Issues of Food, Masks and communion during Mass.
According to the CDC, there is no evidence of COVID-19 transmission associated with food. (hosts)
• Ministers of Holy Communion are recommended to sanitize their hands before distribution of hosts.
• Ministers of Holy Communion are recommended to sanitize their hands if they sense they have touched a communicant.
The priest celebrant and other ministers should not wear masks or gloves during the celebration of Mass. Instead, they should remain more than 6 feet from the congregation during the entirety of the Mass. In such circumstances, there is no substantial risk of infection. The Mass is imbued with powerful sacramental and liturgical symbolism. Wearing a mask and gloves would be a detrimental counter-sign in this context, and it is not warranted by considerations of hygiene if the priest remains a proper distance from the congregation.
In speaking ‘the body of Christ’ at communion, the minister does not hold up or hold the body of Christ. When communicant comes forward the minister takes host from ciborium and places on the hand. Receiving on tongue is discouraged.
The parishioner remains six feet away and upon saying amen, approaches minister of communion.
