Influenza & The Liturgy

Diocesan Guidelines

Frequently Asked Questions

• How is the influenza virus transmitted?
• What are the two best ways to prevent the
• transmission of the influenza virus?
• What should parishes do year-round to minimize the transmission of the flu virus during the liturgy?
• In localities where there is a significant outbreak of influenza, what temporary liturgical modifications may be introduced in order to minimize its transmission during Mass?
• What qualifies as a “significant outbreak” of influenza?
• How can we know when to put temporary liturgical modifications in place, or when to lift them?
   

How is the influenza virus transmitted?

Influenza viruses are spread when a person who has the flu coughs, sneezes, or speaks and spreads virus into the air, and other people inhale the virus. When these viruses enter the nose, throat, or lungs of a person, they begin to multiply, causing symptoms of the flu. The viruses can also be spread when a person touches a surface with flu viruses on it (for example, a door handle) and then touches his or her nose or mouth. A person who is sick with the flu can spread viruses. Adults may be contagious from one day before developing symptoms to up to seven days after getting sick. Children can be contagious for longer than seven days.
 

What are the two best ways to prevent the transmission of the influenza virus?

The single best way to prevent the flu is to get vaccinated with the yearly seasonal flu vaccine. All parishioners and most especially all ministers of Holy Communion should be encouraged to get vaccinated annually.

As with other infectious illnesses, another important and appropriate preventive practice is careful and frequent hand hygiene. Cleaning your hands often using either soap and water or waterless alcohol-based hand sanitizers removes potentially infectious materials from your skin and helps prevent disease transmission.

Other ways to prevent the spread of germs and viruses:

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• If possible, stay home from work, school, and errands when you are sick.
• When coughing or sneezing, use a tissue to cover your mouth, or direct it into your sleeve/elbow instead of your hand.
• Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth. Avoid touching yourself in those places, especially when illness is prevalent.

What should parishes do year-round to minimize the transmission of the flu virus during the liturgy?

Promote clean hands.

• Parish and school washrooms should be well-equipped with soap dispensers and paper towels. Bottles of hand sanitizer should be made available where people need to use them.
• Ministers of Holy Communion should wash their hands prior to their attendance at Mass and should be required to sanitize their hands before they assist with distribution of Holy Communion. This sanitizing should be able to be done in a way so as to draw as little attention to that fact as possible. (e.g., bottles of hand sanitizer should never be placed on the altar.)
• Make good use of the purificator when distributing of the Precious Blood.

Ministers of Holy Communion should be reminded to thoroughly wipe both the inner and outer surfaces of the chalice where the communicant’s lips have come into contact with it when receiving the Precious Blood.

Misters should also turn the chalice slightly between communicants and try to use different portions of the purificator during the wiping process.

Encourage people who think they may be beginning to feel ill to refrain from receiving the Precious Blood. We receive the body and blood, soul and divinity of Christ in its totality under either species, together or alone. Receiving both species is a more complete sign, but not a more complete reality.

Encourage people who are sick to stay home. Though it is true that it is a grave matter to be absent from Mass on Sundays and holydays, this never applies to those who are ill, especially those who are contagious or display flu-like symptoms.
 

In localities where there is a significant outbreak of influenza, what temporary liturgical modifications may be introduced in order to minimize its transmission during Mass?

• Greeters may refrain from shaking the hands of people as they enter.
• The Sign of Peace may be shared without touching hands or kissing.
• If your local tradition includes it, all may refrain from holding hands during the Lord’s Prayer.
• The distribution of Holy Communion to the assembly may be limited to the form of bread alone.
• This would be contraindicated in any parish where celiac disease prevents individuals from receiving the host. Provisions for these individuals’ reception of the Precious Blood must then always be made.

It is important that the temporary nature of the liturgical modifications listed above be stressed, and that due diligence be afforded to returning to ordinary practices as soon as any true threat has passed.
 
Canonically, the reception of Holy Communion on the tongue is always a legitimate option for those who desire it.
 

What qualifies as a “significant outbreak” of influenza?

During times of concern, Pastors, Parish Life Coordinators and Parish Directors should maintain occasional contact with officers from their county health department regarding rates of infection in their area, and take this information into account when making decisions which affect the celebration of the liturgy.
 

How can we know when to put temporary liturgical modifications in place, or when to lift them?

All of the health officers listed below have been contacted by the Office of Worship and were asked to try to assist you in this way.

NOTE: This list is updated in mid-January each year.

Ashland County Health and Human Services Department
630 Sanborn Avenue
Ashland, WI 54806
715/ 682-7924 (Fax)
715/ 682-7028 Ms Cyndi Zach
[email protected]
 
Barron County Health and Human Services Department
335 E Monroe Avenue, Rm 338
Barron, WI 54812
715/ 537-6274 (Fax)
715/ 537-5691 Ms Laura Sauve (*HO)
[email protected]
 
Bayfield County Health Department
117 East 6th Street
PO Box 403
Washburn, WI 54891
715/ 373-6307 (Fax)
715/ 373-6109 Ms. Sara Wartman (*HO)
[email protected]
 
Burnett County Department of Health & Human Services
7410 County Road K #280
Siren, WI 54872-9043
715/ 349-2140 (Fax)
715/ 349-7600 x 1234 Ms Sarah Miller
[email protected]
 
Douglas County, Department of Health & Human Services
1316 North 14th Street, Suite 324
Superior, WI 54880
715/ 395-1434 (Fax)
715/ 395-1304 Ms Kathy Ronchi
[email protected]
 
Iron County Health Department
502 Copper Street
Hurley, WI 54534
715/ 561-2836 (Fax)
715/ 561-2191 Ms Katie Hampston (*HO)
[email protected]
 
Lincoln County Health Department
607 North Sales Street
Merrill, WI 54452-1637
715/ 536-2011 (Fax)
715/ 536-0307 Ms Shelley Hersil
[email protected]
 
Oneida County Health Department
100 W Keenan Street
Rhinelander, WI 54501
715/ 369-6112 (Fax)
715/ 369-6105 Ms Linda Conlon
[email protected]
 
Polk County Health Department
100 Polk County Plaza, Suite 180
Balsam Lake, WI 54810
715/ 485-8501 (Fax)
715/ 485-8500 Ms Gretchen Sampson (*HO)
gretchens[email protected]
 
Price County Department of Health & Social Services
104 South Eyder Avenue
Phillips, WI 54555
715/ 339-3057 (Fax)
715/ 339-3054 Ms Michelle Edwards
[email protected]
 
Rusk County Department of Health & Human Services
311 Miner Avenue East Suite C220
Ladysmith, WI 54848
715/ 532-2217 (Fax)
715/ 532-2299 Ms Dawn Brost
[email protected]
 
Saint Croix County Department Health & Human Services
1752 Dorset Lane
New Richmond, WI 54017-6004
715/ 246-8367 (Fax)
715/ 246-8372 Ms Deborah Lindemann
[email protected]
 
Sawyer County Department of Health & Human Services
10610 Main Street, Suite 224
Hayward, WI 54843-0730
715/ 634-5019 (Fax)
715/ 634-4806 Ext. 2438 Ms Eileen Simak
[email protected]
 
Taylor County Health Department
224 S Second St
Medford, WI 54451
715/ 748-1417 (Fax)
715/ 748-1410 Ms Patty Krug
[email protected]
 
Vilas County Health Department
302 W. Pine Street
Eagle River, WI 54521
715/ 479-3741 (Fax)
715/ 479-3656 Ms Gina Egan
[email protected]
 
Washburn County Health Department & Human Services
222 Oak Street
Spooner, WI 54801
715/ 635-4416 (Fax)
715/ 635-4400 Ms Cheri Nickell
[email protected]

 
Portions of this text have been taken from directives published by the USCCB’s Secretariat for Divine Worship in consultation with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).