H1N1 prompts changes in Catholic church

LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - The Lafayette diocese of the Catholic church has made some changes to their traditional service after the World Health Organization warned of the dangers surrounding the H1N1 pandemic.

At Mass, Catholics typically show love to their neighbors with hugs or handshakes, but that's no longer the case at St. Mary's Cathedral in Lafayette. The Lafayette diocese postponed the Kiss of Peace, eliminating hand shaking. During the Lord's Prayer, there is to be no hand holding. The common cup of wine during communion is now gone and parishioners cannot receive communion on their tongue, only in their hand.

Kelly Jacobs, a parishoner and West Lafayette resident, said she was surprised by the changes.

"It was a little shocking. I didn't realize it was as serious as it was, so, it was a little disheartening. But I knew that we needed to keep everybody safe," said Jacobs.

Outreach coordinator Helen Hession said the move is a proactive one.

"Within the last month the diocese as a whole has decided that it would be best with the current situation, that we make these changes for the health of everyone here in the community," Hession said.

Now that portions of Mass have been cut, the service is a little shorter, and lifelong member Nic Schrader said he knows there's something missing.

"You have these points in mass where you're supposed to do things and it's just you're used to doing it and it just gets cut off. You're like wait, where'd that point go? Weren't we supposed to do something there? Overall, it's not a huge deal, but it's definitely different," said Schrader.

Usher Gene King feels health officials reacted too seriously.  He said family members should at least be able to hold hands at church.

"I think the World Health Organization's kind of jumping the gun on the whole thing. Six cases in Tippecanoe County, as far as I'm concerned, that's not an epidemic," said King.

"We all come for a common purpose and that's praising God, so we still celebrate the liturgy," Hession said.

Hession added that the church would return to its normal operation once the H1N1 pandemic was over.