Ebola Virus: Catholic Church Suspends Mouth Communion, Handshake

In a bid to avert the spread of Ebola
virus, the Catholic and Anglican
Church have halted some practice
which includes hand to mouth
communion and the ‘sign of peace’
where the congregation shake hands
during communion.
With the increasing fear of the
spread of Ebola across Nigeria, the
Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja on
Sunday announced new procedures
for worshippers at Masses to check
likely spread of the Ebola virus.
The new 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.
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.
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.’’
The Primate of the Church Of
Nigeria Anglican Communion the
Most Reverend Nicholas Okoh has
also suspended shaking of hands
during the exchange of the peace.
He also suspended the age long
mouth method of administering
communion.
He said this is aimed at preventing
the spread of the disease through
physical contact.
The Archbishop of Lagos Adewale
Martins released a statement
yesterday saying that while the
handshakes have been suspended,
Catholic priests should continue the
traditional hand to mouth method of
given Holy Communion for now, but
asked the priest to make sure their
hands don’t touch the tongues of the
recipient.
He also said Holy Water bowls
usually placed at the entrance of
churches should be discontinued to
contain the spread of the virus.
The Director of Social
Communication in the Archdiocese,
Rev. Fr. Pius Ukor shedding light on
the new arrangement said under
priests will now place holy
communion into the palms of the
receivers who will put it in their
mouths while the rite of peace in
the liturgy is now optional during
holy masses.
Meanwhile the Parish Administrator,
Blessed Iwene Tansi Independent
Station, Iba Pope, Awada, Rev. Fr.
Paul Nwosu speaking on the Ebola
virus disease said the spread of the
killer disease is a manifestation of
signs of end time, according to Daily
Sun.
He, however, advised Nigerians to
insure their lives by living
righteously.