Flu Season. Each year around this time questions are brought up about changing our procedures at Mass to avoid spreading germs. Should we suspend the Kiss of Peace until springtime? Should we stop offering the Communion Cup? Let me take a stab at putting this into perspective. I am of the mind that all of life involves taking risks. The key is to decide which ones are worth taking and which ones we should avoid. Is hugging your children worth the risk of catching the germs they bring home from school? Is going out to dinner at a restaurant worth the risk of getting food poisoning? When I travel I don't drink the local water. Montezuma's Revenge is too risky. But I do take the risk of flying or driving (except in Rome!). It's all a matter of weighing the risks. When it comes to germs: they are all around us. Paper money is one of the worst carriers; doorknobs, bathrooms, the water we drink or the air we breathe. If you take care of yourself, eat right, get enough rest, exercise and have a positive outlook then, with reasonable precautions especially washing your hands, you should be able to live through the flu season without being afraid of the people sitting next to you in church. At the same time, if you are infectious for one reason or another the charitable thing to do would be to pray at home. If your immune system is compromised you should avoid both the Kiss of Peace and the Communion Cup. In fact, if you need to be more isolated, let me know. I can turn on the camera for viewing Mass from the Parish Center. That would let you participate at a distance for your own protection.

So, with all this in mind, we will still share the Kiss of Peace at Mass. Those who wish to drink from the Cup may still do so. Those who wish to get rid of dirty money may put it in the collection basket. Do what you need to do and let others do the same. All will be well Fr. Gene