‘PRAYING’ WE CAN BEAT THIS DEADLYVIRUS
Changes to Catholic Mass to help fight-off coronavirus
Catholic churches in East Kilbride and Avondale are banning holy water and sacramental wine to help stop the spread of coronavirus.
The move comes after the first COVID-19 case was confirmed in Scotland.
Bishop of Motherwell, the Rt Rev Bishop Toal, issued a letter to fathers, revered deacons, sisters and others within the Motherwell
Diocese on Monday.
The bishop explained that he believes it “prudent to make comment on the possibility of coronavirus affecting Scotland” and has taken precautionary measures.
These include:
■ Emptying the holy water stoops for blessings;
■ Suspending the sign of peace for the time being;
■ Holy Communion being given in the hand rather than on the tongue;
■ And the lay faithful will not receive the precious blood while the present crisis continues.
Fr. Rafal Sobieszuk, parish priest at St Bride’s Church in East Kilbride, told the News he plans to implement the preventative measures immediately.
He said: “The Bishop wants us to pray for those affected so we can be spared and not touched by it.
“He has given us some precautionary measures which I will announce to my congregation.
“I understand local people, especially elderly and people with health problems, are feeling paranoid and concerned about the virus spreading – they’re afraid for their lives.
“We will stop making the sign of the peace, giving Holy Communion on the tongue and drinking holy wine from the chalice until the situation is under
control.”
The first Scottish patient identified with the virus, who is receiving treatment after being placed in isolation, resides in the Tayside area and has recently returned from Italy.
Confirmation of the case means all four home nations have now been affected by COVID-19.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has warned of a “significant outbreak of coronavirus” in Scotland, which could see as many as 250,000 people hospitalised with the virus.
On Sunday, coronavirus infections in Italy rose by 50 per cent to 1694 in just 24 hours, with 34 people having now died from it there.
Governments around the world have issued warnings against any travel to two regions in Northern Italy that have been hit hard by the virus that first emerged in China in December.
Fr Sobieszuk added: “For many Catholics making pilgrimages to Rome, this will be affecting their travel plans.
“Currently no travel plans have been cancelled within the Diocese. We still make regular pilgrimages to Lourdes, but this could change if the virus spreads more rapidly as people will be afraid of being infected.”
Bishop Toal has also asked that all ministers of the Eucharist wash or sanitise their hands before distributing communion.
This includes at Mass, services and at the homes of those they bring communion to.
Bishop Toal said: “First it is necessary to pray – both for those already suffering with this virus and then to pray for God’s help that we may be protected from all harm.
“Having heard of the consequences of an outbreak of the virus in other countries, particularly in the restriction of movement and the closure of public buildings, we can foresee that restrictions will be put in place in Scotland also, and I would expect that gatherings in churches will be limited.
“We must hope and pray that our daily lives will not be restricted because this new disease has come among us.”
The bishop is also encouraging everyone who attends mass to take good care with hygiene and asks those with cold or flu like symptoms not to attend.
He continued: “We must all comply with this and be seen to do it.
“Only the priest celebrant or assisting deacon should purify the sacred vessels used at Mass.”