Trenton Diocese Announces Tweaks to Catholic Mass Due to Coronavirus

St. Pio of Pietrelcina Church, Lavallette. (Credit: Google Maps)

New Jersey announced that its first resident tested positive for the novel coronavirus Wednesday, just as officials from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Trenton said they would change some customs within the celebration of Mass to keep parishioners healthy.

The resident who tested positive is from Bergen County, officials said. The Trenton Diocese covers portions of Ocean, Burlington, Mercer and Monmouth counties.

Rayanne Bennett, spokeswoman for the diocese, said Bishop David M. O’Connell issued orders Wednesday asking people who were experiencing flu-like symptoms or any other sickness to avoid attending Mass. The consumption of sacramental wine, believed to be the blood of Christ, will be suspended, as will the tradition of shaking hands with those seated near you as a sign of neighborly peace during the Mass.

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“The practice of exchanging the sign of peace by any physical contact (handshake, embrace, kissing) is suspended,” Bennett said.

O’Connell also ordered priests, deacons and Eucharistic ministers – those who distribute communion wafers to parishioners – “practice good hygiene, washing hands with soap and water or anti-bacterial hand sanitizer, before and after distributing Holy Communion.”

Finally, the faithful are being advised against practicing an old tradition of receiving communion directly on the tongue. Rather, O’Connell said, those receiving communion should do so under the current practice of “reverent reception by hand.”