Archbishop Jackson writes to class of 2020
THE Archbishop of Dublin, the Most Revd Dr Michael Jackson, has written to Wicklow sixth year students to express his support for them at this time.
His letter has been sent to sixth year 2020 students in schools of which he is a patron or which have Church of Ireland connections in the United Dioceses of Dublin and Glendalough.
These students would have expected to begin their Leaving Certificate exams next week, had they not been cancelled due to Covid-19. The Archbishop commended students for their patience over the past weeks and months and congratulated them for finding ways to cope in the crisis.
The Class of 2020 had been denied being part of a community and a very special year group in their schools, he said. They had also been working towards a specific goal since the start of the year.
‘ You have every reason to be confused by what has happened. And even now when decisions have been made about The Leaving Certificate for this year, there still is confusion,’ said Archbishop Jackson.
‘Confusion always raises important issues about fulfilment and fairness. These questions will remain. They are currently beyond your control. I want to encourage you to do some simple things that are within your control.
‘In this way, I am encouraging you to keep control over your own lives in these difficult days of the coronavirus. We continue to live in times that are as dangerous to you as they are to me and to everyone else. We all need to stay safe.’
He urged the members of the Class of 2020 to honour their gifts and talents. He added that they had no need to fear this world.
‘ You need to remember that you have everything to offer. The world has changed before your eyes to a world that feels a lot more closed in.
‘In whatever ways others, who are also doing their best to care for your future, they too are caught in the eye of a public health pandemic that has neither secure science nor viable vaccine,’ he said.
He also asked sixth years to hold on to their life goals and nurture them and to retain their friendship group.
‘For some of us this is family, for others it is a smaller or a larger group of friends with whom we have shared interests and ideas and good fun inside and outside of school. Please continue to talk and to work your way through these very difficult times. Together you have more energy than you have individually.
‘ This energy you can still bring to this wonderful time in your lives. Many people look to you for inspiration. I encourage you to look after yourselves, not to give way to disappointment.
‘I encourage you to enjoy your life, your family and friends. Remember that you are special and important to Ireland today and the Ireland of tomorrow,’ said Archbishop Jackson.