Journeys of Faith: Following the pilgrim paths across Europe – Pages 36 & 37 THE GIFT MICHAEL NOT SO OF LIFE KELLY NORMAL Leaving a legacy could As Europeans return A vision of sex beyond be your biggest act of to Mass, our long a television show generosity Pages 15-28 Lent continues Page 2 Page 32 Thursday, May 21, 2020 €2.00 (Stg £1.70) f The-Irish-Catholic-Newspaper L @IrishCathNews www.irishcatholic.com Stay safe – pray safe Relief as closed churches re-open for prayer Chai Brady “In particular, we are keen to respond to the appeals from Feeling God’s closeness while keeping our distance Parishioners and priests those who find great comfort across the North have reacted in visiting their church for with a mixture of joy and private prayer, from couples relief after churches began who are anxious that they re-opening this week as part can proceed with their mar- of the relaxation of the coro- riage ceremony and from par- navirus lockdown. ents who wish to have their Bishop of Derry Donal child baptised,” they said in a McKeown told The Irish Cath- statement. olic that he is “delighted”. It comes as an online poll “It’s fine praying from of readers of The Irish Catho- home but I think people enjoy lic found that almost nine out being able to be in a sacred of 10 readers want a swifter space before the Blessed Sac- return to public Masses as rament. soon as it is safe to do so. “I think we’re clear enough In the online poll, readers ourselves that the next prior- were asked “if churches can ity would be ensuring that show – like other spheres of government allows us to have society – that small public small groups for baptisms gatherings can begin safely and small numbers for mar- with physical distancing and riages,” he said. hygiene measures, do you In Armagh Archdiocese, think small public Masses the motto for the re-opened should begin sooner than cur- churches is ‘stay safe – pray rently planned?” safe’. Of those who expressed an opinion, 87% – almost nine Tradition out of 10 – said they think that small public Masses should Archbishop Eamon Mar- Every morning throughout May, lifelong friends and neighbours, Peggy Coffey (83) and Imelda Coffey (94) visit begin sooner than currently tin joined with leaders of the Grotto on Rock Road, Killarney, to recite the Rosary together. Both manage social distancing and miss going other Christian tradition to planned”. Just 13% voted ‘no’ welcome the re-opening of to Mass, but are happy watching the online Mass from nearby St Mary’s Cathedral, at 10.30am. Photo: Valerie churches in the North. » Continued on Page 2 O’Sullivan MARY KENNY OUR GREAT POPE DAVID QUINN Ukraine’s ‘abandoned’ Remembering John Our bishops are being too surrogate babies Paul II a century after cautious when it comes to PAGE 5 his birth PAGES 12 & 13 return of public Masses PAGE 8 Little Nalukena has only Sight is one of the greatest gifts you can give. ever known pain… Please donate today. Call 01 663 7666 or visit www.sightsavers.ie Will you help us end P Sightsavers, 1st Floor, Spencer House, the agony of trachoma? Spencer Row, Freepost FDN5241, Dublin 1 © Sightsavers / Jason J Mulikita. Registered Charity Number CHY 15437. 2 | Comment || The Irish Catholic, May 21, 2020 Inside this week As Europeans return to Mass, Holy Trinity Faith, music and our long Lent continues ministry works thought my first cappuccino for one deacon “ after 54 days was amazing, but being at Mass after 10 Editor’s Comment Page 34 I weeks was even better,” Róise McGagh a Roman friend said this week. Churches in the eternal city were Michael Kelly re-opened for public Masses this week after a long Lent. “It finally felt like Fr Ron Rolheiser Easter,” my friend wrote. Dealing with our Italy has been nature” and caused “damage week. There was precious and public spaces will open devastated by coronavirus. that was seriously and little in the communique but the churches will not. toughest hours At the time of writing, manifestly illegal”. that followed. Church Catholics will soon be able Last week COMECE – spokespersons have been Page 30 32,007 Italians have died to gather for physically of Covid-19 – but many the commission of the tight-lipped since. “There is distant common activity people fear that the real bishops’ conference of a plan,” I am told when I ask everywhere except in Blessings figure may actually be Europe – warned that the members of the hierarchy their churches. It’s a stark double that. ongoing suspension of why they believe the rest of truth if that is what indeed public Masses was a serious Children’s Corner The Italian hierarchy Europe can open for Masses transpires. threat to religious freedom. worked in close and we can’t. It’s not going to be It is not a body known for Mysteries and partnership with the civil easy to recommence exaggeration. authorities to ensure that Hairdressers, public worship. There are magic behind Catholics can now the churches could open ❛❛ serious questions about attend Mass in Spain, restaurants and washing up liquid safely on May 18. Teams Poland, Italy, the Czech access, cleaning, Holy from the army sanitised public spaces Page 34 Republic, Germany, Croatia, Communion, etc. – but these the churches and physical Hungary, Slovakia, Latvia, will open but the are questions that arose in distancing is being Estonia, Lithuania, Sweden, other countries as well and observed in the churches. churches will not” Managing Editor: Michael Kelly, [email protected] Norway, Luxembourg, faith communities were not found wanting. Northern Correspondent: Martin O’Brien, [email protected] Gatherings Austria, Romania, Greece. I understand the Portugal and Switzerland are concerns around health The Church in Ireland is Multimedia Journalists: Chai Brady, [email protected] Is it too soon? Public reopening in two weeks. and safety, and these are bruised, battered and tired. health officials evidently Róise McGagh, [email protected] Only in Ireland is the plan legitimate. But if other But surely there is the life to think not. The bishops in Aron Hegarty, [email protected] for public Masses nine weeks countries in Europe can muster up the enthusiasm Italy have not moved any Newsroom: [email protected] 01 6874026 away. balance the risks with the for gathering together farther than they have Why is this? Are the benefits of religious practice for Mass that animated Books Editor: Peter Costello, [email protected] been permitted by the public health officials in it hardly seems outlandish countless generations of our Layout: Declan Moroney civil authorities. The same the countries listed above that the same can be true in forbearers. Surely? Advertising: [email protected] 01 6874094 is true in other European reckless? It seems unlikely. Ireland. As we prepare for countries. Accounts: [email protected] 01 6874020 Is there something about The garden centres Pentecost Sunday, we might A French court ruled Magnificat: Irish people that makes are open this week, soon make the ancient prayer of [email protected] this week that the them incapable of physically other retailers will follow. the Church our own: come Office hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday authorities must let distancing or sanitising their Hairdressers, restaurants Holy Spirit. 9.30am–5.30pm worshippers start going churches? Whatever our Shop: [email protected] back to Mass again next shortcomings as a people, it Managing Director: Garry O’Sullivan Tuesday. It said that since again seems unlikely that we France had permitted have less capacity than our Annual Subscription Rates: Ireland €145. Airmail €250. Six months – €75. gatherings of ten or more European neighbours. Laudato Si’ plans positive ISSN 1393 - 6832 - Published by The Irish Catholic, people for social reasons, The Taoiseach Leo 23 Merrion Square, Dublin 2. Printed by Webprint, Cork. the ban on public Masses Varadkar hosted a meeting move says Trócaire was “disproportionate in with Church leaders last Place an Advert Jane Mellet, Laudato Si’ Róise McGagh Phone 01 687 4094 or [email protected] officer with Trócaire told The A year-long initiative dedi- Irish Catholic: “To go for a cated to study of the Pope’s year-long drive is something landmark 2015 encyclical on really important and timely. I think they see the link creation Laudato Si’ has been between our current health hailed as a positive move by crisis and the environmental the Church’s development crisis and they’re seeing it as Appointed to the Legal Panel of Sage Advocacy agency Trócaire. an opportunity to shape the (a support and advocacy service for vulnerable adults) Announced on May 16 way the world goes back to during Laudato Si’ week by ‘normal’. PERSONAL INJURY SOLICITORS the Dicastery for Promoting “I think it’s a renewed call Road Traffic Accidents, Trips &Falls, Workplace Injuries, Integral Human Develop- and a renewed reminder of Medical Negligence & all other types of personal injury claims. ment, the Vatican-sponsored the urgency that we have LET'S WORK FOR A BETTER SOCIETY FOR event will run until May 24 this window in time,” she PROPERTY TRANSACTIONS: Sales, Purchase, Leases & 2021. said. OUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN. Property Management. LEAVE A LEGACY FOR LIFE. ESTATE MANAGEMENT: Enduring Power of Attorney, Wills & Probate Support the Pro Life Campaign in your will. FAMILY LAW: Mediation, Collaborative Law and Litigation, ‘Stay safe, pray safe’ Surrogacy and Fertility Law. Staff reporter » Continued from Page 1 The Pro Life Campaign promotes pro-life SOLICITOR saying they believe that public Masses should not return education and defends human life at all stages.