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“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

We are Church Ireland invite you for a short (30 minutes) joyful gathering at the Apostolic Nuncio’s to celebrate International Women’s Day at 12.15 p.m. on Sunday 08 March 2020.

novenanews.com carries an interesting article by Mada Jurado on how in many places Catholic women are mobilising for International Women’s Day.
“The equality of every human being is a basic lesson of Christianity”
“women realise the time for asking is over, they are taking on the responsibility for the future of their Church – with or without permission.”

Chris McDonnell in the Catholic Times writes about Eating together, becoming one, a recently published book by Professor Tom O’Loughlin. Tom currently holds the chair of Historical Theology in the University of Nottingham and has recently retired as president of the Catholic Theological Association. In this book he addresses the complex issue of intercommunion amongst Christian churches.
“It is ironic that the very centre of nourishment within the Christian family has become the point of division between us, a matter of confusion rather than an occasion of joy and close companionship.”
“Yet too often we look for differences, we set up restrictive practices and discord takes the place of harmony. The advice from the priest over who may receive at weddings and funerals is but one telling example.”

We are Church Ireland present a talk by Brian Grogan SJ on “Pope Francis’ Gospel Centred Church” on 09 March at 7.30 p.m. in Mercy Centre International, 64a Lower Baggot Street, Dublin 2.

Seamus Ahearne shares some reflections on on-going situations in the world about us.
“Despite all the storms (of life); hope emerges. We keep going.”
“We have to catch hope and light and beauty and wonder and laughter anywhere and everywhere.  That too is Spring.  It is truly Lent.”

Remarks Pope Francis intended to speak to priests in Rome were read to them in his absence due to a “slight indisposition”.

Chris McDonnell, in the Catholic Times, reflects on how we might beneficially use Lent this year.
“It is a time to ask questions, a pause time on a journey, a time when we might re-examine the baggage we carry from month to month, maybe a time to lighten the load.”
“So maybe there is a good question that we could all address this Lent, how might the Church meet the needs of the community without resorting to worn platitudes? …. We should encourage each other to face reality and trust that we might follow God’s Spirit as it moves in our hearts.”

Brendan Hoban, in his Western People column, reacts to the letter, Beloved Amazon, issued by Pope Francis last week.
“It is important for us to name the disappointment, the frustration, the sadness, the upset, the anger that are part of the fall-out from last week’s letter.”
“The answer is that for some people, and progressively more, the waiting is over. Parents with children – teenage and adult – understand why time is important. Our leaders seem to be in denial about the impact such catastrophic delays are having on the confidence and the membership of our Church.”

Pádraig McCarthy reminds us of, and comments on, the 2020 Day of Prayer for Survivors and Victims of Abuse.

Asked why a Latin rite Roman Catholic should know more about the Eastern rite traditions, Bishop Botean responded: “If a Catholic wants to know the Catholic Church, they need to know us. Because we’re a part of it. And Christianity has many forms outside of Western Christianity.”