How to Reduce the Risk of Cross-Contamination

• What is cross contamination? 

  • "Inadvertent transfer of other contaminants from one surface, substance, etc., to another, especially because of unsanitary handling procedures" (Merriam-Webster). 

• A member of the medical staff of The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia states that for proper safety, "a step-by-step sanitation process is necessary to wash hands with soap and warm water for at least twenty seconds."

• Ensuring the low-gluten host doesn't come in contact with a gluten host is crucial; use a separate ciborium if there is sufficient need, or an individual pyx.

• If using a ciborium for the low-gluten host, the Extraordinary Minister, deacon, or priest should receive their gluten host on the tongue to safely distribute consecrated low-gluten hosts.

• If using a pyx, dispense the consecrated low-gluten host from pyx by flipping the pyx over without touching the host into the hands of the recipient.

Different Ways to Distribute a Low-Gluten Host

1.  Have a designated Extraordinary Minister, priest, or deacon distribute entirely low-gluten hosts from a ciborium with clean, washed hands (this would work better if there is a high demand for low gluten hosts)

2.  Have the Extraordinary Minister, priest, or deacon receive the gluten host on the tongue so he/she can safely distribute consecrated low-gluten hosts by hand (to reduce the risk of cross-contamination)

3. Have the Extraordinary Minister, priest, or deacon distribute the low-gluten host from a pyx (without touching the host) by flipping the host from the pyx into the recipient's hands

4. Receiving the Precious Blood from an uncontaminated chalice

*It is important to note that the Fraction Rite should not take place over a low-gluten pyx or ciborium or designated chalice*

The United States Conferences of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), Code of Canon Law (924 §2) states: "The bread must be made of wheat alone (mere triticeus) and recently made so that there is no danger of corruption."

Approved by the Vatican and the USCCB, the Benedictine Sisters of Perpetual Adoration developed a Communion host that is extremely low in gluten, made from gelatinized wheat starch. The Secretariat for the Liturgy of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has stated that these hosts meet the requirements of the Code of Canon Law (924 §2) and may be validly used at the celebration of the Eucharist with permission of the person's pastor.

My Experience in the Church 

• After I got diagnosed, my mother and my grandmother made sure that I had low-gluten hosts to fully participate in the mass

• Oftentimes, when I travel to a new parish, I feel disconnected because I don’t receive the Eucharist due to…

  • Fear of talking to a stranger

  • Not seeing any information about low-gluten hosts so automatically assuming there is nothing available to me

• I want to make those with gluten issues more comfortable with speaking up to receive the Eucharist, and I hope my project can help 

How Can You Help?

• Spread awareness of Celiac Disease and tell people to be on the lookout for signs and symptoms

• See if anyone in your parish is affected by Celiac Disease

• Implementing the availability of low-gluten hosts or uncontaminated Precious Blood to those with Celiac Disease or gluten intolerance at each Mass

• Pray!