5/2/06

Gluten free hosts.

I have been asked for Gluten free Communion bread for a member of the congregation. Has anyone experience of how to present it for consecration so that it does not become contaminated by the other wafers or the priest's hands (having handled the Priest's wafer)? I have though of placing it in a small glass dish (like those for individual butter pats) Thank you in anticipation.

Jenni Stenhouse, Taunton

REPLIES

6/2/06

I think one of the things that you first need to do is to consider whether or not you are going to use gluten free hosts.

These are, as far as I am aware, not allowed by canon law and so you really should be explaining that reception in one kind is an acceptable alternative.

However, for pastoral reasons and in some parishes this does happen and so it is also good to be clear about the vessel in which it is to be placed - I hesitate to use the word consecrated as I'm not convinced that will happen.

Anything that is used for the offertory gifts should be placed in a metal container - not glass - and I have seen gluten free hosts (because they are usually a different shape) being placed in the normal ciboria. If you want to put it in a different vessel, I think a separate paten, to one side on the paten, or in a small ciboria or pyx would be the best option.

Hope this is helpful. Please do explore the reception in one kind route - it's a common misunderstanding that this isn't a full appreciation of the Eucharist - it is!

Councillor David Froud - 6/2/06

I think you will find the information on this site of use. http://carrick.gmxhome.de/StUrsulas/Vestry/Setup.html

I think you can assume the amount of transfer on the celebrant's hands will be small but it does depend on the Fraction and whether his thumb and fingers remain joined. He will not normally have touched the gluten-free wafers.

David Froud Cllr PG10

Fr Donald Membery SSC - 6/2/06

Unless the recipient is a chronic Celiac the amount of wheat flour is minimal on the Priest's fingers, and is not a problem.

At St Wilfrid's Church, Harehills Leeds there has been a Celiac communicant for the past 20 plus years. The gluten free wafers are placed in a pyx and are consecrated in the pyx. Usually 6 wafers are consecrated at a time. The pyx is stored in the Aumbry with the other Ciborium.

At the time of communion of the 'special' communicant a server brings the pyx from the altar stands just ahead of the priest administering the Hosts. The Priest takes a consecrated wafer from the pyx and gives it to the 'special' communicant.

A source of Gluten Free wafers is Saint Clare Altar Breads, St. Mary's Convent, Freeland, Witney OX29 8AJ.

There is no charge made but the cost (to make) 50 wafers is about £1 and post and packing costs about £1. The Sisters are happy with postage stamps as a donation towards the cost.

The wafers are square and cut by hand to prevent contamination with wheat flour. -- Fr Donald Membery SSC 11 Carr Manor Gardens Leeds LS17 5DQ Tel: 0113 269 1578 e-mail: e mail Fr Donald Membery

David Froud - 6/2/06

The question of the validity of the consecration of gluten-free hosts raises some other pastoral comments.

When Francis Xavier travelled to Japan he used the local elements of rice rather than bread to celebrate the Mass.

Similarly when Bonhoeffer asked that the Miracle of Cana be repeated when there was no wine available in the concentration camp he used water.

Were all these communicants deceived?

When Jesus was accused of eating the showbread, He made an appropriate reply. The Guild should be supporting members and communicants.

David Froud Cllr PG10 

Peter Hooper - 6/2/06

We have a member of our congregation who has a gluten-free host, we leave on the Paten on the Alter until they come forward to receive. We have had no complaints about cross contamination. It is not reasonable to expect the administrator to wash in between giving the host between people

Peter Hooper

Jenni Stenhouse - 6/2/06

Thank you to all who have replied, your comments have been very helpful.

Jennie 

Elizabeth Field 7/2/06

We have two members of our congregation who have gluten free hosts. We put them on a separate paten which is placed on the altar with the ciborium at the consecration and handed to the celebrant by a server at the appropriate time of the administration.. There do not seem to have been any problems with this. A gluten free wafer is also put in the aumbry in case of an emergency. 

Elizabeth Field St, Laurence, Reading PG9

10/2/06

Servers should not handle a paten containing consecrated hosts. Gluten free wafers are available from most church suppliers these days.

Mary Kathryn - 10/3/06

I just posted a page concerning this at http://greenscapular.motime.com, one of my sites, for 09 March 2006.

The Hosts hand made by the Benedictine Sisters of Perpetual Adoration http://www.benedictinesisters.org in Clyde MO e mail Benedictine Sisters  are APPROVED BY THE VATICAN, AND THE US BISHOPS and may be used without further chancery approval throughout the USA. 

Benedictine Sisters of Perpetual Adoration Altar Bread Department 31970 State Hwy P Clyde MO 64432 www.benedictinesisters.org They are valid due to 1/2% gluten, yet will not cause any severe celiacs any problem. 

Mary Kathryn, hermit

Mary Kathryn - 10/3/06

Contrary to some of your repliers, Gluten Free Hosts available from most church supply stores contain RICE and are not valid for consecration, whereas the ones from the Benedictine Sisters of Perpetual Adoration are approved by Vatican and US Bishops Conference.

Best way is for the communicant to present the gluten free host in his/her own pix before Mass starts, and it is returned at time for Holy Communion. 

BREADS CONTAINING RICE ARE INVALID FOR CONSECRATION. 

Mary Kathryn, hermit

David Callender - 12/6/06

When I was a verger at St Martin-in-the-fields we had a member of the congregation who was on a gluten free diet who had to have gluten free wafers.
All we did is
1. a supply was kept in the Sacristy in a separate container
2. on the Sundays we knew she was coming a wafer was placed in a pyx and left on the credence table. At the offertory it was placed on the altar at the appropriate time and was communicated to her in the normal way, From memory I believe the celebrant left it in the ciborium slightly to one side.
David M Callender
Ps we did initially have considerable trouble locating a supplier but did eventually find one but have forgotten who it was I am afraid

Sheryl S - 11/7/06

I am celiac and cannot have any gluten whatsoever. My church has been very accepting of my difference. On the Sunday that we do the loaf of bread, there is rice wafer placed on a separate plate and it is slid into my hand by the communion assistant. On the Sunday that we do Intinction (dipping the bread into the wine) in order to eliminate the cross contamination, we either all use the rice wafers or I make the bread. 
Sheryl S. Iowa USA

31/5/08

Ruth Longhurst - 20/2/10

We have a lady at our church who brings her own bread to the service and it is placed in a Pyx and brought up at the offertory. We also have a small chalice with a small quantity of wine, both are then consecrated with the main Host and offered by the Priest to the lady concerned.
While the Priest administers, a assistant then holds the paten while the lady receives, and the assistant returns the pyx and small chalice to the table ready for the ablutions
Ruth Longhurst
St Francis
 Ipswich