conscious of situations in which many people gather and come into close physical contact with one another.
You will recall that in December, 2003, when the flu season was particularly severe, then-Archbishop Levada ordered a temporary liturgical adaptation in the celebration of Eucharist, in order to support local public health officials in their efforts to limit the spread of the flu. That temporary adaptation was later revoked after the danger of contracting the flu had lessened appreciably.
Effective today, and on the advice of medical authorities, I ask that you implement the following liturgical adaptation in all public Masses celebrated in the Archdiocese of San Francisco until you are notified otherwise:
· Suspend offering Holy Communion under both Species. · Holy Communion will be distributed only into the hands of communicants; during this time, Holy Communion will not be distributed on the tongue. · The Sign of Peace should be adapted to allow for a greeting that does not involve shaking hands or touching. · People should avoid holding hands during the recitation or singing of the Lord’s Prayer. · All who administer Holy Communion are to wash their hands with an alcohol-based anti-bacterial solution, such as Purell, before they administer the Sacrament and afterward as well. This precaution also extends to those who minister to the homebound.
In conjunction with this, when you explain these adapted procedures to your parishioners, please remind them that the obligation to participate in Sunday Mass does not hold for those who are seriously ill, and that it would be especially prudent for anyone who has flu symptoms to remain at home. For the convenience of those who are homebound, or unable to attend Mass because of illness or infirmity, Mass is broadcast each Sunday morning at 6:00 AM on Channel 20 (cable viewers Channel 13) and Channel 26 (cable viewers Channel 8).
In addition to these temporary adaptations, I ask you to continue to encourage all of your ministers and faithful to follow the directives of our national and local health organizations that suggest frequent and substantial hand-washing with soap and water, covering one's nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing and washing one's hands after doing so, avoiding touching one's eyes, nose, or mouth, and limiting contact with others when one feels sick. As pastoral ministers, we are often among the first to care for others. Yet we must first take care of our own health so that we may minister effectively and responsibly.
To assist you in implementing these temporary adaptations and in caring for the health and spiritual well-being your communities throughout the year, a resource page is being created on the diocesan Web site (www.sfarchdiocese.org). The following resources are also recommended and offered for your use and distribution:
· Information on the swine flu from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at www.CDC.gov/swineflu · Ten questions on influenza/swine flu and the liturgy from the United States Bishops Committee on Divine Worship http://usccb.org/liturgy/swineflu.shtml
One-page flu checklist from the American Red Cross (PDF file) Here’s a better address for that Red Cross PDF online: http://www.redcross.org/www-files/Documents/pdf/Preparedness/SeasonalFluChecklist.pdf For the Spanish version: http://www.redcross.org/www-files/Documents/pdf/Preparedness/SeasonalFluChecklistSP.pdf
· Director of the Office of Worship, Pat Vallez-Kelly, may be contacted (phone: 415/614-5585, email: vallezkellyp@sfarchdiocese.org) with any questions you may have about these temporary liturgical adaptations.
Thank you for your immediate attention to these matters and for undertaking the catechesis that will be necessary to introduce these adaptations to your parish Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist and parishioners this weekend.
Finally, I ask you to pray for those, especially in Mexico, who have been affected by this flu virus and all the sick who rely on the skill of medical personnel and the mercy of our Lord. May we all continue to know the joy and new life of Easter in the promise of Christ's resurrection.
Sincerely yours in Christ, e-signature Most Reverend George Niederauer Archbishop of San Francisco |
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Letter from Archbishop Niederauer |