The Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja on Sunday
announced new procedures for worshippers at Masses
to check likely spread of the Ebola virus.
The procedures which include the administration of the
Holy Communion on the palm of the faithful as against
placing it on the tongue of the recipient, was
announced by Rev. Fr. Moses Jimbili, at SS Peter and
Paul Catholic Church, Nyanya.
Jimbili told parishioners at the church that the measure
was a directive by the Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, His
Eminence, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, as check on the
spread of Ebola disease.
Other change in the church’s practice was the
stoppage of hand shake by worshippers done during
consecration of the Holy Communion as sign of peace.
NAN also reports that Onaiyekan’s directive is
contained in a statement issued by the Director of
Social Communications in the archdiocese, Rev. Fr.
Patrick Alumunku.
“Due to the prevailing national situation on the Ebola
Virus Disease (EVD), I am directing that the following
pastoral guidelines should be observed throughout our
Archdiocese till further notice.
“The sign of peace should be omitted at Mass,
Communion in the hand is highly recommended and
should be encouraged (unless for those who insist on
receiving on the tongue),” the statement quoted the
Cardinal as saying.
The cardinal also directed that special intercessory
prayers should be offered during the holy mass against
the spread of the virus.
Jimbili said, “You know some people sweat a lot and
since one of the ways the virus can be transmitted is
through sweating, it will be better to stop handshake so
that one does not contract it.’’
He, however, advised worshipers to be prayerful over
the Ebola scourge.
Speaking at the church, a worshiper, Mr Tochukwu
Ikwuazom, commended the diocese for the
precautionary measure to curb the spread of the virus
and urged Nigerians to pray to God to remove the
disease from the country. [NAN]

http://www.informationng.com/2014/08/catholic-church-stops-handshake-announces-new-service-procedure.html