Pray, but stay away

PRAY but stay away – These words put in a nutshell the advice coming from the different Churches in the face of the escalating coronavirus pandemic. The advice may sound strange but under the circumstances is perfectly understandable and commendable.

Although during the early days of March as the numbers contacting the virus here in Ireland seemed slow but steady, I don’t think we fully realized how serious the virus was until on Wednesday March 11 the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus as a pandemic and called for action that would not only change our daily routines but could radically challenge and change the way we live our lives.

It was on the following day, March 12, when the Irish Government announced the immediate closure of all schools and colleges that the serious threat being presented by the coronavirus began to dawn. Swift action was taken by the staff at An Díseart and Seán Pól O’Connor, Director of the Sacred Heart University’s Dingle Campus, in the Diseart, whose primary concern and the concern of the university authorities was the health and safety of the students, and so, immediately, set about arranging social distancing and flights for the students to ensure their safe return to America by March 17. Thankfully they all arrived back safely and after being tested for the virus all results proved negative.

With their semester cut short the students were sad on leaving but grateful for their experience in Dingle. As one student put it: “I am eternally grateful that I got the opportunity to come here, even for a short period of time. Ireland is truly one of the most magical places I’ve ever been to and I am praying that I get the chance to come back to Dingle.” On behalf of all in the Diseart I would like to say a sincere thanks to the students and staff for the time they spent with us, which was a joy.

Just a few weeks earlier the Diseart displayed signs of great promise; signs of the Diseart evolving into a lively, varied and thriving community with staff, students, friends, visitors and a variety of activities involving members of the local community and with a lot of work having been done to improve the facilities. Who would think that by now, with the doors closed and the building empty, the Diseart would be virtually reduced to a deserted place, even though, strange enough, that is what the word ‘Diseart’ implies; but more correctly signifies a place apart, a special place of retreat for quiet, guided prayer and reflection with space being made available to those needing time to be alone with God. For that reason, although the doors remain closed, the word or rather the concept of Diseart should have special significance for us at this time of social isolating and maintaining a distance as we are being asked to ‘pray but stay away’.

Although Jesus prayed and worshipped in the Synagogue and in the temple at Jerusalem, he wasn’t impressed by public and outward shows of piety that many of the religious leaders and priests were guilty of at the time. Then, the Gospel on the third Sunday of Lent told the story of his conversation with the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well where Jesus seemed to have transgressed many boundaries in entering into a serious discussion with the woman; but perhaps the greatest “transgression”was in answer to the question: “Where one ought to worship God?” On Mount Gerizim in Samaria or in the Temple at Jerusalem; to which Jesus answered “believe me, woman, the hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. But the time is coming when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth.

Here I am reminded of the words of Jesus in the Gospel passage of Ash Wednesday. “When you pray,” he advises his listeners, “go to your private room and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in that secret place and your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you.” The Gospels tell us that Jesus, himself, who had “no place on which to lay his head,” regularly went out into the hills and to deserted places where he could be alone to pray and be in communion with the Father. So the private room that Jesus talked about, and I believe referred to in his conversation with the Samaritan woman, has been regarded by spiritual writers as the privacy of the human heart where Jesus from his own prayer life knew that God could be found by those seeking him.

And so at this time of social isolating, while our churches are closed to public worship, we might make a virtue out of necessity by retreating regularly into the silence and privacy of the human heart to spend time in communion with God who is present there; knowing that with God we are in communion with all we know love and care about. Indeed, we are in communion all humanity and with the whole of the world. We should especially ask Jesus to send his Holy Spirit to come to our aid in our weakness to intercede with us and for us with the Father in the face of the tragedy unfolding worldwide as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

In our celebration of Holy Week let us once again, through the prayers and intercession of Jesus and by the working of the Holy Spirit of God’s love, unite ourselves as one with all who are held in communion with the Father, who loved the world so much that he sent his only son, Jesus, who in turn, expressed the depth of his love in the words: “Greater Love than this no man hath than he gave up his life for his friends. God’s love is absolute and unconditional as is the love of Jesus; yet it cost the Father his son and it cost Jesus his life, all surrendered and given gratuitously for the love of all.

The love of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit embraces all creation, all creatures and especially all humanity, who alone are capable of reciprocating that love through the gift of faith in God as the creator of the world and Jesus as the Redeemer. Nobody is excluded from the gift of faith, nor can anybody feel superior to those without faith, but should respect their beliefs because God’s love is all inclusive.

During this Holy Week as the Diseart is closed and St Mary’s Parish Church is closed to services, there are ways, however, in which people can link up and share this special week with others. It is possible to plan with family, with neighbours, members of the Parish or friends, staff or students from the Diseart, to pray certain devotions with them at arranged times - for example the Angelus at 12 noon and 6pm, to pray the Rosary or follow the Stations of the Cross or other devotions. Even to agree to say the Our Father or/and the Hail Mary perhaps on the hour would be a fruitful exercise. All these prayers could be offered for different intentions, but especially for those struggling with the coronavirus or the consequences of it.

A very important link to follow the liturgies of the day with Fr Michael, especially through the Triduum: The Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper Thursday at 8pm . The Celebration of the Lord’s Passion, Friday 3pnm, and the celebration of the Easter Vigil on Saturday at 8pm. All of these can be accessed through the Paróiste Naomh Muire live webcam stream / MCN Media.

With all good wishes for every peace, health and for all the Joys of the Risen Lord this Easter. - Fr Jim

The diocese of Kerry website, which lists all the parishes in the county, also provides links to the webcam in St. Mary’s and the Paróiste ‘n Fheirtéaraigh Youtube channel.