Gluten and health concerns
Gluten is a protein found in grains such as wheat, rye, and barley. For most people, this is a healthy protein for our bodies. However, for those with celiac disease, the body’s immune system responds negatively to gluten protein, causing severe inflammation and damage to the small bowel. When this happens, essential nutrients cannot be absorbed, resulting in malnutrition.
To prevent this, all products with gluten must be avoided. This includes not only foods but also less obvious items such as communion wafers, dietary supplements, medications, lipstick, and lip balms, all of which may contain gluten. Therefore, a person with celiac disease or a gluten allergy should read all product labels.
Gluten-free foods are readily available but tend to be more expensive. However, by reading labels, many food products may be found to already be gluten free.
A completely gluten-free diet is not recommended for those who do not have celiac disease since there is no clinical documentation of its dietary benefits. In fact, unnecessarily eliminating foods containing gluten may result in the loss of other important nutrients. Therefore, it is important to seek medical advice before beginning a gluten-free diet to ensure it is best for your medical and nutritional needs.
Our Catholic faith requires the hosts used for the Eucharist to be made of wheat. Therefore, we cannot use gluten-free hosts but we do offer low-gluten hosts at
Masses for anyone who may require them based on medical necessity. Please let the sacristan know before Mass, if you have such a need.
Pastoral Care Director,
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