Helpful Reminders during the Flu Season

Finding ourselves in the midst of the flu season, we offer a few friendly reminders that we were taught from our earliest days.

General Reminders

• Cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze.
• Keep fingers out of your mouth & away from your nose & eyes.
• Wash your hands after contact with surfaces others have touched, after using the restroom, after blowing your nose.
• Cough or sneeze into a tissue, handkerchief, or sleeve.
• If a person has the flu, a fever, and/or is vomiting within 24 hours of the Mass, he/she is excused from the obligation to assist at Mass.

Liturgical Ministers

• Ministers suffering from the flu should refrain from serving the liturgical assembly.
• Ministers should wash their hands before leaving home & immediately before Mass if this is possible.

Communicants

• Those receiving on the tongue should extend their tongue sufficiently so that the minister can avoid touching the tongue.
• Do not receive from the chalice if you have a sore throat or other symptoms of illness.

Remember the Teaching of the Church

Communion under both forms is a rich sacramental sign in response to our Lord’s instruction to “take and eat” and “take and drink.” However, the doctrine of concomitance reminds us that the real sacramental presence of Christ (body, blood, soul, and divinity) is present entirely under each species, bread or wine.