NEW YORK (AP) — Holy Communion will have a different look when in-person worship services resume at the end of May in the Catholic Diocese of Knoxville, Tennessee: The wafers signifying the body of Christ will be placed in the hands of parishioners by priests and deacons wearing face masks and safety glasses.
At Ste. Rose de Lima Catholic Church in Chicopee, Massachusetts, pastor William Tourigny is awaiting word from state officials on when in-person services can resume, but he’s already made decisions about Communion.
She says most Catholic churches in the area served the Communion wafer on the tongue, not to the hand, but she’s open to whatever policy might be implemented,
“The people will be so happy to return to church that they’ll be ready to comply with whatever the priest asks,” she said.
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, with about 3.5 million members one of the largest mainline Protestant denominations, recently issued guidelines on Communion and other matters to help its 9,300 churches resume in-person services.
Mariann Budde, the Episcopal bishop of Washington, said most churches in her diocese traditionally used a communal cup for distribution of the Communion wine.
