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The plague: Two views of a pandemic, from St Peter’s and Dublin – Pages 36 & 37 The Irish Spirit May 14th, 2020 SPIRIT’S Issue No. 2 RISKY NUALA Ireland in Bloom ALIVE Discover the beauty and wonder still BUSINESS O’LOAN accessible during the time of COVID EXCLUSIVE EXCERPT The Bee Sanctuary INSIDE: 8-page special of Limerick How much uncertainly Yes it’s tough, but A POSITIVE PRAYER FROM on the beauty around Fr Paddy Byrne will you live with think of those who us Pages 17-24 ....and much more! now? Page 34 have it worse Page 9 (Stg £1.70) f Thursday, May 14, 2020 €2.00 Mike O’Sullivan out with his dog, The-Irish-Catholic-Newspaper L @IrishCathNews www.irishcatholic.com walking along the wild garlic path on Ross Island, Killarney National Park. Photo: Valerie O’Sullivan Hopes for quicker return to Mass as distancing to become norm Chai Brady and gations would not be permit- Róise McGagh ted to gather for Mass until Loved ones are not forgotten July 20. Bishops have expressed cau- “I honestly believe that it tious optimism for a return to should be possible to begin public Masses before the Gov- sooner, but always giving pri- ernment’s July 20 target. At ority to public health. When- the same time, there has been ever it happens, it will require a welcome for the decision of flexibility and generosity of the northern Executive to put spirit on the part of every- the reopening of churches as body,” he said. a key priority in easing lock- down in the region. Attendance In a letter to priests, Arch- In his letter this week, Dr bishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin urged parishes to Martin said that “each church devise a seating plan and should be preparing its own clearly define the maximum clear plan in order to be ready number of people that the for opening”. He said that church can hold. “When this other European countries number has been identified, were providing a model that the parish must consider how Irish parishes could follow. to deal with possible larger Dr Martin said he believed attendance. that “Irish public health “This could mean sug- authorities will be influenced gesting that numbers be sys- by the measures taken in tematically spread around other European countries. the weekdays or that extra “The reopening of chur- Masses be scheduled for Sun- ches in a number of Euro- day,” he said. pean countries has in fact He also said that “it would been accompanied by strict seem that the preferred norms of public health,” he option is for Comunion to be said. brought to people rather Bishop of Elphin Kevin than by a procession to the Doran said he finds it “disap- altar”. pointing to think that smaller, Bishop Doran said that he Bishop Noel Treanor visited both Newtown and City Cemeteries in Belfast at the weekend to perform the traditional physically-distanced congre- » Continued on Page 2 blessing of the graves. Covid-19 restrictions prevents families from attending. See story, Page 3. MARY KENNY SACRAMENTS MOST HOLY KEEP THE PRESSURE ON Re-cycling boom How has our spirituality Irish bishops during the pandemic fared with church doors must tackle Mass PAGE 5 closed? PAGES 14 & 15 restrictions PAGE 8 WE LIVE IN EXTRAORDINARY TIMES… SUBSCRIBE TODAY 3 MONTHS FOR ONLY Don’t miss breaking news directly to your inbox or tablet each week with The Irish Catholic. €9.99* CODE: ICSPRINGOFFER *REGULAR PRICE €15 2 | Comment || The Irish Catholic, May 14, 2020 Inside this week It is a Herculean task to ready Love Notes Celebrating our parishes for the new normal during a ike many people, I am acutely lockdown feeling the absence of Sunday Mass. Parishes are doing their Editor’s Comment Staff reporter Page 34 Lbest, and there is a wealth of creativity in many of the Masses that are being streamed online. But it isn’t Michael Kelly the same – not really. Food for thought I am blessed where I live that churches remain open Why some things as places of prayer and isolation. A hundred people his disappointment that his on co-responsibility for are better now solace. In the stillness and in 100 houses with 100 own local parish church is the various tasks that are beauty of my local church iPads does not constitute not open for private prayer. required for the life of a Page 33 I am able to pray before the Church. Not really. When he enquired, he was busy parish. It’s not about the Blessed Sacrament. Returning to public told that all of the parish pensioning off those who Others are not so lucky. worship – even with small volunteers are over 70. But, are older, their wisdom is Many churches in various physically-distanced con- while expressing regret, it immense. But we do need hadn’t occurred to him until parts of the country gregations – must be our to lighten their load and I suggested it that the only remain locked much to priority. No one is suggest- understand that being an Notebook way to fix this was for him the dismay of parishioners ing for one minute that intentional disciple means to become a parish volun- even if they do understand the public health concerns more than 45 minutes of a An opportunity for teer. the genuine concern should be taken lightly. But Sunday morning. the Holy Spirit to for public safety that the goal must be to ensure A return to public Masses present a virtue motivates the closures. that the churches can be as Our response to will require a lot of thought, It is welcome news this safe as they can possibly and ❛❛the pandemic can be energy and work in terms Page 40 week that some diocese reasonably be. one that impels us of distancing, sanitising and have begun the process of It will take a Herculean operating one-way systems re-opening churches – at effort. The Covid-19 pan- forward to greater in churches to name just demic has shown up some three things. Managing Editor: Michael Kelly, [email protected] least for private prayer. responsibility for In the North, the civil of the challenges we face as A time of crisis is always Northern Correspondent: Martin O’Brien, [email protected] a Church. Take for example the life of our also a time of opportunity. authorities have indicated Aron Hegarty Multimedia Journalists: Chai Brady, [email protected] that opening churches will the priests over 70 who are God has not visited in active ministry and are parish” coronavirus on us to teach Róise McGagh, [email protected] be part of phase one of the relaxation of restrictions now cocooned. In five years’ Those of us who are us a lesson or to bring about Aron Hegarty, [email protected] there. Though oddly there time, they will mostly have younger and Massgoing some positive end. But our Newsroom: [email protected] 01 6874026 is no timeframe. retired. will have to step up. It is response to it can be one We have also become that impels us forward to Books Editor: Peter Costello, [email protected] not enough to marvel at Isolation reliant on a small and dedi- John and Mary who have greater responsibility for the Layout: Declan Moroney Jesus calls us all as cated group of volunteers been working in the parish life of our parish. We can’t Advertising: [email protected] 01 6874094 individuals, but he calls who are the backbone of for 60 or 70 years and leave it to the same few us to communion and every parish in the country. congratulate them on their people who do everything. Accounts: [email protected] 01 6874020 community. No man is A friend who in the distant commitment. We need a If our parishes are to have Magnificat: [email protected] an island and the faith is days of normality was a new generation of younger a future, we must be that not meant to be lived in weekly Massgoer told me of people to emerge and take future. Office hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 9.30am–5.30pm Shop: [email protected] Hopes for quicker return to Mass Managing Director: Garry O’Sullivan » Continued from Page 1 ferent parts of the country,” clear process in place. We’re churches for private prayer is Annual Subscription Rates: Ireland €145. Airmail €250. Six months – €75. believed it was important for he said. delighted that the opening of on the top of the list,” he said. ISSN 1393 - 6832 - Published by The Irish Catholic, the Church to act in unison. Meanwhile, north of the 23 Merrion Square, Dublin 2. “For the sake of avoiding con- border the plan published Printed by Webprint, Cork. fusion or mixed messages, it this week includes reopening is something that we will of churches as part of phase Place an Advert have to do together. one of easing restrictions. Phone 01 687 4094 or [email protected] “This is not made any eas- Bishop of Derry Donal ier by the fact that we have McKeown said: “I’m very two political jurisdictions on happy with that. It will bring a the island, or the fact that the lot of joy to very many people. Support Irish Missionaries impact of the virus has been “I think people will be reas- significantly different in dif- sured that there actually is a v Capuchin Day Care Centre v LET'S WORK FOR A BETTER SOCIETY FOR 29 Bow Street, Dublin 7 OUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN.