This week, Pope Francis issued a decree about the use in some parishes of certain types if gluten-free substitutes for altar bread (hosts) at Mass. The Holy Father has prohibited the use of unapproved substitutes for the altar bread. At St. Catherine’s, we have, for quite some time, been using hosts made by the Benedictine Sisters of Clyde, Missouri, that already conform with Vatican guidelines. The Sisters have perfected a Church-approved wafer that contains just .001 percent gluten. This amount is low enough for most celiac sufferers. In a recent interview with NPR, Sister Ruth Starman made it known that while there are other organizations selling low-gluten altar bread wafers, the Sisters are the only religious producers. St. Catherine of Siena Parish is happy to support the Sisters in providing altar breads that are both safe and in conformity with Church teaching.