The Catholic Church of Fiji has announced precautionary measures against Covid-19 ( Coronavirus).
In an advisory, Archbishop Peter Loy Chong says all Holy Water will be removed from fonts in Churches and all Holy Communion will be offered only through the sacred bread.
He says receiving the precious blood will be withheld.
Archbishop Chong says all ministers of communion should use alcohol-based hand gels (sanitizers) before distributing communion and wash hands with soap after distribution.
He says shaking hands as a sign of peace during the Mass can be replaced by a respectful bow or acknowledgement.
The Archbishop adds this is a precautionary method and a pro-active step taken within the Archdiocese of Suva and he suggests that this be adopted by all congregations in the Archdiocese of Suva.
He says they recognise that the risk of contracting COVID-19 in Fiji is very low but let us not be complacent.
Archbishop Chong further says at all times let us bear in mind the church’s call to ensure the protection of the most vulnerable – our children, the elderly, our mothers and the sick in the community.
He adds once the international threat of the COVID-19 ends, they can, as a faith family, return to the usual practices of using Holy Water, the chalice of Christ’s most holy blood and the shaking of hands.
He also says the measures were adapted from advice given by the Australian Council of Catholic Bishops to parishes throughout Australia which already has cases of COVID-19.
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