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For three decades, students at elite Chaminade High School in Mineola could
receive Communion during a 15-minute "Communion Service" just before lunch.

But that practice will end following a pastoral letter Bishop William Murphy
is releasing today prohibiting Catholic schools, parishes and other
institutions from distributing Holy Communion at most non-Mass events.

Several schools and parishes who take part in the practice said yesterday
they would abide by the bishop's order. Some said they were nonetheless
disappointed, while some church analysts such as papal biographer David
Gibson suggested it was a move by Murphy to "tighten up" and crack down on
nontraditional practices.

But others saw it as an opportunity to reflect on the sacrament of Holy
Communion and head off what may be a trend among some Catholics to take it
too casually.

"I think it's positive and something to be embraced," said the Rev. James
Williams, president of Chaminade. "The bishop is the teaching arm of the
church."

In his eight-page pastoral letter, his seventh since becoming the spiritual
leader of Long Island's 1.4 million Catholics in 2001, Murphy said he was
ordering the Communion service practice to end by July 1.

That, he said, would bring the Diocese of Rockville Centre "into conformity
with the liturgical norms of the Church." The order will not affect
practices such as nonpriests' giving Communion to sick people at home or in
hospitals.

"The Eucharist is the greatest gift Jesus left us," Murphy wrote. "The
celebration of the Eucharist gives us our identity as well as our life."

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Hi<br><div class="gmail_quote"><br>No, I won't forward the internet, but I think this one deserves to be sent here too.  No more from me today unless something very exciting happens.<br><br>Bye,<br><font color="#888888">Stephen <br>
</font><div><div></div><div class="Wj3C7c"><br><br><div class="gmail_quote">

<div style="margin: 0px 10px; overflow: auto; font-family: sans-serif; width: 100%;"><h2 style="margin: 0.25em 0pt 0pt;"><div><a href="http://closedcafeteria.blogspot.com/2008/05/quickie-communion-ended.html" target="_blank">'Quickie' Communion ended</a></div>

</h2>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.5em;">via <a href="http://closedcafeteria.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">The Cafeteria is Closed</a> by Gerald Augustinus on 5/12/08</div><br>