Under the threat of the H1N1 virus, some local Catholic churches have suspended segments of holy mass that call for physical contact between parishioners.

This was confirmed yesterday by Monsignor Cuthbert Alexander, chairman of the Catholic Media Services Ltd and head of the Catholic News.

In an article in the latest issue of the Catholic News, Dr Neil Peters, acting medical chief of staff at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex (EWMSC), encouraged parishioners to follow basic health guidelines and ’respiratory etiquette’.

According to the story, Peters, who is a parishioner of St John’s, St Augustine, has not stopped attending weekend mass but said he has advised priests-who have approached him on the subject-to offer communion only in the form of bread.

He told the Catholic News:

’That is not because we will spread it but we have to take into account people’s fears,’ he said, adding that worshippers with flu-like symptoms should stay away from church.

He also urged priests to wash and sanitise their hands before and after the sharing of communion.

Speaking to the Express yesterday, Monsignor Alexander repeated his statements to the Catholic News that while other dioceses around the world have issued mass guidelines related to the virus, such statements are unlikely from the local Archdiocese, which is led by Archbishop Edward Gilbert.

He said recently as last Monday, during weekly meetings between Archbishop Gilbert and heads of archdiocesan departments, issues surrounding the virus were discussed.

It was decided that parishes and communities should apply the Ministry of Health’s guidelines ’as necessary’.

Monsignor Alexander said individual parish priests are free to make their own adjustments, which some have done.

These changes include doing away with the Greeting, which is a sign of peace between parishioners and usually involves the shaking of hands or embracing other members.

The sharing of communion, which is some churches involved the sipping of wine from the same goblet by all parishioners, has also been put away in some ceremonies.

Instead, the wine will be sipped only by the priest.

Also, parishoners are not holding hands during the Our Father prayer.

Monsignor Alexander said that some parishes have made hand sanitisers available, to make their flocks more comfortable.