Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis

Influenza viruses are spread through contact with an infected person’s bodily fluids. This contact occurs through inhalation or by touching a surface contaminated with the virus.

The following eight practices will help prevent the spread of illness at Mass. While these practices are strictly voluntary, in the interest of Christian charity, all persons are strongly urged to follow them.

1. If you suspect you are sick, stay at home and do not attend Mass until you feel healthy. Missing Mass due to illness is not sinful; it is prudent and shows a respect for your brothers and sisters. Stay at home, watch Mass on television or the Internet, pray devotional prayers such as the rosary or the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, make a spiritual Communion, etc.

2. During Mass, at the Sign of Peace, you may choose to simply say “Peace be with you,” without offering your hand.

3. During Communion, you may elect to receive the Blessed Sacrament in the consecrated host and not receive the Precious Blood from the chalice.

4. Ministers of Holy Communion should wash their hands with soap and water or sanitize their hands with an alcohol-based sanitizer prior to distributing Communion. The use of hand sanitizers, even during Mass, is acceptable for all ministers of Holy Communion, including priests and deacons.

5. Reception of the Blessed Sacrament in the hand is the best way to reduce the possibility of flu virus transmission.

6. Following the celebration of each Mass, after the vessels have been properly purified, the sacristans should wash the vessels with hot, soapy water, then towel dry them, and put them away.

7. While scientific evidence is inconclusive at this point, some health professionals recommend taking precautions when using holy water. Water from the fonts should not be ingested, nor should it enter the body via the eyes or nose.

8. Practice good hygiene: sneeze or cough into a tissue or upper sleeve, not your hands; wash hands frequently with soap and water and scrub for at least 30 seconds; avoid the transmittal of mucus or other bodily fluids; refrain from shaking hands; refrain from sharing a common cup; and above all, if you feel sick, do not come to places where you might infect others.

Archbishop Nienstedt has directed that the Precious Blood cease from being offered from the shared chalice at all school Masses immediately, effective September 17, 2009.

Should archdiocesan-wide liturgical directives become necessary, those directives will be posted here and communicated to all parishes in the Archdiocese.

General questions regarding the Archdiocese's response to H1N1 or regarding parish or school response to H1N1 should be directed to 651-251-7742 or H1N1@archspm.org

What is H1N1?

Novel H1N1 is an influenza virus against which some people have no natural antibody resistance. This new virus was first detected in people in the United States in April 2009. This virus is spreading from person-to-person worldwide, probably in much the same way that regular seasonal influenza viruses spread. On June 11, 2009, the World Health Organization (WHO) signaled that a pandemic of novel H1N1 flu was underway.

An H1N1vaccine is currently available in limited supply. Please contact your healthcare provider for additional information.

H1N1 Symptoms:

The symptoms of novel H1N1 flu virus in people include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. A significant number of people who have been infected with this virus also have reported diarrhea and vomiting.

Illness with the new H1N1 virus has ranged from mild to severe. While most people who have been sick have recovered without needing medical treatment, hospitalizations and deaths from infection with this virus have occurred.

Help Prevent the Spread of H1N1

Take these everyday steps to protect your health:

Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
If you are sick with flu-like illness, CDC recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. Your fever should be gone for at least 24 hours without the use of a fever-reducing medicine. While you are ill, stay away from others as much as possible to avoid making others sick.

Updated 11/13/09

H1N1 general contact:
Tel: 651.251.7742, Email: H1N1@archspm.org