Author: Mattie Long

With the horrific death toll from the Coronavirus pandemic in Italy now rising towards 5,500 the Catholic News Agency reports that at least 60 Italian priests have died from COVID-19

Tony Flannery, in his own blog, cites the fact that scripture scholars are now saying much, and more, of what he was silenced for ten years ago. The difference is that there is now no problem with scholars expressing their thoughts and opinions and engaging in a healthy discussion of the topics involved.

Seamus Ahearne was somewhat redundant on Sunday morning. “I read the Morning Prayer very slowly. I had to do it out-loud.  Otherwise, it was in danger of being rushed thoughtlessly.  And my mind retreated to the past.  The long distant past.”

Chris McDonnell in the Catholic Times recounts the life of Ernesto Cardenal, Priest, Poet and Politician, who died recently at the age of 95

Seamus Ahearne gives his thoughts on the reality we are now face with. “A new Religion may be taking shape just now. It is forced on us.  Communion is expressed by keeping distance.”

Note from the Apostolic Penitentiary on the Sacrament of Reconciliation in the current pandemic.

Hope filled words in a time of crisis, by Chris McDonnell

RTÉ to air daily Mass and minority faith messages during the Covid-19 emergency
RTÉ News Now can be accessed on Saorview (channel 21), Sky (521), Virgin Media (200), Eir (517) as well as via the RTÉ Player, the RTÉ News Now app and via RTÉ.ie/news.

Brendan Hoban writes in the Western People about the current situation with efforts to help slow the spread of COVID-19
“when we don’t know, or can’t know what to do, as with the corona virus, a respectful silence is probably the best option. It’s a time, if ever there was a time, when what the experts say has to be heard and acted upon.”

Tim Hazelwood outlines a recent meeting between a lay group supporting Fr Tony, two representatives of the ACP, and members of the leadership of the Irish Province of the Redemptorist Order.

“This Holy Week we won’t be acting it out in a pageant, instead we will be living it out”

Jo O Sullivan takes time to write her reflections on the request from the Dublin Archdiocese that Parish Pastoral Councils discuss what kinds of new ministries are needed if our church is to “thrive into the future”.

Thanks to Jo O Sullivan for forwarding this.

Statement from the Association of Catholic Priests on COVID-19

It seems that all Masses with congregations will be cancelled in light of the Covid-19 outbreak.
Archbishop Neary of Tuam has issued the following directive; “all Masses with congregations in parishes in the Archdiocese of Tuam should be cancelled.”

UPDATE – Irish Bishops
“In the current emergency situation, all are dispensed from the obligation to physically attend Sunday Mass.”
“Every Catholic is entitled to a dignified Christian burial.  Attendance at Funeral services and Masses should be limited to close relatives and must not exceed 100 attendees within the church building.
Similarly, Church weddings and baptisms may be celebrated on condition that the attendance in church does not exceed 100 people.”

Seamus Ahearne takes time out to reflect.
“all of us should stop finger-pointing and blaming and freshen up this Church where somehow God still speaks despite the mess we are often in. Our vocation is to reach out and touch the heavens and then to be a poet of faith.”

Chris McDonnell in the Catholic Times suggests that “We live in a time of immediate news and instant reaction. Sometimes a period of reflection allows a more considered opinion to form.” and he asks “The papal document is the response to the Synod’s theme “Amazon: new paths for the Church and for an integral ecology. So where do we stand?”

The Irish Bishops’ Conference has issued the following directions in the light of current public health authority advice in Ireland, north and south, aware that these might have to change at very short notice.

The Health Service Executive (HSE) of Ireland has issued the following guidance document that gives general advice about preventing the spread of COVID-19 during religious services.

The Newman Institute, Edinburgh invite you to “Tradition and the Challenge of Same-Sex Unions” presented by Angela Hanley on Tuesday 10 March 7.30-9.30pm. Mayfield Salisbury Church, 18 West Mayfield
Edinburgh EH9 1TQ