Swine flu forces church to change communion (From Swindon Advertiser)

Swine flu forces church to change communion

11:10am Saturday 9th May 2009 in News By Hayley Court

A CATHOLIC church in Swindon has banned communion by mouth over swine flu fears.

Holy Rood Church in Groundwell Road has stopped offering communion wine and has asked worshippers to take communion by hand.

The move has been taken in a bid to improve hygiene standards at the church following recent Government guidelines following the swine flu outbreak.

Although there have been no confirmed cases of the virus in Swindon or Wiltshire, Monsignor Richard Twomey, pictured, is taking no chances.

“We’ve asked worshippers to receive holy communion by hand which is something we have been advised to do because of saliva issues,” he said.

“There has only been one person who is unhappy about it, everyone else is happy for this to be the practice until further notice.”

Holy Communion - also known as The Eucharist or The Lord’s Supper, is a Christian sacrament, carried out in commemoration of the Last Supper, the final meal that Jesus Christ shared with his disciples before his arrest and eventual crucifixion.

The consecration of bread and a cup within the rite represents the moment at the Last Supper when Jesus gave his disciples bread, saying, ‘This is my body’, and wine, saying, ‘This is my blood’.

The ban was implemented at last weekend’s masses and will continue until there is no further risk of swine flu in Britain.

Elsewhere, communion will be carried out in the normal way, according to Father Liam Slattery of St Mary’s Church in Tovey Road.

“We wouldn’t want to cause panic or worry in our town by making sudden changes to the way holy communion is given,” said Fr Liam.

“Only in the event of there being a confirmed case of swine flu in Wiltshire or Swindon specifically would we receive instructions from the diocese.”

Reverend Mike Haslam - Vicar of North Swindon churches, St Andrew’s and St Francis, said he wouldn’t be changing the service.

“Guidelines we have been issued say that receiving communion from a silver chalice is actually extremely hygienic.

“So I won’t be rushing to implement any changes within this parish,” he said.

“I will certainly be listening to advice though and would consider changes if given specific medical advice.”

Clifton Diocese which governs the Catholic church in Gloucestershire, Somerset and Wiltshire is directing concerned parishioners to advice issued by Father Cavan McElligott, the healthcare advisor for the diocese.

Father McElligott has produced a podcast via the diocese website www.cliftondiocese.com/influenza-information.