Why holy water, wine was missing from many metro Detroit Catholic churches last weekend

Holy water fonts were dry at many Catholic churches in metro Detroit last weekend.

Missing, too, was the customary sharing of wine from a community cup, which the Catholic faithful believe is the holy blood of Christ.

Some churches bypassed the customary handshake or embrace during the Sign of Peace and hand-holding during the recitation of the "Our Father" prayer. 

They're all precautions the Archdiocese of Detroit is urging its 218 parishes and Catholic schools to consider, given the worldwide coronavirus outbreak. 

"We are preparing for any potential impact on our parishes, schools, and other ministries, and will follow any recommendations from local, state and federal officials," said Holly Fournier, a spokeswoman for the archdiocese. "In the event that the virus is detected locally, we will communicate detailed plans and provide further assistance to our communities."

Email messages were sent late last week to pastors and Catholic school principals, urging them to spread the word to the 1.3 million Catholics in southeastern Michigan that they should stay home if they're sick, and that missing Mass isn't a sin. 

"Ensure your community that in this cold/flu season, and especially in light of concerns about coronavirus, an individual does not commit any sin by avoiding Mass to protect others from potential spread of illness," the Rev. Jeff Day, vicar general and moderator of the Curia, wrote in an email message to pastors, outlining a host of measures the archdiocese is taking to prevent the spread of the virus. 

Related:

The old, sick are most vulnerable in coronavirus outbreak. Here's how to keep them safe.

Kevin Kijewski, superintendent of the 86 Catholic schools in the archdiocese, sent a message to principals, too, detailing the steps they should take to prevent the spread of disease and protect students and staff.

Among those steps is to clean and disinfect commonly touched surfaces daily, and enact a strict policy to send home students and staff who have respiratory or flu-like symptoms. In addition, he wrote: 

"We are advising schools to implement the following preparedness measures:

• Update emergency plans and ensure all contact lists are up to date. If you do not already have a Pandemic Plan, we encourage you to develop one.
• Monitor daily attendance for flu-like illness and absences. Report to your local Health Department whenever you experience 10% or greater school absenteeism, including staff. Please include us on decisions to close school.
• All sick employees and students should stay home. Plan ahead for extended school closures, staffing shortages, and the possibility of offering online school options.
• Implement good hand hygiene practices. Instill hand-washing importance. Place hand sanitizers in all classrooms and offices. Encourage children to bring in hand sanitizers.
• Share information on your websites, social media, and newsletters. Suggestions include facts sheets and posters available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)."

As of Tuesday afternoon, there were no confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus in Michigan. There were, however, 118 cases nationally and nine deaths. 

At St. Mary Catholic Church in Greektown on Sunday, Michelle Pierron, president of of the Parish Council, said it makes sense to take commonsense precautions now. 

"Typically what happens is people become aware, and it is usually influenza, they just say, 'Well it just makes sense to take precautions,' " said Pierron, who also is a semi-retired pediatrician.  

"Come to Mass as you feel comfortable, but perhaps be a little more mindful about cough(ing) into your elbow ... maybe don't even shake hands."

And when it comes to deciding whether to go to church on Sunday, she said it's a personal decision.

"It is kind of like, the roads are bad, should I go to church? One person might say, 'I'm not going. They are too bad.' Churches don't close like schools. They are going to be open. It is the same thing with the influenza threat or threat of some other illness. I might say, 'I'm perfectly healthy. I am going to go.'

"I am maybe not going to shake hands, make sure I've got my hand sanitizer, wipe my hands a little more often. But another person who is more anxious about it or has an underlying health issue might say, 'I'm not going anywhere where there is crowds.' "

Randy Bowers, 62, operations manager at St. Mary Catholic Church in Greektown, said these precautions are measures that the church would take anytime there is an outbreak of any virus, including flu. 

He said he hopes people will take the guidance to heart, and that they won't panic. 

"I think if everybody does what they are saying to do and taking normal precautions, we will get right past it," he said. 

 "The big thing people are stressing is to not spread fear among people."

Contact Kristen Jordan Shamus: 313-222-5997 or kshamus@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @kristenshamus.