In the wake of the Nipah outbreak, the Thamarassery Syro-Malabar diocese in Kerala has asked its parish priests to serve the Communion only on the hand during the Mass.
The custom of serving the Communion on the tongue by priests will be discouraged as part of the efforts to support the Health Department’s drive against the viral disease, an advisory from the diocese on June 1st said.
Priests in nearly 120 parishes under the diocese will heed the bishop’s advisory. The diocese has until now encouraged receiving the Communion only tongue. The decision comes as chances are high of the virus spreading from infected persons. Father Abraham Kavilpurayidathil, chancellor of Thamarassery said the diocese had voluntarily taken the decision to extend support to the preventive measures taken by the Health Department. “The custom of serving communion in the hands was there earlier for hygiene reasons. It was brought back mainly to avoid the chances of misuse,” he told The Hindu.
