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Priests around the country have been taking precautions due to the threat of the flu and coronavirus.
While some efforts have been made in asking the congregation to pray for peace instead of offering a handshake and changing out holy water, many priests are wary of causing panic in their parish.
Fr Tom Clowe PP of Crumlin said the parish were asking people to instead pray for peace as well as replacing the holy water after every mass. They also have hand sanitiser at the ready.
The Dublin Archdiocese published guidance for its parishes on how they could take steps to prevent the spread seasonal flu in early February.
Flu season
Fr Dominic Meehan CC of Templemore, Clonmore and Killea in Tipperary says he hasn’t yet taken any precaution. “I think there’s more likelihood of picking up infections from door handles or from money then from shaking hands,” he said, but still thinks it is wise to be prudent around flu season.
“I think people are under the impression that if they don’t offer a handshake during the sign of peace then they might be perceived as being rude.
“People are very under-standing, particularly thro-ughout the year members of the congregation may be going through chemotherapy, their immune systems might be low.”
Fr Joe McDonald PP of Ballyfermot also said he hasn’t taken any precautions, he feels there can be an unhealthy extreme that he didn’t want to encourage.
Fr Arnold Rosney PP from St Senan’s Parish, Shannon, reiterated this feeling of not wanting to cause panic among parishioners.
In Frosses, Co. Donegal, Fr James Sweeny told The Irish Catholic that they stopped handshakes over a year ago due to the flu: “We found certainly in the country, a lot of people actually don’t like it.” Fr Patrick McGinn PP of Monaghan said this was the case for them as well.
In DCU, where there are a large number of Chinese students and students who have returned from studies there due to the outbreak, Fr Seamus McEntee has said they are using hand sanitiser and, like everyone, keeping a close eye on news of the virus.
