The challenge for the Irish Church “is to speak of hope into a crisis of uncertainty,” Bishop Donal McKeown said as bishops and priests across Ireland turned to celebrating Mass over webcams in order to comply with directives on social distancing in response to the Covid-19 crisis.
At Mass in St Eugene’s Cathedral in Derry, Bishop McKeown stressed that: “This is not a time for selfishness” nor is it a time for asking ‘Why has God done this to us?’
He added that the Coronavirus and self-isolation represented a crisis for a culture that has been
accustomed to permanent entertainment and noise.
The Irish bishops last week ramped up efforts to combat the spread of Covid19 with far-reaching directives covering Mass, the Sacraments, funerals and church collections.
On Wednesday, the Irish hierarchy issued a statement on liturgical considerations. The guidance brought into force new directives in addition to those already in place in relation to the emptying of water fonts, communion in the hand, the sign of peace, the use of hand sanitisers and the practice of passing collection baskets through the congregation.
In it, the bishops said their first concern “has to be for the elderly, the ill and those with underlying medical conditions”.
Consequently, all Confirmations and Communions have been postponed until further notice.
Attendance at funerals is to be limited to close relatives and close friends and must not exceed 100 people within the church building. Similarly, church weddings and baptisms may be celebrated on condition that the attendance in church does not exceed 100 people.
Some churches remain open for prayer each day and parishes have informed parishioners how to participate in Mass via local radio and online via webcams.
Ahead of the national feast day on Tuesday, Archbishop Eamon Martin and Bishop Denis Nulty gave their support to an initiative which saw church bells rung on St Patrick’s Day as an expression of social solidarity and encouragement amidst the Covid19 crisis.
Separately, Archbishop Martin has announced that he will consecrate Ireland and her people to the Immaculate Heart of Mary for protection from Coronavirus at noon, after the Angelus, on 25 March, the Feast of Annunciation.
The Tablet has an online list of useful spiritual and other resources during the Covid-19 pandemic.
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