Rethinking Communion: A Catholic’s Plea for Health-Conscious Worship in Nigeria

A Nigerian Catholic calls for a safer, health-conscious approach to receiving Holy Communion, urging Church leaders to rethink tradition in light of modern public health concerns.

By Emmanuel Okoroafor

As a devout Catholic, I’ve always treasured the Mass as a sacred moment of divine encounter. Yet, one practice continues to trouble me — the insistence in many Nigerian parishes on administering Holy Communion directly on the tongue.

Though rooted in reverence, this method now raises serious health concerns. In an age of infectious diseases and medical awareness, should we still ignore the risks? The COVID-19 pandemic forced many churches worldwide to shift to safer communion practices, like receiving in hand — a change made out of care, not rebellion.

Tradition is vital, but the Church has always adapted in times of crisis. Protecting our health is not unspiritual — it’s an act of stewardship. Christ, who healed the sick, wouldn’t endorse practices that unnecessarily put people at risk.

Sadly, in Nigeria, communion in the hand is still discouraged in some churches — sometimes even shamed. This mindset must change. Receiving reverently in the hand is widely accepted in countries like the US, Germany, and South Africa, and it doesn’t diminish the sanctity of the Eucharist.

Nigeria has faced outbreaks like Ebola and Lassa fever. These realities should guide our worship practices. Bishops and priests must step up to promote awareness and make communion in the hand more accessible and accepted — through catechism, pastoral letters, and open dialogue.

This isn’t a call for liturgical rebellion but for responsibility. The Eucharist is holy — whether received on the tongue or in the hand. What matters is the heart with which we receive it.

It’s time for the Nigerian Church to lead with wisdom and compassion, honoring both tradition and the well-being of its faithful.