[Miles the Slasher]

This and holding hands during the Our Father. Ugh.

[Does so]

Will a “fist-bump” work in these days of Ebola?

[kidd]

This and holding hands during the Our Father. Ugh

Don't do it.

I was educated on this issue as part of my training as a Confirmation teacher.

Technically, a parish cannot say "don't hold hands during the Our Father" because the present rules for the Liturgy do not specify what to do with your hands during the Our Father.

If your priest told you to hold hands he would be introducing extra-liturgical practices.

If your priest told you to NOT hold hands he would be introducing extra-liturgical practices.

In reality - those present at the CELEBRATION of the Mass do not become a unified community until AFTER they have received communion. Holding hands before receiving communion sort of short-circuits the celebration by showing a unified community BEFORE communion. If you want to hold hands with your spouse, that is fine, as you've been unified through the sacrament of marriage. But holding hands with strangers is the wrong symbolism.