_______________________________________________________________________________ STATEMENT BY THE MOST REV. GERARDO COLACICCO, D.D., JCL. EPISCOPAL VICAR OF DUTCHESS, SULLIVAN, ULSTER, AND ORANGE COUNTIES ON THE RIGHTS OF COMMUNICANTS TO CHOOSE TO RECEIVE COMMUNION ON THE TONGUE OR IN THE HAND. After addressing the concern of reception of Holy Communion during the Corona virus pandemic, Bishop Gerardo Colacicco, Episcopal Vicar of Dutchess, Sullivan, Ulster, and Orange Counties, Archdiocese of New York, the Bishop has restated that the Holy See has specifically informed that Communicants who wish to receive on the tongue cannot be denied reception of Holy Communion. If the priest, deacon, or extraordinary minister is aware that physical contact has taken place with that communicant, they are to set the ciborium on the altar, proceed to sanitize their fingers/hands, then continue to distribute Holy Communion to the faithful. Given these precautions, if someone is still uncomfortable with this safe procedure, then perhaps they could be more comfortable in offering a spiritual communion in place of receiving, or to arrive early enough prior to Mass so as to sit close to the front so that they would be among the first to receive and so not have to be worried that contact was made. The Bishop also asks that in charity, parishioners pray for their priests who are making every effort to assure that the Faithful can have safe access and Holy Mass throughout this difficult time.