Pastoral Letter on Covid-19: Challenge to Faith and Opportunity for Faith

The Archbishop of Tuam, Dr. Michael Neary, has issued a Pastoral Letter on the Covid-19 pandemic.

In it he acknowledges the current challenges with which people are contending and offers a message of hope.

Archbishop Neary recognises that one of the most challenging aspects of the Covid-19 pandemic for people of faith is the restriction on the practice and living out of that faith.

In this situation, he says that both courage and faith will be crucial if we are to cope, because “faith enables us to cope with disappointment without abandoning hope."

Drawing inspiration from the story of the People of God in the Old Testament, the Archbishop continues his reflection by suggesting that we can learn from their experience of being challenged, confronted, and yet consoled by God.

And far from being a naïve pursuit, “religious faith creates community and encourages altruism,” Dr. Neary says.

While the pandemic has placed quite an amount of additional pressure on parents and families, at the same time “Covid-19 has enabled us to spend quality time with family members in the home”.

The Archbishop goes on to note that while “we are deprived of the togetherness occasioned by the public celebration of Mass, many [families] create a ‘sacred space’ in their own home where family prayer can take place,” and the diocesan prayer card Prayers For My Family, published last year, has proved to be an invaluable resource.

A most edifying example of the importance of faith as a lived reality was abundantly evident during the summer months as parishes prepared for the resumption of public celebrations of Mass the sacraments.

Archbishop Neary praises the teams of volunteers who worked closely with members of Pastoral Councils and the local priests in planning and preparing, cleaning and sanitising the churches in order to ensure that when the time came they “would be safe secure places for public worship."

This public worship is not possible for now, the Archbishop acknowledges, because of our desire to co-operate with and support all those who are working to suppress the virus.

In the meantime, he commends all those priests who have responded to the situation in often very creative ways.

He also expresses his appreciation and gratitude to the priests and all who assisted them in preparing the candidates for Confirmation and for celebrating the sacrament when it was not possible for the Archbishop to do so.

This year has been especially challenging “for those who had to lay to rest a family member in a way which is counter-intuitive to the Irish psyche,” the Archbishop says.

It has been also a most challenging time for those who have family members and loved ones in hospital or nursing homes, as indeed, it has been for the many couples who had planned to celebrate the Sacrament of Marriage.

Archbishop Neary draws his Pastoral Letter to a close with a resounding note of hope.

He says: “While the present experience constitutes a huge challenge to faith, yet in so many ways the situation brings out the best in people, awakening the need for and appreciation of connectivity and community.

"Goodness, generosity and gentleness are in evidence in service, neighbourliness and volunteerism.

"As a people of hope, we commit ourselves to welcoming and contributing to the decisive transformation made possible by the God who brings order out of chaos, light out of darkness, and new life out of situations where none seemed possible.”