A statue of St. Patrick, patron of Ireland, is seen at the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph in Brooklyn, N.Y. The feast of St. Patrick is March 17, 2021. (CNS photo/Gregory A. Shemitz)
It will be a masked and restrained St. Patrick’s Day in Ireland, with the government maintaining its highest “Level 5” restriction on businesses and the Irish public as it attempts to turn back a January spike in coronavirus cases. A year ago on March 11, Ireland suffered its first Covid-19 death. This year on March 6 its prime minister (known in Ireland as the taoiseach), Micheál Martin, celebrated the “good news” that Ireland had distributed half a million coronavirus vaccinations about two months after the first inoculation. Mr. Martin tweeted, “The vaccines are having a significant impact on mortality and serious illness.”
Irish bishops call for resumption of public worship after COVID restrictions eased
A closed bar in Dublin, Ireland, Oct. 21, 2020. (Credit: Peter Morrison/AP.)
Ireland’s bishops are calling for people to be allowed to attend public worship as soon as the country eases its COVID-19 lockdown.
LEICESTER, United Kingdom – Ireland’s bishops are calling for people to be allowed to attend public worship as soon as the country eases its COVID-19 lockdown.
The Republic of Ireland won’t lift its Level 5 restrictions – a full lockdown with people urged to stay at home – until April 5 at the earliest; however, public worship won’t be allowed until the country reaches Level 2.
Catholic bishops call for urgent increase of funeral gathering limit
Tuesday, March 09, 2021
Digital Desk Staff
Catholic bishops are urging church members to lobby their TDs over Covid-related restrictions on Masses and funerals, saying limits on public worship should be “proportionate and for the shortest time possible”.
As The Irish Times repots, in a statement on Tuesday, the bishops requested an immediate increase in the number of people permitted at funerals and a return to regular church services once Level 5 restrictions begin to ease.
However, in keeping with public health guidance, they have recommended the postponement of the sacraments of First Holy Communion and Confirmation ceremonies “for the time being”.
A group representing Catholic priests has expressed misgivings at moves by the Churchâs four Archbishops in Ireland to allow people âgather safely for the important ceremonies of Holy Week and Easterâ.
At a virtual meeting with Taoiseach Micheál Martin last Friday, Catholic Primate Archbishop Eamon Martin, Archbishop of Dublin Dermot Farrell, Archbishop of Cashel Kieran OâReilly and Archbishop of TuamMichael Neary expressed a strong desire this should happen.
They emphasised the spiritual comfort that participation in public worship brings to people of faith and called for it to return, when an easing of restrictions is considered, in particular with the approach of Holy Week and Easter.
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