By Marta Hepler Drahos
TRAVERSE CITY -- They may be known for their Gladhander fundraiser, but members of St. Francis parish aren't doing much glad-handing at Mass these days.
In an effort to keep the H1N1 virus at bay, church-goers are simply smiling and nodding at one another as they exchange the sign of peace.
Eliminating hand-shaking at services is just one change brought about at the church in recent weeks by the outbreak of flu in the area, said Parish Nurse Sue Burke. The church also removed the holy water in which the faithful dip their fingers, suspended drinking from the community cup at communion and is asking parishioners not to receive communion on the tongue.
"Because of this flu epidemic we're not distributing the cup at all. People are just receiving the host," said Burke, whose parish includes some 1,800 families. "As Catholics we believe that Christ is present in both but it isn't necessary to have both."
St. Francis parishioner Lisa Hathaway is the mother of one child diagnosed with H1N1 and another who is sick. While she hates the temporary changes at church, she said she recognizes the need for them.
"Initially it's weird but you understand why," said Hathaway, whose 9-year-old son missed nearly two weeks of school while ill. "I'm also a teacher, so when the school closed it was surreal."
Nationwide, the spread of seasonal and swine flu is causing many churches to revise their services and policies. Some Jewish congregations are asking people not to kiss each other during part of the service but instead to gently blow each other a kiss. Some Episcopalians are wiping the common cup with 80 percent vodka to kill any germs.
When the swine flu began to make its appearance a year or two ago, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops updated their guidelines for dealing with illness in general to reflect the H1N1 virus, said Candace Neff, director of communications for the Diocese of Gaylord. Last summer, in response to concerns from some of its 81 parishes, the northern Michigan diocese's Bishop Patrick R. Cooney asked parishes to continue to follow those guidelines.
More recently, as both seasonal and H1N1 cases began cropping up, the diocese reviewed its plans again. On Oct. 21 the Rev. Duane Wachowiak, director of the secretariat for worship and liturgical formation, distributed additional information and "Level I" measures that may be taken in local parishes where there has been an increase of flu.
Encouraging the faithful who are ill to stay away from services is one such measure.
"Remember, there's always an excuse for not coming to church," the Rev. Kenneth Stachnik told worshipers at St. Francis before an Oct. 31 Mass. "If you're sick, please stay home."
The diocese also postponed diocesan-wide youth rally and appreciation events scheduled for this weekend because outbreaks of flu in the region appeared to be affecting planned attendance.
At the Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Traverse City, hand-shaking and hand-holding during services have been on the decline for about a year, and not just because of H1N1 concerns, said the Rev. Chip Roush.
"We've got some physicians and other health care workers that have pointed out it's not the best thing," Roush said, referring to the congregation of about 220. "But with H1N1 specifically, that's when it was clearest."
Now only Roush and choir members, who traditionally close their weekly rehearsals by holding hands and singing, make physical contact.
"I still shake hands and give hugs, because for some people it's the only contact they have all week," Roush said. "But I make sure to use soap and hand sanitizer before and after."
Hand sanitizing has long been standard practice among clergy and religious education leaders, especially those who distribute communion.
"We've had seven hand sanitizer dispensers around church for two years, so it's not that we haven't done some of these things," St. Francis' Burke said. Still, nobody complained when further measures to reduce the spread of germs were implemented.
"I'm sure they were all delighted that this was looked at and suggested," she said. "Anybody with any sense at all wants to stay healthy."
Leaders at Grace Episcopal Church have talked about the flu but have not altered communion services or received recommendations because of it, said Parish Administrator Ann Hackett. Communion is still celebrated by passing a cup of wine from which congregants can sip or dip consecrated bread.
"By and large I think people are using their own personal judgment and exercising their own intuitive moves toward health practices," she said, noting that communicants are free to pass on the cup.
About 200 attend services on a typical weekend and Hackett said the church has noticed no changes in attendance.
"Even in our church school classes for children we have not noticed any change in attendance," she said. "I guess we're lucky."
