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Posted at: 12/20/2009 10:53 PM
Updated at: 12/21/2009 7:45 AM
By: Lorilyn Prestidge
Common Wine Cup Returns to Churches
(ABC 6 NEWS) -- Church services at Saint Edwards in Austin may seem normal. It may be hard to tell that anything is missing, but there's been no common wine service here for months.
Starting Christmas Eve, that's all about to change.
"I am glad we are going back to communion under both forms the body and blood of Christ," said Rev. Joseph Fogal of St. Augustine and St. Edwards in Austin.
Use of the common cup was taken out of service a couple months ago when the H1N1 virus reached its peak, and at the time that was a controversial decision.
"Some people thought, ?Well, I didn't like the cup anyway. Well, I never drank from the cup anyhow, so it wasn't a big deal to me.? Others really like the sharing of the blood of Christ," said Rev. Fogal.
The church says they made that decision to keep parishioners safe.
"Nobody wants to pass anything on to anyone else," said church member Pat Swenson.
"The flu is pretty scary and there are a lot of people with underlying problems that could cause death, and I'm one of them so I was relieved," said church member Marlene Belden.
But now that the wine is going to be back, the good thing is that it will be up to the parishioners if they want to take it or not.
And they are advised to take that responsibility seriously.
"I am pleased because I missed it and I feel it is an essential part of our sacrament," said Swenson.
"I think it's just a little too soon," said Belden.
"I am prepared to go to the way it was," said church member Vince Lynch.
"If anybody feels sick or whatever and we do remind people if they have any sense that you could have the flu or have contact with somebody who did than you probably shouldn't drink from the cup," said Rev. Fogal.
And while health officials predict there may be a third wave of the virus, the Diocese says this re-instatement may not be permanent.
"If this thing returns again, if there's another virus that comes through with this same thing we'll probably revert back to what we have just done," said Rev. Fogal.
In addition to the common wine cup, the Diocese has lifted restrictions on Signs of Peace, greetings and Holy Water as well.
Updated at: 12/21/2009 7:45 AM
By: Lorilyn Prestidge
Common Wine Cup Returns to Churches
(ABC 6 NEWS) -- Church services at Saint Edwards in Austin may seem normal. It may be hard to tell that anything is missing, but there's been no common wine service here for months.
Starting Christmas Eve, that's all about to change.
"I am glad we are going back to communion under both forms the body and blood of Christ," said Rev. Joseph Fogal of St. Augustine and St. Edwards in Austin.
Use of the common cup was taken out of service a couple months ago when the H1N1 virus reached its peak, and at the time that was a controversial decision.
"Some people thought, ?Well, I didn't like the cup anyway. Well, I never drank from the cup anyhow, so it wasn't a big deal to me.? Others really like the sharing of the blood of Christ," said Rev. Fogal.
The church says they made that decision to keep parishioners safe.
"Nobody wants to pass anything on to anyone else," said church member Pat Swenson.
"The flu is pretty scary and there are a lot of people with underlying problems that could cause death, and I'm one of them so I was relieved," said church member Marlene Belden.
But now that the wine is going to be back, the good thing is that it will be up to the parishioners if they want to take it or not.
And they are advised to take that responsibility seriously.
"I am pleased because I missed it and I feel it is an essential part of our sacrament," said Swenson.
"I think it's just a little too soon," said Belden.
"I am prepared to go to the way it was," said church member Vince Lynch.
"If anybody feels sick or whatever and we do remind people if they have any sense that you could have the flu or have contact with somebody who did than you probably shouldn't drink from the cup," said Rev. Fogal.
And while health officials predict there may be a third wave of the virus, the Diocese says this re-instatement may not be permanent.
"If this thing returns again, if there's another virus that comes through with this same thing we'll probably revert back to what we have just done," said Rev. Fogal.
In addition to the common wine cup, the Diocese has lifted restrictions on Signs of Peace, greetings and Holy Water as well.
