Lockdown arrangements:

No public Masses. Masses on web only. Weekday Mases at 10am, weekend Masses, Saturday 6.30pm & Sunday 10.30am only. Church open for private prayer on weekdays 10.30am till 12 noon. The Blessed Sacrament will be exposed on Fridays at this time. Everyone encouraged to pray for end of pandemic. 25 only allowed at weddings and funerals. Parents and godparents only allowed at baptisms.

                                                    Jesse tree

 During Advent some people like to set up a Jesse tree. This tree represents Jesse’s family tree to which Jesus belongs. It is way of reflecting on how God revealed himself gradually to the Jews during their history and how in this way he prepared his people for the coming of Christ. We too need to open our hearts to the coming of Christ into our lives. On our Facebook page (Extended Word for the Week) I give full details of the symbols that are placed on the Jesse tree. You might think of making your own symbols for your Jesse tree. Alternatively for Advent you might make your own advent wreathe like the one we will have in the Church, or again you might get the children to make their own cardboard crib using figures from old Christmas cards.

Where are we?

We, as a Church, have been called on by God to preach the Gospel to all nations. That is our task. It begins by bringing the Gospel to those close to us , our family,, our friends and our colleagues, because these are the ones over which we have most influence. The parish is made up of many such small units, but if those units aren’t working, the parish fails to function as it should. That’s our problem.

The Parish Cell Movement was set up to counteract this problem, and I would like to see it operating in our parish, but we cannot get started right now because of the pandemic. The Parish Cell Movement necessitates friends being able to come together to share their faith. We are considering how this might work in our parish.

More pressing at the moment is our desire to celebrate First Holy Communion with those who were to make their First Holy Communion last May, and also to plan how we are to prepare to celebrate the sacraments next year. Besides which we are unhappy that we are unable to celebrate public Mass as this is so important in connecting people with each other in the faith we profess. Uncertainty about this and other matters  is distressing for everyone.  Finances are a particular concern  for the parish as well as for individuals, as when people are not coming to Church finances have dropped drastically. We would appreciate any help in this regard to any of our usual collections.

Let us see where our loving God is working in this pandemic. For example, this might be a time when someone with time on his/her hands and with competence in  I.T.  might help us to improve our communication with parishioners and meet their needs. Don’t keep a safe distance from God.

DUBLIN  CLOSEDOWN

Like everyone else in Dublin, I suppose, I was foolishly hoping that the corona virus could be brought under control, but this is not what has happened and so we’re upset.  At this stage people’s anxiety has deepened as they feel that their efforts are not working. Older people may feel it’s unfair that they have to bear the brunt of the restrictions, though it is for their own safety. Younger people may feel that they should not be restricted as they are likely to recover if they get the virus. People are fed up and just want to find someone to blame so that they may excuse themselves in their behaviour. But the fact is that many young and old are catching the virus and that this is having a terrible effect on their health, and the number dying is not going down. Compassion for all who are effected is what is needed, not anger and resentment.

The pandemic has hit us hard, because until this pandemic arrived, we as a country were doing so well. Please God we will continue to do well, but it is such a different situation now that we cannot expect that everyone will be as well-off as before, and there will be more need to take the needs of others into account. For the moment it’s a matter of staying calm, and following the guidelines for the sake of each other. When people have more time on their hands, they can reflect and be creative, and many are to be commended because they have found ways of doing so in a way that has helped others. We can all likewise use the opportunities we have to pray and this will enable us to see the good that God wishes to bring about at this time, and to control the ill-effects of the virus.

Following on directions from the government, the Archbishop has informed us that we are placed on Level 3 of the Government’s National Recovery Plan for at least a three week period. This means that St Matthew’s Church will remain closed from midnight tonight (Friday, 18th Sept.). No public Masses will take place, except for funerals and weddings where attendance will be limited to 25. Parish Masses will be transmitted on the web from St Matthew’s at the usual Mass times. We are allowed to open for private prayer, and will do so from Monday onwards from 10.30am till 12 noon. 

I am very grateful for all the support and co-operation. When the Church re-opens we will again have the same necessary restrictions as up till now.  They include measures like sanitising your hands, social distancing, and wearing  facemasks.  The obligation to attend Mass on a Sunday does not apply during these times of the pandemic and those who are vulnerable or who have been in touch with those affected by the virus should not attend. Entry only will be by the front doors and Exit only by the back doors. Exception will be made for those in wheelchairs. Toilets will be open, but those who use them will be expected to use hand sanitisers and clean the toilet furnishings after use. Only priest and sacristan will be allowed in the sacristy at Mass-times. The collection baskets  will be at the back of the Altar. People will not be allowed to gather around outside after leaving the Church. Holy Communion will be brought to the people in their seats and they may receive only in the hand.