Sally Furniss
Well-known member
Churches advising congregants on H1N1
Published: 7:58PM Sunday June 21, 2009
Source: ONE News
WATCH the video (1:58) Churches are playing a vital role in their communities in managing the H1N1 pandemic.
It comes as a Wellington woman remains in critical condition in hospital with the virus.
The latest numbers out show New Zealand has 258 cases - that's up 42 from Friday and 213 of those have been confirmed in the past week.
Samoan congregations have been hit hard by the virus and the churches are now helping to stem it by making churchgoers aware of the dangers.
"We are trying to tell them that if you are unwell stay away & you know I mean you can go to work another day ... you can come to church & there are many more Sundays to come," says Rev Lapana Faletolu, a church minister.
Christchurch's H1N1 outbreak started with a Samoan woman who caught the virus in Australia.
Schools and a work place were closed last week, as attempts were made to contain the virus.
Hand sanitizers are now the norm in some churches, while others, like the Catholic Church have banned some traditional practices altogether.
There's no handshaking to show the sign of peace, no sharing the chalice and communion must be placed in the hands rather than on the tongue.
Even masses for anointing of the sick are on hold.
The Church had previously made a similar ban, but it was removed as H1N1 cases starting to go down.
But cases are up again and the NZ Catholic Bishops Conference once again reissued the restrictions.
Father John Adams, Catholic priest, says while the church takes the mass very seriously, it also wants to be a responsible member of society.
"We need to play our bit in contributing to the safety or the common good of all people so we don't want the church to be a place where swine flu is spread any more readily than anywhere else," says Adams.
But while the churches do their part to take precautions, they have made it clear that at the end of the day, one's health is in God's hands.
"I would say to trust God and be responsible," says Assistant Minister Robin Walsh.
And pray body and soul stay well.
http://tvnz.co.nz/health-news/churches-advising-congregants-h1n1-2791908
Published: 7:58PM Sunday June 21, 2009
Source: ONE News
WATCH the video (1:58) Churches are playing a vital role in their communities in managing the H1N1 pandemic.
It comes as a Wellington woman remains in critical condition in hospital with the virus.
The latest numbers out show New Zealand has 258 cases - that's up 42 from Friday and 213 of those have been confirmed in the past week.
Samoan congregations have been hit hard by the virus and the churches are now helping to stem it by making churchgoers aware of the dangers.
"We are trying to tell them that if you are unwell stay away & you know I mean you can go to work another day ... you can come to church & there are many more Sundays to come," says Rev Lapana Faletolu, a church minister.
Christchurch's H1N1 outbreak started with a Samoan woman who caught the virus in Australia.
Schools and a work place were closed last week, as attempts were made to contain the virus.
Hand sanitizers are now the norm in some churches, while others, like the Catholic Church have banned some traditional practices altogether.
There's no handshaking to show the sign of peace, no sharing the chalice and communion must be placed in the hands rather than on the tongue.
Even masses for anointing of the sick are on hold.
The Church had previously made a similar ban, but it was removed as H1N1 cases starting to go down.
But cases are up again and the NZ Catholic Bishops Conference once again reissued the restrictions.
Father John Adams, Catholic priest, says while the church takes the mass very seriously, it also wants to be a responsible member of society.
"We need to play our bit in contributing to the safety or the common good of all people so we don't want the church to be a place where swine flu is spread any more readily than anywhere else," says Adams.
But while the churches do their part to take precautions, they have made it clear that at the end of the day, one's health is in God's hands.
"I would say to trust God and be responsible," says Assistant Minister Robin Walsh.
And pray body and soul stay well.
http://tvnz.co.nz/health-news/churches-advising-congregants-h1n1-2791908