Parishioners at Immaculate Conception Church, St. James and other local Catholic churches may notice something different on Sunday.
The Archdiocese of Boston announced this week that it is allowing priests to suspend the distribution of wine from a common chalice during Communion as a precaution because of the recent flu outbreak, The Boston Globe reported.
Churches were also notified that parishioners could exchange a sign of peace by “bowing to nearby parishioners instead of shaking hands,” reported The Globe.
Earlier this week, Boston Mayor Thomas Menino declared a state of health emergency because of the flu outbreak and some nearby communities have also ran out of flu vaccine.
It is still available in Stoughton, however. The Stoughton Visiting Nurses hold weekly flu shot clinics from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m. on Thursdays in their office on the second floor of Town Hall. Flu shots are available at the VNA at other times as well; call 781-344-7011 to confirm a nurse is available.