Friday April 19th, 2024
Since COVID restrictions were lifted, I have wondered and several of you have
asked, “when can we restore Communion under both species?”
I believe we have come to the point of being able to restore Communion from
the Cup in our archdiocese, barring, of course, that there is not another similar
outbreak or pandemic in the future. I have chosen the Solemnity of the Most Holy
Body and Blood of Christ on June 2nd, also known as Corpus Christi, as the date on
which to restore this practice in our Archdiocese. I am happy to share this good
news with you all.
I realize that, in some parishes, it may not be possible to re-introduce reception
of the Precious Blood, due to a lack of extraordinary ministers. Other parishes may
have several things to do before being ready to re-introduce this practice, such as the
re-training of their extraordinary ministers and ensuring they have proper amounts
of communion wine. For this reason, I leave it up to the pastor, in consultation with
his parish council and staff, on how to best proceed.
We hope you will welcome this news with humble hearts as we prepare to share
together in the body and blood of Our Lord, and so unify ourselves ever more
intimately as members of His Mystical Body – the Church.
Yours sincerely in Christ the Redeemer,
Most Rev. Gerard Pettipas, C.Ss.R.
Archbishop of Grouard-McLennan
