The distribution of the Eucharist has become streamlined since the pre-Vatican II days. Leaving one's pew is optional, but given the relaxation of the rules about eating/drinking after midnight almost everyone goes up to the altar these days. Little children, who have not yet received their First Communion, walk up with their parents, with crossed arms, and receive a blessing instead of the wafer. Adults are welcome to do the same thing, and some do in the church where I attend.
I'm sure President Bush is grateful for every blessing that is offered to him. He needs buckets of grace to handle being with Nagin and Blanco for a whole day.
Archbishop Hughes is an institution in New Orleans, and I bet he has been instrumental in more reconstruction than Nagin has.
Sharing a link back to you, on this thread so I will remember where to find it.
My comment: A 'fair' press would be sharing with the world, the contrast between the public school and parochial/private school restoration schedules in NOLA. The Catholic schools were up an running so quickly, because of individual volunteer effort, that they made room for virtually all of the previously public school kids, whose families had returned to the area.
Brian Williams et al cannot share that news with the world, because it does not fit the "downtrodden black" vs "privileged white" meme.
http://www.arch-no.org/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=531
Archbishop: Clarion Herald column, August 26, 2006
"A challenging anniversary"
By Archbishop Alfred C. Hughes
(from the Clarion Herald special issue:
Katrina-Recovery/Renewal: 1 year later.
For each of us certain dates are etched deeply in our emotional memories. I think of Dec. 7, 1941; or Nov. 22, 1963; or April 4, 1968; or Sept. 11, 2001. Now, for us in the New Orleans metropolitan area, it is Aug. 29, 2005.
---snip---
After the storm had done its lethal damage and word reached us that the levees had been breached, the only thing I could think of was the needs of the people. The monks at St. Joseph Abbey and the neighbors worked together to extricate us so that we could make our way to Baton Rouge and set up an administration-in-exile to launch a response. Within 48 hours after the hurricane we had a fledgling operation, thanks to the generosity and assistance of Bishop Robert Muench and his senior staff.
Communication was extremely difficult, but we mounted a humanitarian and pastoral response that made it possible to assist rescue workers, provide food to the needy (almost 40 million pounds in the first four months) and pastoral care to the people in the shelters. Priests served at the Superdome during those very challenging days; at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport where the sick were being triaged, and in the shelters in all of the surrounding cities in Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi and Georgia. Catholic Charities mounted an extraordinary effort to provide survival assistance to those most in need (more than $6 million to date). Perhaps the most remarkable story was the restoration of schools so quickly to help stabilize family life and to provide education to children across racial and religious lines.
A crisis like this makes it clear how important it is to have good people in place to respond quickly and effectively. I thank God for the priests and the members of our central administration staff who acted as a team in providing response to the people so traumatized by this devastating experience.
My own life has been dramatically changed. I never dreamed that God would be asking me at this time in my life to assume the responsibility of shepherding this good archdiocese in the face of such overwhelming destruction.
---excerpt---
Sounds like a good idea. That way those who would like to participate in some way can, even if they can't take Communion.
Personally, I enjoyed seeing the President get blessed. The man needs it, but I expect he welcomes it as well.