Diocese Response to Coronavirus Epidemic from Bishop Calvo
 
With the increasing concern about the spread of the Coronavirus/Covid 19, the Diocese of Reno makes the following recommendations and considerations for Eucharistic liturgies, in addition to personal precautions advised by the Center for Disease Control.  These are based on guidance from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops as well as practices adapted by some dioceses.  While parishes have already discussed and implemented preventive measures with their communities, we ask the following be reviewed by all pastoral entities for Masses in northern Nevada. 
 

1. Priests, deacons, altar servers and Eucharistic Ministers wash their hands before Mass begins and use an alcohol-based, anti-bacterial solution before and after distribution of Communion.

 

2. Parishes and missions are to decide whether to refrain from distribution of Communion from the Cup for the duration of the epidemic.  If parishes decide to continue to minister Communion under both kinds, they are to inform parishioners that it is their choice whether or not to take from the cup. 

 

3. Individual parishioners should give consideration to receiving Communion in the hand reverently for the time being and out of charity for their neighbor, given the experience of direct contact with saliva in the distribution of Communion received on the tongue.

 

4. Extra precaution is to be taken in ensuring all vessels used at Mass are washed thoroughly with soap and hot water after they purified.

 

5. Parishes are to decide an appropriate manner of exchanging the Sign of Peace, always respecting the sensibility of those next to them. 

 

6. Consideration should be given to refraining from holding hands during the Lord’s Prayer or at least to respect those who choose not to as a measure of caution.

 

7. The Catholic faithful who are sick or experiencing symptoms of any illness are not obliged to attend Mass and, out of charity, ought to not attend.  As an alternative, they can participate via the Sunday TV Mass at 9 a.m. on KOLO TV (Channel 8) or spend time in some form of worship.

 

8. For the Intercessions at Mass, parishes are encouraged to pray for an end to the spread of the virus and for those who have been stricken by this illness.

 
A copy of these guidelines are contained in an insert in today’s church bulletin. Please take a bulletin home with you.