Health Alert
It was with sadness that I emptied the holy water fonts in St Joseph’s Church and sealed them with cardboard for the time being. This is part of our effort at preventing ’swine ‘flu’. The Ardiocese of Paris has issued some helpful suggestions without imposing anything. In this week’s bulletin, I have suggested that the handshake at the sign of peace can be replaced with a bow or a salute. Receiving Holy Communion in the hand rather than on the tongue is being encouraged, without, of course, prohibiting receiving on the tongue. At the morning Mass on weekdays, Communion is given under both species. Receiving by intinction (placing the Host into the chalice) rather than drinking from the chalice is being encouraged. Posters have been placed on toilet doors beside the church, highlighting the importance of washing hands and the use of handkerchiefs. It will be interesting to see what the reaction is this weekend. While we pray and hope there will not be an outbreak of this deadly illness, it is only responsible to take whatever steps we can as a community and as individuals to prevent the spread of this illness. With schools reopening this week, the French press has been full of comments and instructions about how to protect pupils from catching and spreading the illness. AT
