It's hard to believe that we are already at the end of October, Halloween, and that tomorrow is the Feast of All Saints!
At the Masses this afternoon, we will make reference to Cardinal Sean's instructions for the precautions that we should all take to prevent as much as possible the spreading of the H1N1 Flu (Swine flu). The priests, the lectors, and ministers of the Eucharist have been using a hand sanitizer immediately before leaving the sacristy to begin Mass for the past few weeks. Naturally, we will continue that in the future. The Cardinal has instructed us to refrain, as much as possible, from all unnecessary physical contact during Mass. therefore, we will change the sign of peace from a handshake to a wave of the hand, a nod of the head a pleasant smile, a whispered God's peace be with you. There are many ways that we can express our desire to share God's peace without a handshake.
Also, the Cardinal has suspended Communion under both species, i.e., consuming the Blessed Blood of the Lord from the chalice, during Mass. Although that has not been our practice here in the Chapel, we will suspend, for now, Communion from the chalice even for our Eucharistic Ministers.
Also we are going to change the Holy Water in the small fonts at the entrance to the Chapel before each Mass. And soon we will empty them completely I have ordered some one ounce Holy Water containers which will be available at the entrance to the Chapel for all who want them. That will eliminate completely the need for so many hands to be dipping into the Holy Water font on entering and leaving the Chapel.
By the way, you can keep up-to-date with all the pronouncements of Cardinal Sean by signing up for his weekly e-mail at: weeklye-mail@thebostonpilot.com
Also, don't forget to turn your back your clocks one hour before retiring tonight as Daylight Saving time is brought to an end for this year.