Lough Derg: Prior to move to the island to ensure the voice of prayer is not silent – Pages 14 & 15 The Irish SpiritMay 28th, 2020 THE NEW FREE Issue No. 3 MARIA The Birthday of NORMAL INSIDE the Church STEEN Silvester O’Flynn OFM writes on the It’s Church, but An eight-page special beautiful message of Pentecost Outsourcing the moral RESISTING TEMPTATION not as we know on spirituality today An exclusive excerpt from education of children Freedom from Evil Spirits it... Page 8 Pages 17-24 by Fr Pat Collins is dangerous Page 7 PRAYING DURING PENTECOST The Litany to Thursday, May 28, 2020 €2.00 (Stg £1.70) f The-Irish-Catholic-Newspaper L @IrishCathNews www.irishcatholic.com the Holy Spirit ....and much more! Church lays out a Ferns Faithful find safe welcome draft roadmap back to public Masses suggested that dioceses prepare ing in advance to spread partici- EXCLUSIVE short videos similar to aircraft pation in Mass across the week. Michael Kelly and safety demonstrations to assist l Devising a parish programme Chai Brady parishioners in correct behav- which will provide for people Vulnerable and older parishion- iour when returning to Mass. to come from particular town- ers will be asked to stay home This newspaper can reveal lands, station areas or housing rather than attendw Mass that options being considered estates to come to a designated under a new draft plan being for Holy Communion include Mass on a particular day, in discussed by the hierarchy The a glass screen with an opening such a way that everyone can Irish Catholic can reveal. The at hand level at all Communion come at least once every few plan aims to ensure that all distribution points or priests weeks on Sunday. l preparations are made so that wearing a transparent visor Suggesting to those who are churches are ready to move as when giving out Communion vulnerable due to old age or soon as the civil authorities to people in their seats. ill-health, that they might con- give the green light to public tinue to participate on webcam Masses. Expectations or on radio for the moment and, The 88-point programme – The document insists that if they wish, arrange for a fam- which is expected to be boiled “before there is a return to ily member to bring them Holy down to key points in com- public Masses, it will be very Communion, while observing ing days, also bans choirs and important to manage expecta- the required sanitising of hands congregational singing when tions in advance so that it is not etc. churches re-open for public necessary to turn people away”. The plan envisages Confir- Masses. Priests are asked to work mation ceremonies taking place It comes as the Government with parish councils to calculate in mid-September and advises has hinted that phase four – how many people the church that such celebrations would be when public Masses are due to can safely hold and clearly dis- conducted by the parish priest begin from July 20 – could be play this figure. The document and may have to take place in brought forward to the end of says that other key points to small groups over successive June if the virus continues to be managing expectations include: days. Fr John Carroll PP and volunteers prepare floor markings in the Church of St successfully managed. l Reminding people that the The document says that “a Alphonsus in Barntown, Co. Wexford. They are part of stringent measures In the document obtained obligation to attend Sunday return to public worship and required for a return to public Masses. by The Irish Catholic, it is also Mass is dispensed and arrang- » Continued on Page 4 DAVID QUINN HOME EDUCATION MARY KENNY Taking the nation’s With schools closed, Surely the Church can spiritual pulse under what you can do to help devise a constructive way lockdown PAGE 12 your children PAGES 31 & 33 of social distancing? PAGE 5 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 28, 2020 The Irish Catholic, May 28, 2020 | News ||3 Inside this week We need an army of volunteers to Baroness O’Loan criticises Fr Ron Rolheiser get our churches open for Mass What ‘faithful ime and again we see from friendship’ means the pages of the Bible that a time of crisis is also a time of ACP over ‘offensive’ statement Page 30 opportunity. Whether in the Editor’s Comment to go to the supermarket or to do any ably to force their private agendas on many individuals and families, so In a secular society, she added, story of the Israelites or in the New Chai Brady of the other things which are under the present careful process”. churches or religious groups claim- there’s a “lack of recognition” of the TTestament, God sets before his people Michael Kelly Baroness Nuala O’Loan has dubbed discussion at the moment,” she said. “Efforts at present effectively ing entitlement to special treatment spiritual “as manifest in worship a choice when it comes to every crisis: a statement by the Association of “We’ve always been able to go to demanding that churches be kept is inappropriate and unacceptable”. such as that in the Catholic Church”. to adapt and grow, or to Catholic Priests (ACP) “ill-advised” the supermarket because it’s always open, that public Masses be rein- Baroness O’Loan described the “I think for that reason those who Bairbre Cahill perish. pandemic together. This the radio. and religious on the issue, it and “offensive” after they criticised been recognised that we need to buy stated and that ‘rights’ to pray in statement as “offensive” and she are believers need to speak up and Pentecost – Human beings grow is particularly true of the For those of us with no is the norm. individuals and groups pushing for a food, the Mass and the Sacraments churches be upheld are being can- believes “those who are particularly say it wasn’t for nothing that there’s through crises and so does Church and a massive army underlying conditions or Now we are called to faster return to public Masses. for us is food for the soul. I would say vassed by individuals and groups frail or vulnerable actually won’t be a recognised right to freedom of Easter’s crowning the Church. The corona- of volunteers in every parish health concerns, we should embark on another mission The prominent human rights it’s necessary to consider whether it with their own self-serving and self- attending Mass”. religion but it’s important that we glory virus pandemic has been in the country will have to be considering how we are of safeguarding the return lawyer, former NI police ombuds- can be done and not just saying it interested agendas,” the ACP said. “It’s not the case that we’re going keep the issue of spirituality and an unprecedented time assemble and commit to best placed to help in the to public Masses. man and member of the House of can’t be done.” to force these elderly or vulnerable the right to practice your religion Page 33 for the Church. When we this project for the gradual reopening. Parish councils In the document seen Lords, Baroness O’Loan told The Irish The ACP said in a statement over Suffering people into a situation in which right at the forefront and that it’s gathered for Ash Wednes- re-opening to be a success. often complain that their by this newspaper, the Catholic that it’s not an “all or noth- the weekend said that an “obvious The group continue saying that gath- they’re at risk. not something that doesn’t matter, day on February 26, few of role is ill-defined: this bishops say that “it is ing situation”. danger” to the “careful, prudent and ering people together, especially the “It’s a situation in which we’re it’s not something that is engaged us could’ve imagined that For their own is a perfect moment for clear that re-opening the “The ability to come together to responsible approach” of Govern- elderly and those at risk, “is grossly making it possible for people to in by self-serving people, rather it’s the council to take on the we would be preparing to good,❛❛ many will pastoral life of the Church pray, to go to Mass, to receive sacra- ment to the coronavirus crisis are irresponsible and will lead to great come to Mass and receive the sacra- the essence of the lives of so many Books mark the feast of Pente- co-ordination of a return to will be far more challenging ments is as important as the ability groups which may seek “unreason- pain, suffering and loss of life for ments.” people in Ireland.” cost under lockdown. want to continue to public Masses by identifying institutionally than anything High thoughts in the talents and skills in the Our priests and participate in the we have been through in the the Middle Ages parishes have responded local Christian community past few months. ‘Human beings still equal’ despite referendum to the new reality with Mass via webcam or and utilising these people. justice,” he said. Pages 36 & 37 We all have our part to Rugby star: ‘We rely on Ruadhán Jones courage and vigour.