Massapequa Park, NY: Christmas Day is one of the busiest for Catholic Churches around the world. It is the one day a year when many Catholics suddenly remember that they’re Catholic and decide to stumble into the nearest church and say a few Hail Marys.
However, if you happened to stumble into Our Lady of Lourdes in Long Island on Christmas Day, you might have gotten a little more than some choir music and a dose of Catholic guilt.
Nassau County health officials are warning locals that they might have received more than the body and blood of Christ during Communion at the Church. They may have been exposed to hepatitis A.
“Someone involved in the Communion process tested positive for hepatitis A,” said a spokesperson for the health department.
The person’s name was not given, though some suspect the altar boys. “I once caught them sneaking sips of the Communion wine before mass,” said one parishioner who was exposed to the virus.
Another parishioner was very upset about the whole situation. “I’ll never drink the wine again,” he said. “That was the only reason I went to Church. Now I’ll probably stop going and just stay home with a case of beer.”
The Nassau County Health Department will be providing vaccines to anyone who received holy communion at the church.