Even above the music, you can hear that many people aren't feeling well at some Wichita churches. Father Matthew McGinness at St. Thomas Aquinas says, "We are very concerned for the spread of germs and people are always hitting me up and saying Father, I don't want to shake hands. I've been sick or I don't want to get sick again, that sort of thing." That's why some Wichita priests are taking action by making changes to mass. Church of the Magdalen parishioner Diana Ensign says, "I thank them. I think it's great."
Father McGuiness asked his parishioners not to offer the normal sign of peace. He says, "We do want to protect people and so we're not shaking hands."
Over at Church of the Magdalen, the common cup will not be part of communion until the outbreak dies down. Ensign says, "I think it's good because I have a son who's diabetic and it's a precaution that we usually like to take to make sure that we don't pass germs around or attract any." Parishioner Quirino Gutierrez says, "There are so much sick people and the virus is pretty bad."
Church leaders setup bottles of disinfectant around both buildings because they know, even with the extra precautions, the flu can still spread. Parishioner Tom Severs says, "I'm a big believer in public health. Get your flu shots, it takes care of everybody. The infants, the old, the sick, public health is good."
St. Thomas Aquinas will still offer the common cup at communion, but Father McGuiness asks those who are sick to not approach the cup.
Father McGuiness asked his parishioners not to offer the normal sign of peace. He says, "We do want to protect people and so we're not shaking hands."
Over at Church of the Magdalen, the common cup will not be part of communion until the outbreak dies down. Ensign says, "I think it's good because I have a son who's diabetic and it's a precaution that we usually like to take to make sure that we don't pass germs around or attract any." Parishioner Quirino Gutierrez says, "There are so much sick people and the virus is pretty bad."
Church leaders setup bottles of disinfectant around both buildings because they know, even with the extra precautions, the flu can still spread. Parishioner Tom Severs says, "I'm a big believer in public health. Get your flu shots, it takes care of everybody. The infants, the old, the sick, public health is good."
St. Thomas Aquinas will still offer the common cup at communion, but Father McGuiness asks those who are sick to not approach the cup.
