Message from Archbishop Diarmuid Martin

Like all those over 70, I find myself in isolation at home. For me as someone who is active by nature it is inconvenient.

It is however nothing compared with the hardship experienced by so many others in the current situation.

I think of the seriously ill. I think of the bereaved who return into isolation after a burial. I think of families experiencing uncertainty about their financial situation. I think of families who have loved ones with special needs. I think of families with young children confined in tight space and concerned about the health of their children. I think of the fear and the anxiety the elderly and the lonely. We tend to forget that there are many elderly in our communities who may have no close relative. We have to seek out and reach out to such people.

Over these days, I have been calling people on the telephone to ask how they are. The remarkable thing is that so many of them reply that they are all right because neighbours and friends have been helpful and keep in touch. Good neighbourliness is a trademark of Irish families and it is moving to see how they are responding in the current situation. Young people have been great. These small gestures of practical kindness are just as important as the vital major decisions. We owe a great deal to those who bear the responsibility of leadership at this moment, especially in the front line. I think of the public health authorities, of doctors, nurses and carers and indeed our government leadership. Over these days, I have been trying to reach out to parishes to provide them with practical advice but above all with prayer resources and encouraging creativity in reaching out. On-line communication is a great blessing.