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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.
Sincerely yours in Christ the Redeemer,
Most Rev. Gerard Pettipas, C.Ss.R.
Archbishop of Grouard-McLennan