October 21, 2017

Low-gluten host makes Communion possible for those with celiac disease

REGIONAL
Story and photo by Gregg Thompson

 

LONGMEADOW – Receiving Communion is the most sacred part of a Mass, as Catholics believe in the true presence of Christ in the Eucharist. 

But for Barbara Carroll, a member of St. Mary Parish in Longmeadow who suffers from celiac disease, it has become a struggle. Celiac disease is a serious autoimmune disorder in which the ingestion of gluten leads to damage in the small intestine.

According to the Celiac Disease Foundation, celiac is estimated to affect one in 100 people worldwide. About 2 ½ million Americans are undiagnosed and at risk for long-term health complications.  

“It was so difficult to watch others receive and knowing that you can’t or you’re going to be sick,” Carroll said.

“It started in 2002,” she recalled. “My eldest granddaughter was diagnosed with celiac when she was just a baby. We found out that it is hereditary, that it can be passed down through genes. I happened to be going for my yearly and I told my primary that I wanted to be tested for it. I found that I did have celiac. Having it appear at a later age is not uncommon.”

But, for Carroll, discovering the cause of the problem did not resolve it. It was the beginning of another problem. 

“The only so-called ‘cure’ or ‘remedy’ for celiac is a gluten-free diet,” she said. “At the time, I did not realize that there was a gluten-free host or a low-gluten host.”

The Catholic Church has strict requirements for the bread and wine used at Mass. According to a July 2017 Catholic News Service (CNS) report, the gluten content in low gluten hosts varies by producer but typically contain less than 0.32 percent gluten. Foods with less than 20 parts per million gluten can be marketed as “gluten-free” and some low-gluten hosts fall into that category. The CNS report states that, “The amount of gluten present in low-gluten hosts is considered safe for the vast majority of people with gluten-related health difficulties.”

But after discovering the availability of low-gluten hosts, Carroll said she ran into more obstacles.

“I received comments like, ‘Well, they’re more expensive’ or ‘We don’t have that many of them,'” she explained.

Low-gluten hosts have become more mainstream in recent years and with Father Christopher Waitekus’ blessing as pastor of St. Mary’s, Carroll can receive Communion worry free.

“My niece has asthma,” said Father, Waitekus, also known as Father C.J. “And she said to me once ‘Uncle CJ, when I come to Mass, I am very sensitive to the incense.’ Well, now that I have a niece who has asthma, it’s come home.

“We started talking about low-gluten hosts and how I could make her (Carroll’s) life as a Catholic easier and her experience of receiving Communion better,” he recalled of meeting Carroll. “I’ve found they also have low-gluten hosts here. She’s the one who showed me the new mini-ciborium, if you will, that the low-gluten hosts can be placed into.” 

These ciboria are smaller than the ciboria that the regular hosts are placed into and are easily attached to the ciboria containing the regular hosts. All a priest or deacon need do is change hands to distribute a low-gluten host to someone who needs it during Communion.

A video version of this story will be featured on an upcoming edition of the Springfield Diocese’s weekly newsmagazine, “Real to Reel,” which airs Saturday evenings at 7 on WWLP-22NEWS.