IRISH NEWS BULLETIN

‘Closing church broke my heart’ – half of priests in one diocese are cocooning

Around half of the clergy in a Catholic diocese spanning four counties are ‘cocooning’, the Irish Independent reports.

Fr Brendan Quinlivan said 34 of the 70 priests in the diocese of Killaloe are over the age of 70.

As diocesan spokesman, he said a number of those priests are fully retired and a few are in nursing home care.

The diocese stretches from Loop Head on the Atlantic coast in west Co Clare to Kinnity in Co Offaly and takes in parts of Co Tipperary and Co Limerick.

One of those cocooning at his Ennis home is former Bishop of Killaloe Dr Willie Walsh who said the process is “traumatic” for elderly priests.

“For some priests over 70 who were still working, I would expect it is traumatic when you would find yourself almost not needed any more,” said Dr Walsh.

“The world hasn’t stopped because we don’t have public Masses and it is a reminder to us and a humbling experience for us that we don’t seem to be needed and the world is churning on without us being very busy.”

Fr Quinlivan said there is “great sadness” among priests that they have been compelled to close the doors on churches to parishioners and suspend public Masses across the diocese.

“The instruction came in on Saturday afternoon to go and shut the church and it really broke my heart to lock the church,” he said.

“All the previous two weeks when I went over to it, there were candles lighting in it, there was a stream of visitors in and out.

“Closing the doors of the church really, really broke my heart and it goes against everything of having an oasis for people to go where they might find some bit of calm.

Book spot

APCK bookshop corner of Howard Street and Donegall Square West. Pre 1970.

C of I bulletin goes weekly

The Church of Ireland’s eBulletin will be published weekly until further notice, to help to highlight broadcast and online worship services and reflections and other ways in which the Church is seeking to respond to the Covid–19 outbreak.

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Holy Week and Easter at Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin

“Though we remain closed to the public, we have continued to serve as a virtual gathering place for prayer via our webcam. In addition to our regular morning (10.00) and evening (17.00) prayer offered Monday – Fridays we will be conducting the following services marking this most significant season in the church year.”

5 April, Palm Sunday Eucharist–11.00
10 April, Good Friday Readings and Reflections–15.00
11 April, Easter Vigil with Renewal of Baptismal Vows–21.00
12 April, Easter Day Eucharist–11.00

Church Times prayers and reflections online

Each week for the foreseeable future we plan to produce a collection of prayers and reflections which, we hope, will help to support people who are deprived of the gifts that come from churchgoing.

Download the first issue here:
[ churchtimes.co.uk/media/5667634/… ]

Prayer requests

As long as we continue living, we must continue praying’. (M. Henry).

Pray for those in authority, making the biggest calls of their lives. Pray for the health & strength of our NHS workers. Pray for those who are sick. Our prayers are powerful so let’s commit to praying them

We are acutely aware of the need for hospital beds, ventilators and personal protective equipment to be made available. We pray that these will be provided quickly in the places where desperately needed.

Remember global mission workers and other overseas personnel:
Pray that they will know God’s strength & peace as they minister far from home in a global pandemic
Pray that they will find opportunities to show Christ’s love and share his gospel

God in creation

Sand Martin in full flight at Magilligan Point