Faith & Communion 6 min read

Setting Up a Pyx System at Your Parish

A practical guide for parish staff on establishing a reliable system for low-gluten host storage, handling, and distribution.

By Taylor Clark | January 4, 2026

If your parish serves parishioners with celiac disease, having a reliable pyx system in place makes everyone’s experience better. This guide walks through setting up a system that’s consistent, sanitary, and sustainable.

Whether you’re a pastor, sacristan, parish administrator, or liturgy coordinator, here’s what you need to know.

What You’ll Need

The Pyx

A pyx is a small container used to hold consecrated hosts. For low-gluten hosts, you’ll want:

Dedicated Pyx for Low-Gluten Hosts

A small, lidded vessel (gold, silver, or brass are traditional)
Should hold 1-3 hosts depending on parish need
Clearly identifiable, consider a different style or size than regular pyxes
Some parishes use a pyx with a small cross or marking to distinguish it

Where to Purchase:

Catholic supply houses (Autom, Catholic Company, etc.)
Church goods catalogs
Online retailers

Cost is typically $15-50 for a simple pyx. More ornate versions are available.

Low-Gluten Hosts

The most common supplier in the United States is the Benedictine Sisters of Perpetual Adoration in Clyde, Missouri. Their hosts:

Test below 10 ppm gluten
Are approved for Catholic use
Come individually sealed
Have a shelf life of about 12 months

Other approved suppliers exist internationally. Ensure any hosts you purchase are specifically designed for Catholic Eucharistic use and verified for low gluten content.

Ordering Considerations:

Order in quantities that will be used within 6-12 months
Store in a cool, dry place (not refrigerated)
Keep in original sealed packaging until use

The Process: Step by Step

Step 1: Initial Setup

Purchase a dedicated pyx and label it or choose one visually distinct from others
Order low-gluten hosts from an approved supplier
Designate a storage location in the sacristy, separate from regular hosts
Train sacristans and priests on the system

Step 2: Before Mass

If the Parishioner Brings Their Own Host:

Parishioner arrives early (10-15 minutes before Mass)
They hand their sealed host to the sacristan or place it in the designated spot
Sacristan places the host in the dedicated pyx
Pyx goes on the credence table or altar for consecration

If the Parish Supplies Hosts:

Sacristan retrieves a low-gluten host from parish supply
Places it in the dedicated pyx
Pyx goes on the credence table or altar

Either way, ensure:

The pyx is cleaned between uses (or use fresh hosts without contamination concerns)
The host is placed without touching it with hands that just handled regular hosts

Step 3: During Mass

The low-gluten host is consecrated along with all other hosts. No special prayers or separate consecration is required, when the priest says the words of consecration over the altar, all valid matter present (including low-gluten hosts) is consecrated.

Step 4: At Communion

Several distribution methods work:

Method A: Priest Distributes from the Altar

The priest retrieves the pyx during the distribution of Communion
Parishioner approaches the priest
Priest distributes from the dedicated pyx

Method B: Designated Station

One minister is assigned to distribute low-gluten hosts
That minister stations themselves at a known location
Parishioners who need accommodations go to that station

Method C: Integrated Distribution

The pyx travels with one of the ministers
Parishioners identify themselves as needing low-gluten
Minister retrieves the host from the pyx

The best method depends on your parish size and layout.

Step 5: After Mass

Return any unconsecrated low-gluten hosts to storage
Consume any consecrated but undistributed hosts, or reserve appropriately
Clean the pyx (wipe with a clean purificator, rinse if needed)
Return pyx to its designated storage location
Note if supply is running low

Training Your Team

Everyone involved should understand:

Why This Matters

Celiac disease is a serious medical condition. Cross-contamination can cause real harm. The care we take isn’t fussiness, it’s pastoral concern.

What Cross-Contact Means

Gluten particles from regular hosts can transfer to low-gluten hosts through:

Hands that touched regular hosts
Shared containers or surfaces
Proximity during storage

The Basic Protocol

Low-gluten hosts stay separate at all times
Hands should be clean or purified before handling
The dedicated pyx is only for low-gluten hosts

Who Needs to Know

Pastor
All priests who celebrate Mass at the parish
Sacristans
EMHCs (at least those who may distribute low-gluten hosts)

Common Questions

”How many hosts should we keep on hand?”

Start with a 3-6 month supply. Track usage and reorder before you run out.

”What if someone needs a host and we don’t have one?”

Direct them to the Precious Blood. Then, make a note to ensure this doesn’t happen again.

”Can we use the same pyx for regular hosts sometimes?”

No. The pyx should be dedicated exclusively to low-gluten hosts to prevent cross-contact.

”Should we refrigerate the hosts?”

No. Store in a cool, dry place. Refrigeration can introduce moisture.

”What about parishes with multiple Masses and multiple celiacs?”

Scale up: multiple hosts per Mass, clear labeling if multiple individuals bring their own, possibly multiple pyxes.

”Who pays for the hosts?”

Parish practice varies. Some parishes supply hosts for free; others ask parishioners to purchase their own. There’s no universal rule, do what works for your community.

Making It Sustainable

Document the Process

Write out your parish’s procedure and keep it in the sacristy. New sacristans and substitute priests need clear instructions.

Assign Responsibility

Designate someone (sacristan, parish administrator) to monitor supply and maintain the system.

Communicate Clearly

Add a note in the bulletin for new parishioners with celiac disease
Include information in new parishioner packets
Train new EMHCs as part of their standard formation

Check In Periodically

After a few months, ask parishioners with celiac disease how the system is working. Adjust as needed.

A Note to Pastors

Setting up this system takes a little time initially, but once established, it runs smoothly. The payoff is significant: parishioners with celiac disease can receive the Eucharist confidently, knowing their parish cares for them.

If you have even one parishioner with celiac disease, this system is worth implementing. And with celiac affecting roughly 1% of the population, you likely have more than you know.