The Santa Clara County Public Health Department has informed our diocese of an increase in the transmission of the H1N1 flu virus throughout the County. In response to the request by the Office of Public Health our bishop Patrick McGrath is asking all our parishes, missions, schools, and religious communities to implement immediately the following temporary adaptations to the liturgy, until further notice:

• Ministers, including clergy and ministers of hospitality, are asked not to shake hands when they greet parishioners.
• The faithful should be encouraged to refrain from holding hands during the recitation or singing of the Lord's Prayer.
• The faithful should be encouraged to share the Sign of Peace in ways other than shaking hands or touching. A reverent bow to each other might be suggested.
  All who distribute Holy Communion, both clergy and extraordinary ministers, as well as those who minister to the sick and homebound, are to wash their hands with an alcohol-based anti-bacterial solution before and after they administer the Sacrament
• Holy Communion is to be distributed only under the species of the consecrated bread.
  Holy Communion should be distributed only into the hands of communicants and not on the tongue.

When appropriate, we will return to our normative liturgical practices, which highly value full participation in the Eucharist through the sharing of the cup and generous signs of hospitality, reconciliation, and unity.