The Sacrament may be received without restriction both on the tongue and in the hand at the decision of the person who is distributing Holy Communion. The Archbishop leaves it to each minister distributing the Sacrament to determine whether they feel comfortable doing so on the tongue at this stage. Everyone is asked to be patient – we have a number of clergy and people who are in a high-risk category for their health due to age or other factors, so the lifting of this provision is subject to the minister in each circumstance. Ministers are asked to show care and regard for communicants, most of whom have not been at Mass in any regular way for most of the year.
The following directions are recommended:
The Priest or (minister) and Communicant.
In Regional Victoria and Metropolitan Melbourne as follows: Face Coverings are to be worn for the distribution of Holy Communion.
- – Communicants are only to receive the Host, there is to be no sharing of the Chalice.
- – Instructions on receiving Holy Communion should be given to communicants at the time of the Fraction Rite.
- – Minister sanitises hands before beginning distribution.
- – Each communicant comes forward to a place approximately 1.5metres away from the minister and removes one side of their face covering and sanitises their hands at a sanitation station provided nearby.
- – The communicant then enters into dialogue with the minister: “Body of Christ”; “Amen.” from the 1.5 metre distance.
- – Minister places the host slightly above the outstretched and flat hands of the communicant who receives the Blessed Sacrament then steps to the side to place the host on their tongue.
- – The communicant replaces their face covering and returns to their seat.
- – During the distribution of Communion, if the minister makes physical contact with the communicant, the minister will be required to sanitise his hand thoroughly. For such sanitisation to be possible, a table with hand sanitiser should also be placed in proximity to the minister distributing Communion.
- – Minister must sanitise their hands after completing distribution.
- – Those receiving Holy Communion on the tongue should berequested to present last. It is advised that sanitation take place between each communicant in this instance.
More can be found here
Given the situation we are deciding to distribute communion on hands.
