Posted on 08/11/2014 12:21:40 PM PDT by BlatherNaut
The Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja on Sunday announced new procedures for worshippers at Masses to check likely spread of the Ebola virus.
The procedures which include the administration of the Holy Communion on the palm of the faithful as against placing it on the tongue of the recipient, was announced by Rev. Fr. Moses Jimbili, at SS Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Nyanya.
Jimbili told parishioners at the church that the measure was a directive by the Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, His Eminence, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, as check on the spread of Ebola disease.
Another change in the church’s practice was the stoppage of hand shake by worshippers done during consecration of the Holy Communion as sign of peace.
NAN also reports that Onaiyekan’s directive is contained in a statement issued by the Director of Social Communications in the archdiocese, Rev. Fr. Patrick Alumunku.
“Due to the prevailing national situation on the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), I am directing that the following pastoral guidelines should be observed throughout our Archdiocese till further notice.
“The sign of peace should be omitted at Mass, Communion in the hand is highly recommended and should be encouraged (unless for those who insist on receiving on the tongue),” the statement quoted the Cardinal as saying.
The cardinal also directed that special intercessory prayers should be offered during the holy mass against the spread of the virus.
Jimbili said, “You know some people sweat a lot and since one of the ways the virus can be transmitted is through sweating, it will be better to stop handshake so that one does not contract it.’’
He, however, advised worshipers to be prayerful over the Ebola scourge.
Speaking to NAN at the church, a worshiper, Tochukwu Ikwuazom, commended the diocese for the precautionary measure to curb the spread of the virus and urged Nigerians to pray to God to remove the disease from the country.
Also get rid of the guitars. Sounds more like a ho down than a respectful presentation of a Religious event.
Makes sense.
PFL
The hand shake thing should have gone away long ago. And you don’t have to get out of your pew and up and down the aisles to shake everyone’s hand in the whole church. It’s getting ridiculous.
Ping...
...yes and bring back the sacred music. I have had it with the garbage being played that NO ONE knows. And the modern bands with drums for crying out loud (during communinon, drums?) and crowd applause! Enough!
And tell the people not to pray with outstretched arms.
Where in the world did they get this gesture from?
The Church is riddled with PC, feel good gestures that have no theological basis.
This site has several scripture references on it. I didn't look them up.
It's not my preference either, but given that there are scriptures to back the practice, there are worse things you could be worried about.
I agree, I have gotten to where I stand outside until “swap palm sweat and mucous” with everyone is over.
Are they still allowing a slug of wine from the chalice?
Always thought that was totally unnecessary also.
We ran late the other day and went to contemporary service and I told the Misses I felt like I was at a Journey concert in the 80’s and needed to bring a lighter or glow in the dark necklace.
We've been dealing with that in the baptist churches for a while. The older generation wants the traditional music. The younger generation wants more contemporary music. Our churches have often resorted to having multiple services with different types of music at each.
But the motivation for going to the new music is outreach. The guys who stay up late at night studying this stuff, have decided that modern music is more effective at bringing in visitors and young people. It's okay for the church to compete in these areas as long as it doesn't change the gospel or lose focus on the gospel.
As long as the people don’t touch ANYTHING else that someone else has touched, the might be OK.
These measures may help, but considering how durable the virus is on environmental surfaces, it’s not a sure thing.
Communion in the hand isn’t a very good idea. Those hands have touched the backs of pews, the holy water font, etc.
It would be better to have communion on the tongue only and restrict it to having only the priest give it. No EEMS.
If the priest makes contact with the communicant’s tongue, he can simply stop and use a bit of purell - no kidding, this is a dangerous situation there - but it makes more sense to limit the contact as much as possible, not provide even more hand to mouth contact.
I am <40 and I find the majority of the modern music (and the musicians repulsive and distracting. I feel like they are there just there putting on a show.
They definitely need to stop communion under both species, but this is sort of a local option, so Africans may actually not even do it. I don’t know about them, but I think it should be stopped everywhere because it’s definitely dangerous.
And of course, the “handshake of peace” is a real virus shedder. That’s got to go. Have them make a slight bow to each other if they need to do anything.
I would like to see the hand-raising/holding during the Our Father go away even more. I find it very odd and refuse to do so— but I am in an extreme minority.
A lot of heaven raisin’ it in the Black church.
I stopped the handshaking several years ago. I just keep the missalette in both hands and smile and nod to people and say, “Peace be with you”.
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