Changing Times for Catholic Celiacs

In our local newspaper, in the food section of the paper, there was an article that mentioned that Catholic churches offer low-gluten wafers.  The article was short, only about three paragraphs.



I was shocked, surprised, and thrilled.

I've known that Catholic churches in the area offer low-gluten wafers, but I was surprised to see it in print and thrilled to know that that there are others receiving in our neighboring churches.  How far the church has come since Nate received his First Communion.  Catholic Celiacs were just being welcomed to commune following Cardinal Ratzinger's, (now Pope Benedict,) approval of the use of the low-gluten wafer.  Just a few months after Cardinal Ratzinger's invitation, Nate received his first Eucharist.  No more worry of controversy nor the fear of excluding Nate from receiving and possibly ostracizing him from his faith when he reached adulthood.


Since that time, we have met with some priests that get it, and others that have mistaken the crispy little low-gluten wafer as a potato chip.  One memorable experience was at St. Charles Boromeo church, the patron saint of those with stomach issues, and our son's confirmation saint.  The priest there, was so use to the low-gluten wafer, he even had his own stash and did not need our contribution.

Now, here in our metro area, the local Jesuit high school has 15 communicants that request the low-gluten wafers.  The remaining churches in the area number around a dozen, many which I recognize but never have visited.

At the very least, as those priests move on to new parishes, the acceptance of the low-gluten wafer will also spread through the community.  Spreading beyond our metropolitan area and into the farming communities and small country towns throughout our state.

I wonder, how the rest of the United States has changed.  This is our corner of the world, and in other countries they had long before the US, started using low-gluten wafers.  What about the rest of the U.S.?







Heaven-sent for the gluten-intolerant 

You know that gluten-free has gone mainstream when priests offer low-gluten Communion hosts at Mass. 

Eleven Portland-area parishes and three individuals order the hosts from the Benedictine Sisters of Perpetual Adoration in Clyde, Mo. 

They're more costly than regular altar breads containing wheat and they require separate handling. And gluten-free hosts have been controversial because Eucharistic bread must be made of wheat and water to be considered "valid matter." 

But the Benedictine altar breads, made with water and wheat starch with less than 0.01 percent gluten, satisfy both Catholic Church guidelines and the needs of gluten-intolerant churchgoers. At Jesuit High School in Portland, up to 15 communicants have been receiving these hosts for the past two years, says Don Clarke, director of campus ministry. 

And those suffering from celiac disease are overjoyed. One Jesuit student's mom "started crying when she heard she could receive Communion again," says Clarke. 

Learn more about the Benedictines' low-gluten hosts. 

--Joan Cirillo OregonLive

Evening Service: Traveling with our Gluten-free Pyx

It’s Sunday morning and we just decided to go to the evening contemporary mass. Since our parish does not offer an evening service we are trying to decide whether to go to Lady of the Lake or St. Ignatius. One is a contemplative service (which mom is voting for) and the other is a Life Teen mass (which Nate and Emily vote for).

I think I am out numbered.

We’ve come a long way. Years ago, when Nate was first receiving Eucharist, his low-gluten wafer was unique. Popping in to a new parish meant showing up early or calling a day in advance to explain the situation. Now, even if we have a visiting priest, we can arrive a quarter of an hour in advance, meet with the priest, and then slip into church for a quiet meditative moment before mass.

How does this conversation usually go? Now that Nate is 12, according to him, 12 years-8 months-and 12 days, we have been encouraging him to initiate the interaction. It still takes a bit of courage, occasional role playing, and then a “you-can-do-this” speech.

“Hello, Father. My name is Nate. I am gluten intolerant and I have brought my pyx with a low gluten wafer. I was hoping to have it consecrated at mass so I can receive both the body and blood.”

Either one of two things happens at this point, either the priest responds with a story of experience with low-gluten wafers, or the priest queries as he has never experienced this situation. As the years go by, fewer priests are unaware of the low-gluten wafers most of them now want to have an address of where to locate the wafers for other parishioners.

At this point, I usually get the elbow nudge. In a whispered panicked voice, Nate will cry, “MOM!” It’s my turn to step in. It’s a slow process to coach the communicant and educate the presider. As Nate grows in confidence, I am sure he will initiate more of the information when we visit new parishes, as it is now, I want Nate to feel welcome and excited about receiving eucharist.

Our home parish priest has set up a routine with Nate. No matter where we sit, Nate gets into line for Father, and then receives his low-gluten host from our pyx. (Prior to church, we laid the low-gluten wafer loaded pyx on the side table for the alter servers to deliver to the altar at the appointed time.) Quietly, the priest snaps the pyx closed and hands it back to Nate, who then pockets it and proceeds to the line waiting for the cup. This is Nate’s preferred mode of receiving. He feels like no one know he is different. No one singles him out from the rest.

Visiting a local parish when I was called to interpret for a special signed mass for the Deaf community, the priest made a big deal of walking down to Nate, giving him his host before anyone else received. All eyes were on Nate. From the front, looking down into the congregation, I saw Nate sink lower and lower into the pew. His face became a few shades redder, and his eyes darted up to mine with humility. After mass, Nate exclaimed in frustration that he was not old or invalid. He never wanted to receive eucharist that way, ever again.

When visiting a parish that the priest has experience with low-gluten hosts, we usually follow the tradition of this parish. Sometimes this means approaching the priest, receiving a blessing, circling the priest to take the pyx off the altar and proceeding to the cup. Other times, it is a matter of waiting until the very end, and going up as one of the last, so that the priest can step back to the altar and pick up the pyx for Nathan.

For either of our choices tonight, after a brief word with the priest, Nathan will be able to walk with our family, no matter where we sit, and receive Christ in the bread and the wine. It is an amazing blessing. I am thankful that we live in a time that congregations, priests, and a cloistered group of sisters understand the importance for everyone to be welcome to receive the sacrament of the Eucharist.

Bread of Life -- Thanksgiving for the Low-Gluten Wafers

Gluten-free bread has become the bread of our lives. We make it from scratch, we buy it in bulk to put in the freezer, we go out of our way to stores that carry our favorite brands, and somedays we just eat our least favorite brand to satisfy hunger.

The Eucharist is also our Bread of Life. This is an imagery that is so prevalent in our liturgy; it's in our scripture, our prayers, and in our music. Of all the music that we sing, John Foley's One Bread, One Body holds a special imagery for me.

One bread, one body, one Lord of all,

One cup of blessings which we bless.

And we, though many throughout the earth,

We are one body in this one Lord.

(John Foley, Oregon Catholic Press, Breaking Bread,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYlJC26-Ch0 )

This great table that we gather around, no matter where we live around the world; no matter what car we drive to arrive at mass, or whether we walk or bike; no matter if we are mothers, sons, fathers, or daughters; no matter if our skin is tan or beige or peach; no matter if we eat a wheat wafer or a low-gluten wafer, we are the body of Christ. We are One body.

What does that One Body look like beyond the table. There are divisions, just look in the fellowship hall; someone forgot to bring the promised gluten-free pasta for the Italian dinner, so Nate and the other celiac parishioners get salad and sauce. Gladys, with her diabetes, skips the desert, or at least only enjoys one forkful. Steve is avoiding the wine, as he has been battling with alcohol and even one glass can become addictive. The Ingalls family is vegetarian, so they bring their own veggie sauce. Baby David is not yet eating solids, so his dinner comes in the liquid form from behind a discrete blanket thrown over mom's shoulder.

Leaving the dinner, each of us goes home to find different foods in our cupboards. For some, it is rice and beans, others enjoy the meat & potatoes, and for another family, the cupboard looks bare until the food bank opens Monday evening. If we were truly One, I wonder if all of us would go to bed content.

It's a circle that we live. When we partake of the Body of Christ, we are to live more fully as the Body of Christ. As we live out that life, those around us are more fully blest, desire to find out our motivation, and seek to find Christ. They in turn, come to the table that gives life. It is simple acts that we model of Christ's that bring us closer and inspire us to return each week and live more holy lives.

Blessed Mother Teresa is quoted as to having said, that we are to find the poorest of the poor in our own communities to serve. We all don't need to leave our homes and travel to India to serve in order to live holy lives. The Body of Christ is around the world and in our own towns, and in our own parishes.

For our family this week, we will pack a bag for the food bank; packing it to provide for those that are the poorest in our own community. We will try to think of various members of the body of Christ and choose foods to support them; a bag of rice, a box of gluten-free cereal, potatoes from the garden, and something for babies that are just starting to eat.

It's bread that brings us life and energy to live. It's the Bread of Life that brings the Catholic Christian community together each week at the altar. It's the Bread of Life that moves within us to live in the example of Christ.

Each week, Nate is able to walk forward, reach out his heart to ask Jesus to lead his life, and receive in out stretched hands the body of Christ.

I am so thankful that we have low-gluten wafers that allows even more Catholics to gather around the altar. In one more way, we are all a part of the Body of Christ.

Six Wishes for First Eucharist Preparation

Our First Eucharist Preparation year ended with a wonderful celebration mass with Fr. Adams.  The beginning of the year was not so smooth, and as other Catholic celiac families ask me for hints, I have started coming up with a wish-list of things I wish I had thought of before the preparation year and things for the special day.

1.  Welcoming first impression.  

My first suggestion for going through First Eucharist with a Celiac child, would be to start the year out with a simple home lesson to talk about the coming special year.  Nate and I had this conversation, but only after a mini incident at R.E. happened.  After years of making "wheat" the bad guy that makes you sick, we entered a year of banners of wheat shafts, loaves of bread, and much imagery of how special bread is to eat.  All of a sudden, Nathan wanted to be part of this incredibly delicious feast he was hearing about, yet his experiences with wheat were pain and discomfort.  What a mixed image and message.  

Each family addresses the gluten issue in different ways, often depending on the age of gluten-free onset.  For us, Nate was very young and had never really remembered the "wheat days."  Our chat was to focus away from the strong emphasis of the wheat and grapes, and to focus on the host and wine, or to examine Christ's Body and Blood lessons.  When all of the other kids made banners of wheat and grapes, Nate made pictures of the host and the chalice of wine. We were careful as I did not want to implant the idea that the wheat was being replaced, as Catholics we do not replace with rice or other grain wafers.

2. Snacks.  

I wish there was some way to know ahead of time when a parent was planning to surprise the class with birthday cupcakes or a special treat.  Nate is a good sport, but he too wishes to be part of the event, and a "special treat" from my purse is not exactly the same as a fluffy frosted cupcake with a magic ring stuck in the top.  I let the teachers and director know that we wanted to be aware of special food days, but I should have also let the parents know that I would bring replacement items, or provide a list of specific foods that would be acceptable for gluten free eaters.  

Short and simple gluten-free information and educational note:

  

"Nate is gluten intolerant (Celiac) and would love to be included in special food events.  Please call me at home, and I would be happy to bring equivalent foods.  If you wish to bring gluten-free items here are a few suggestions:

   Any fruit and vegetables.  

Glutano or Pamela cookies found in the Health Food section at our local grocery stores.  

Ice cream is a great gluten-free addition to your special cake.  Ice cream cups or Umqua, Breyers, Tillamook Brand of vanilla ice cream are gluten-free.  (Ice cream cakes don't work as they usually have cake and ice cream touching.)

Thank you so much for helping to include Nathan in your special event."  

3.  Priest.  

Our local parish priest was not interested in celebrating with a low-gluten host; he had never heard of such a thing.  I brought in the paper from the American Bishops and he still was not convinced that this was approved.  The priest from our second parish, the parish I work at, was very familiar and willing.  Nathan ended up having his retreat with these children and receiving his First Eucharist with Fr. Adams at a different parish than our own.  It was the day that was special, Eucharist was the focus; the group pictures and friends were not the center of our day. Our god-parents and extended family came with us to help make this a really special Christ-filled day.

4.  Retreat Day.  

I wish that there was some way for the kids to make a simple version of wine at the retreat as well as the little loaves of bread.  Surely, there is a wine making kit!  Our Religious Education director does a wonderful job talking about how bread was made at the time of the Last Supper, how we make bread today, where the ingredients are found in nature (sugar could come from honey/bees etc.), and where we can find them in modern stores.  Being an educator, I love to make things hands-on for my students.  Nate is a great sport, he willingly watched from the side, but to do it over, I would search out this additional activity.

5.  Instruction

I wish that one of the teachers had been a bit more careful when telling the class, "If you don't eat the host, you are going to die, and never live again."  (John 6) Granted, I know what she meant spiritually, but for a young celiac child, her lesson was taken very literal and immediate.  In Nate's mind, if he doesn't eat the host, he might not make it to his next birthday, to Cub Scouts, to Christmas, to the baseball season.  Much of our music and liturgy is focused on "Eating the Bread of Life."  Yet for a child with celiac, eating the regular host, is not physically life-giving, but life-draining.  

With a little explanation, or use of some of the other scripture references in the gospels, the emphasis can be on "eating the Body, becoming alive in Christ, life everlasting with spiritual communion."  It has become important for us to express how receiving the Blood of Christ from the cup, is equal and as valid when received alone or when received with the low-gluten wafer.  On those Sundays or situations when the host is not available, Nate use to express how he didn't feel it was complete.  During his Eucharist preparation year, I never talked about situations when he could not receive his low gluten host, such as when no wine was present in a communion service or situations when the wine runs out.  Since then, I have tried sharing situations when non-celiacs receive spiritual communion when they are unable to receive Eucharist (ie. communicable illness, one of the elements runs out, parent with screaming child pacing the breezeway, a person avoiding alcohol, or a homebound Catholic listening to mass on the radio).

6.  The reception.  

I wish I had the gift of making a pretty cake, or knew of a cake store for gluten free specialty cakes.  Nate did enjoy the fruit platter, the fruit punch, and the cookies we brought along for the event.  There are just enough times in life that he watches from the side or substitutes with a gluten-free alternative that this could have been one of those opportunities to bless the event with something special and similar to everyone else's.

 For Nate's recent confirmation, I did make a round two tiered cake (from a gluten free mix) with frosting.  Younger sister, Emily, and I wrote a special message for him with a cake decorating tool that she had received at Christmas.  (Finally, someone in our family will know how to frost a cake!)

Having gone through this so intimately with a family member, I really have a desire to make the  lessons and experiences accessible.  These suggestions are a few that I continue to offer to our parish and to other families going through this special year.  

May these bless another child and help to create a truly holy and wonderful celebration mass.  

Lost and Found. The Precious Freezer Treasure.

"Mom!  Where's my pyx?"  

"In the freezer?  Next to your wafers?"

"Can't find it!  There it is!  It's under the frozen lemons!"

For five years this is the Sunday ritual.  Sometimes under the bag of low-gluten wafers sent from the Benedictine sisters, sometimes next to the chunk of ginger that rotates through the freezer compartments.  No matter how many times we swear that we will reload the pyx with a wafer, put the loaded pyx in the top rack of the freezer door, we always scramble Sunday morning to get the wafer into the pyx, into the pocket, out the door, and into the hands of the altar servers before mass.

Ever since our son Nate's First Eucharist, five years after we discovered he was celiac, we have held this ritual of supplying the low-gluten wafer for mass.  At one time these wafers were kept at the church, with the hopes that the elderly parishioner with celiac would enjoy the option of receiving the host.  After a year, she admitted that she had gone too long only receiving the Blood of Christ and was not missing receiving the Body.  Then, the priest came through and decided the freezer was an energy waster and asked us to supply our wafers from home.  We were the only family needing a low-gluten wafer.  

There was a stage about the age of nine that lasted nearly a year.  Nate was angry when we forgot the wafer, when he lost his pyx in a coat pocket for a couple weeks, or when we visited a church that was awkward with permitting this special arrangement.  I wish that I had a copy of the original pronouncement of the American Catholic acceptance of the low-gluten wafers.  At that time it was Cardinal Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict, that declared the approval of using these specially made wafers in mass.  

Much has happened through the years since we baptized Nate, discovered his being celiac, his First Eucharist, and most recently his confirmation.  My first support was an old, now non-existent, website for Celiac Catholic Kids.  I opted to reorder the title of this blog, as being Catholic is far more significant of an identity than being celiac or a child; being celiac will never change for Nate, but growing up from childhood will.

Please join in and share resources, stories of struggles, and moments of joy.