Jump to content

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Catholic Communion Logistics - Need Advice!

Emily928

Recommended Posts

Emily928 Newbie
Emily928
Posted

I am a Catholic and have been diagnosed with Celiac for almost two years. Shortly after my diagnosis I talked to my priest, to explained that it is perfectly okay to receive communion only in the form of wine. I am ok with the risk of cross-contamination from other communicants (and the chalice with the wafer is only given to the Eucharistic Ministers). My question is with the logistics of only receiving wine. I usually just "skip" the wafer line, basically heading over into the wine line before I get to the front, but it's always a little awkward. I don't want to cut in front of the person in front of me, and sometimes the Eucharistic Ministers give me weird looks or even try to get me to receive the wafer. I'm not really interested in the low gluten host as my church is really large and I go to different masses each week. As far as I know, there aren't any other members of my parish with Celiac.

Do you have any strategies for receiving wine that aren't so awkward? Thanks!!

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


kareng Grand Master
kareng
Posted

Our wine holder person is next to the communion wafer person. I follow my row up and when the person in front of me is getting the wafer, I pop over to the wine. I talked to a friend that is a E. Minister & he said they won't think its odd. Maybe your priest could explain to them about skipping the host. Or after mass, tell a couple of them what's going on briefly. I get messed up when the cup with the host piece ends up in my line.

jerseyangel Proficient
jerseyangel
Posted

I agree with Karen--a word to the Eucharistic Ministers from the Priest should do the trick.

TrillumHunter Enthusiast
TrillumHunter
Posted

I do what Kareng does. We always sit up front--second or third pew--to avoid the cc problem. The chalice with the Precious Body ALMOST always goes to the other side. When it does come to my side, I stay in the pew for Spiritual Communion. Remember, we aren't required to receive each week, only to celebrate the Mass.

There should be a coordinator for EMHC listed in your parish directory. I'm sure if you gave them a call, they would include this in the training.

Your doing the right thing and don't let anyone embarrass you. ;)

Looking for answers Contributor
Looking for answers
Posted

If anyone has advice for me I'd appreciate it as well. Communion at my church requires us to take a a piece of the loaf from our pastor and dunk it into the wine. The wine is always full of bread so I haven't been able to participate for a while and it makes me sad.

jerseyangel Proficient
jerseyangel
Posted

If anyone has advice for me I'd appreciate it as well. Communion at my church requires us to take a a piece of the loaf from our pastor and dunk it into the wine. The wine is always full of bread so I haven't been able to participate for a while and it makes me sad.

If you feel comfortable, you could discuss with your Priest if it would be ok for you to purchase a small Chalice for your personal use.

prisskitty Rookie
prisskitty
Posted

If you feel comfortable, you could discuss with your Priest if it would be ok for you to purchase a small Chalice for your personal use.

Not to but in or anything but I'm not religious, so how often do you receive comm?

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


kayo Explorer
kayo
Posted

Could you bring your own gluten-free wafers prior to mass, have the priest bless them, and then bring your own single wafer for communion? You could hand it to the priest/deacon when you approach them and then they could do their thing and hand it back to you. There are some nuns who make gluten free wafers. I'll look for that link/info.

Here's the link. It says low-gluten rather than gluten free so you may want to call:

Open Original Shared Link

conniebky Collaborator
conniebky
Posted

This is an interesting thread. So the wafer definitely gluten laden?

kareng Grand Master
kareng
Posted

If anyone has advice for me I'd appreciate it as well. Communion at my church requires us to take a a piece of the loaf from our pastor and dunk it into the wine. The wine is always full of bread so I haven't been able to participate for a while and it makes me sad.

I have heard that some churches will put out a paper cup of wine for people who can't use the communal cup. Celiac but also, low immune systems from Chemo, etc. Ask at church.

Not to but in or anything but I'm not religious, so how often do you receive comm?

Catholics usually recieve every week.

This is an interesting thread. So the wafer definitely gluten laden?

The wafer is made from wheat. The alternatives still have a touch of wheat in them. Trying to change a tradion in a large religion is difficult. It is thought that if it doesn't contain wheat it isn't like the bread Jesus had at the last supper.

conniebky Collaborator
conniebky
Posted

WEll, I'm just really really sad to hear this. This is something I hadn't even thought about and changes everything for my own private ritual when I take the Eucharist. :(

K8ling Enthusiast
K8ling
Posted

Could you bring your own gluten-free wafers prior to mass, have the priest bless them, and then bring your own single wafer for communion? You could hand it to the priest/deacon when you approach them and then they could do their thing and hand it back to you. There are some nuns who make gluten free wafers. I'll look for that link/info.

Here's the link. It says low-gluten rather than gluten free so you may want to call:

Open Original Shared Link

That's what I do! Fr. Fred has a special little carrier for mine and he keeps it in his pocket. I always go to him for communion. It's like our own little system :). The wine I tend to skip (I am a tiiiiny bit of a germaphobe) but I DO take it at Easter and Christmas.

kareng Grand Master
kareng
Posted

WEll, I'm just really really sad to hear this. This is something I hadn't even thought about and changes everything for my own private ritual when I take the Eucharist. :(

Yeah! I always thought they were made of styrofoam - as little as they resemble bread. :)

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Join eNewsletter
    Donate
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):



    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):



  • Recent Activity

    1. Scott Adams
      - Scott Adams replied to Known1's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      8

      Reverse Osmosis (RO) Water

      It’s understandable to want to be cautious, especially after experiencing symptoms. However, there is currently no scientific evidence that reverse osmosis or standard activated carbon water filters expose people to gluten in amounts that would trigger celiac disease. Gluten is a protein, and if any starch-based binder were used in filter manufacturing, ...
    2. Scott Adams
      - Scott Adams replied to JoJo0611's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      3

      Yeast extract

      It’s understandable to look for bigger explanations when you’re dealing with complex symptoms, but the current scientific consensus does not support the idea that celiac disease evolved as a defense against Candida. Celiac disease is a well-characterized autoimmune condition triggered specifically by gluten in genetically susceptible individuals (HLA-DQ2...
    3. Scott Adams
      - Scott Adams replied to dsfraley's topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease
      14

      9 y/o Son Diagnosed with Celiac Disease; Persistent Symptoms: Does this Sound Familiar?

      It sounds like you’ve put a lot of effort into tracking patterns, and that kind of awareness can be helpful. With celiac disease specifically, though, the only confirmed immune trigger is gluten. Reactions to dairy are common after diagnosis because intestinal damage can temporarily reduce lactase, leading to lactose intolerance — but that’s different from ...
    4. Scott Adams
      - Scott Adams replied to YoshiLuckyJackpotWinner888's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      1

      Water filters are a potential problem for Celiac Disease

      I completely understand wanting to track down every possible source of exposure after a celiac diagnosis, especially when symptoms are distinct and repeatable. That said, there’s currently no credible evidence that bottled water — including filtered water products like Gatorade water — contains gluten from filter materials. Activated carbon filters are t...
    5. YoshiLuckyJackpotWinner888
      - YoshiLuckyJackpotWinner888 replied to Known1's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      8

      Reverse Osmosis (RO) Water

      I found out the hard way that water filters can have starch binders that bind the charcoal used in the filter. Grain starch or gluten can be present in the filter. I’ve been exposed and had reactions. Steam distilled water is safe. Not all places have the distilled gallon containers commonly sold, but smart water is steam distilled and has been safe s...
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):

  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      133,570
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Chanty
    Newest Member
    Chanty
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.6k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):

  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Scott Adams
      Reverse Osmosis (RO) Water

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      It’s understandable to want to be cautious, especially after experiencing symptoms. However, there is currently no scientific evidence that reverse osmosis or standard activated carbon water filters expose people to gluten in amounts that would trigger celiac disease. Gluten is a protein, and if any starch-based binder were used in filter manufacturing, it would not pass through RO membranes or remain in finished bottled water at clinically meaningful levels. Plain water — filtered, RO, or bottled — does not contain gluten unless it is intentionally added (which would require labeling). Steam-distilled water is certainly safe, but it is not considered medically necessary for people with celiac disease. If reactions are occurring, it may be helpful to explore other potential explanations with a healthcare provider rather than assuming filter-related gluten exposure.
    • Scott Adams
      Yeast extract

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      It’s understandable to look for bigger explanations when you’re dealing with complex symptoms, but the current scientific consensus does not support the idea that celiac disease evolved as a defense against Candida. Celiac disease is a well-characterized autoimmune condition triggered specifically by gluten in genetically susceptible individuals (HLA-DQ2 or HLA-DQ8). While some laboratory studies have shown that certain Candida proteins (like Hwp1) share limited sequence similarities with gluten or tissue transglutaminase (tTG), that does not mean Candida causes celiac disease or commonly produces false-positive tTG tests in clinical practice. Anti-tTG IgA remains a highly specific and validated marker for celiac when used appropriately (especially alongside total IgA testing and, when indicated, biopsy). IgG antibodies to Saccharomyces cerevisiae (ASCA) are more commonly associated with Crohn’s disease and are not considered diagnostic for celiac. There is ongoing research into microbiome interactions and immune cross-reactivity, but at this time there is no evidence that yeast exposure from foods triggers celiac autoimmunity in people without gluten exposure. If symptoms persist despite a strict gluten-free diet, it’s best to work with a gastroenterologist to rule out other conditions such as IBD, SIBO, non-celiac food intolerances, or refractory celiac disease rather than assuming a fungal-driven mechanism.
    • Scott Adams
      9 y/o Son Diagnosed with Celiac Disease; Persistent Symptoms: Does this Sound Familiar?

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      It sounds like you’ve put a lot of effort into tracking patterns, and that kind of awareness can be helpful. With celiac disease specifically, though, the only confirmed immune trigger is gluten. Reactions to dairy are common after diagnosis because intestinal damage can temporarily reduce lactase, leading to lactose intolerance — but that’s different from casein sensitivity. IgG food panels, including yeast, are generally considered markers of exposure rather than proof of clinical intolerance. Aged cheeses like Irish cheddar are typically gluten-free, though they do contain casein and natural cultures. If symptoms are strong and repeatable, it may be worth working with a gastroenterologist or allergist to sort out true allergies, intolerances, or other GI conditions rather than assuming multiple cross-reactive immune triggers.
    • Scott Adams
      Water filters are a potential problem for Celiac Disease

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      I completely understand wanting to track down every possible source of exposure after a celiac diagnosis, especially when symptoms are distinct and repeatable. That said, there’s currently no credible evidence that bottled water — including filtered water products like Gatorade water — contains gluten from filter materials. Activated carbon filters are typically bound with food-grade binders, and if any starch were used in manufacturing, it would not remain in the finished water at measurable or biologically active levels. Plain water itself does not contain protein, and gluten is a protein. Major beverage companies also have strict allergen control programs, and gluten would need to be declared if intentionally added. If symptoms are occurring consistently after certain products, it may be worth discussing with a physician to explore other potential triggers, but at this time distilled water is not considered medically necessary for people with celiac disease.
    • YoshiLuckyJackpotWinner888
      Reverse Osmosis (RO) Water

      By YoshiLuckyJackpotWinner888 · Posted

      I found out the hard way that water filters can have starch binders that bind the charcoal used in the filter.  Grain starch or gluten can be present in the filter. I’ve been exposed and had reactions.  Steam distilled water is safe.  Not all places have the distilled gallon containers commonly sold, but smart water is steam distilled and has been safe so far.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.