Catholic churches seek to prevent flu outbreaks

Bishop offers guidelines, options to priests

For many people, fears of catching the swine flu have now been dismissed. Bishop Robert Cunningham of the Syracuse Catholic Diocese, aware that H1N1 flu can be spread from parishioner to parishioner through certain rites of the weekly mass, last month issued recommendations to area parishes. A number of local presbyters have implemented his suggestions.

The Sign of Peace, reception of Communion from the cup, and reception of the Eucharist on the tongue have been temporarily suspended at Holy Cross Church in DeWitt. Additionally, Rev. Robert Yeazel said Eucharistic ministers now use hand sanitizer prior to distributing hosts.

Rev. Thomas Ryan of Immaculate Conception Church in Fayetteville opted for the same changes, in addition to removing Holy Water from the fonts at each entrance. Instead, hand sanitizers are being placed at each door.
Last weekend, a Liverpool congregation changed its routine, as well.

“Now that I’m aware H1N1 is in our area, I felt it was time we should take some action,” said Rev. James Fritzen of Christ the King Church in Bayberry. “As a result, we’ve done four things.”

The variations mimic those mentioned above, although Fritzen will maintain the Sign of Peace. Rather than a handshake, however, he asks parishioners to extend Christ’s peace verbally or with a hand wave.

How do the faithful feel about these alterations?

Janine Spencer of Baldwinsville understands why her parish is responding to feedback, but in the meantime, will miss the mass’ sense of community.

“I agree because I don’t want people to be sick,” Spencer said. “But I feel the loss in church that we can’t share between each other. So we did [the Sign of Peace] with our own family today.”

“People are nervous about it so I think it’s good what they did,” said Gloria Fenocchi of Liverpool. “Everybody’s been kind of talking about it, you know, so it was wonderful to hear [Fr. Fritzen] mention it today.”

Another parishioner said she is glad the option to shake hands was removed because if a neighbor extended a hand, she felt obligated to reciprocate.

“I didn’t want to make another person feel rejected by not accepting their hand,” she said.

Tips to prevent H1N1

Symptoms of H1N1
Symptoms are like seasonal flu and include fever, cough sore throat, body aches, headaches, chills and fatigue, and sometimes, diarrhea and vomiting.

Cover your sneezes and coughs
Influenza is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing of infected people. Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.

Wash hands often
Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hands cleaners are also effective. Wash your hands after touching used tissues and similar waste. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.

Stay home
Stay home if you get sick. CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.

Have a plan
Have a plan to care for sick family members. Stock up on household, health and emergency supplies, such as water, Tylenol, non-perishable foods.

Take action to stay healthy
Avoid close contact (less than about six feet away) with the sick person as much as possible. Eating utensils should be washed either in a dishwasher or by hand with water and soap. Find healthy ways to deal with stress and anxiety.

Check the Center for Disease Control and Prevention Web site, cdc.gov, for updates.
Source: cdc.gov

CATEGORY: General Society
TAGS: syracuse, catholic, diocese, H1N1, swine, flu
EDITION: Eagle Bulletin

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