Community Corner

Catholic Churches Take Precaution Against Flu; Communion Wine, "Sign of Peace" Can Be Suspended

The Archdiocese of Boston is taking steps to stop the spread of the flu.

Parishioners at Saint Gerard Majella and Saint John the Evangelist and other local Catholic churches may notice something different on Sunday.

The Archdiocese of Boston announced this week that it is allowing priests to suspend the distribution of wine from a common chalice during Communion as a precaution because of the recent flu outbreak, The Boston Globe reported.

Churches were also notified that parishioners could exchange a sign of peace by β€œbowing to nearby parishioners instead of shaking hands,” reported The Globe.

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Earlier this week, Boston Mayor Thomas Menino declared a state of health emergency because of the flu outbreak and some nearby communities have also ran out of flu vaccine.


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