Holy Communion will have a different look when in-person worship services resume in June at Catholic churches in the Diocese of Pittsburgh.

“Obviously the sacrament itself isn’t changing, just the way we distribute,” said the Rev. Philip N. Farrell, regional vicar for the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh.

The wafers signifying the body of Christ will be placed in the hands of parishioners by priests and deacons wearing face masks and safety glasses. While they won’t be required to take Communion in their hands, church officials are asking that they do so.

Additionally, parishioners will be asked to maintain social distancing of six feet and wear masks.

Similarly striking changes in Communion will take place at Catholic and Protestant churches across the United States over coming weeks as restrictions on large gatherings — imposed because of the coronavirus outbreak — are gradually eased.

According to Farrell, the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh is allowing local churches to begin holding daily Masses on June 1 and weekly Masses starting the following weekend.

Many churches that formerly encouraged churchgoers to drink wine from a communal cup will halt that practice, at least temporarily.

“We will not be drinking from the precious blood,” Farrell said. “We will also ask that people consider receiving Communion only in their hands for sanitary purposes.”

However, priests will still administer to those who want to receive it directly on their tongue.

In some cases, clergy will be instructed to use hand sanitizer before commencing with the sacrament.

“I do think new practices emerge from crises like this,” said Episcopal Bishop of Washington, D.C., Mariann Budde. “They come from communities experimenting, pushing the boundaries. You don’t know how that process will turn out.”

The biggest denomination in the U.S., the Catholic church accounts for the bulk of Holy Communion services nationwide.

Under its governance system, decisions on logistical details of Communion are largely left to individual bishops.

According to Farrell, priests won’t wear face masks while performing Mass itself, but priests and deacons will wear them when passing out Communion.

Another change, he added, is parishioners will receive Communion at the very end of Mass as they leave the church. Normally, parishioners receive the sacrament and then return to their seats for a final blessing.

Farrell was also quick to point out only 25 people will be allowed in each service, and that churches will need to be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized before each Mass. He said the restrictions could change what the Mass schedule looks like for local churches.

Among Catholic and Protestant congregations, there has been a lively debate over certain Communion practices employed while in-person services were banned. Some pastors administered drive-thru Communion to congregants arriving at outdoor venues in their cars. Among United Methodist Church bishops, there was disagreement as to the propriety of celebrating Communion during online services.

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, with about 3.5 million members one of the largest mainline Protestant denominations, recently issued guidelines on Communion and other matters to help its 9,300 churches resume in-person services.

The guidelines recommend against serving Communion until gatherings of more than 50 people are allowed. The people administering the sacrament are asked to use hand sanitizer immediately before doing so, preferably in full view of the congregation.

“Common cup and intinction are not recommended,” the guidelines say. “If distributing wine in small glasses in trays, ensure that the glasses are spaced far enough apart to minimize people’s touching of other glasses.”

The ELCA’s presiding bishop, Elizabeth Eaton, said the recommendations are not binding, and decisions are left to individual pastors.

Butler Eagle staff contributed to this report.