The Letter of Bishop Alan McGuckian

Letter to the priests of the Diocese updating them of Covid-19 guidelines for pastoral ministry in the diocese

2020-03-31

Dear Brothers,

Peace! I want to check in with you again as the current situation moves forward. I thank you for your cooperation with everything to date. I have met many people who feel greatly supported by their priests at this time. These are faithful people who experience the loss of the regular reception of Holy Communion as a terrible sacrifice and still recognise that the radical decision on the part of the Church was taken out of charity and concern for the common good. I want everyone to abide by the guidance already given in its entirety.

Yesterday I had a Teleconference Call with the 6 VFs, the VGs and Fr Paddy Dunne who is the Diocesan Communications Officer along with Mags Moran, the North West Infection Control Officer. Mags spoke to us passionately about the importance of the ministry of priests to the people at this time but equally passionately about our duty be at the forefront of keeping the people safe.

Mags made a couple of points very strongly. The first was that pastoral ministry at this time should continue but be done wherever possible, REMOTELY.

Care of Sick and Elderly Housebound to be done remotely

For the health and safety of everybody and following the HSE guidelines in relation to Covid 19 priests should try to offer pastoral support to the sick and housebound over the phone or using social media. Priests can pray with their people over the phone, sometimes with a family member holding the phone on speaker. In this way all risk is avoided.

If it is necessary to visit the home of any sick or elderly person for anointing of the sick the priest must wear the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) mandated and provided by the HSE. It is essential that social distancing is maintained; this means that only one or two other family members can be present for the anointing and that the visit is limited to a very short period. The anointing will take place using the gloves which are an integral part of the PPE. Older priests or those with underlying conditions, regardless of age, should not make these visits but refer them to younger colleagues. I ask the VFs to be proactive in anticipating and organising this.

We have a stock of so-called PPE, i.e. Gloves, Aprons and Masks. We are in the process of sending them around the parishes. Mags Moran will send us instructions for their proper use which we will forward to you.

 In the Event of Death

According to Government norms Wakes should be strictly ‘house private’, limited only to close family. The priest will not visit the house to lead the Rosary or any other prayers. If wished the priest could lead the Rosary over the phone or social media.

Funerals

In our discussion yesterday the priests made it clear that, while some families are keen to be compliant with the call for ‘immediate family only’ attendance at funerals, it can become a burden on priests to police larger groups of people seeking to attend. One strong suggestion was that we should move immediately to having the Funeral Ceremony at the graveside only. It strikes me that this is likely to be imposed upon us by the government very soon with the kind of ‘lockdown’ seen in other countries. After discussion with Archbishop Eamon Martin I have decided not to introduce that practice unilaterally in Raphoe. However, I strongly urge priests to collaborate with Undertakers to insist on both ‘immediate family only’ attendance at the funeral and social distancing in the church.

Anniversaries and Month’s Mind

 Priests will offer Masses privately for the intentions of the deceased and, by arrangement with the family, these Masses can be relayed by Webcam or Social Media.

Baptisms

 If Baptisms take place in the church they must be limited to parents and godparents. The priest will administer the anointings either with a glove or a cotton bud.

In the case of emergency, the parents could be instructed and supported in conducting a baptism at home in the understanding that the child will be brought to the Church formally and registered at a later date.

Weddings

Weddings should be postponed to a later date.

I pray for you every day often. One way that we could be united in prayer is if you join me for the Rosary and Examen each evening at 9.15pm via the Cathedral webcam at www.churchservices.tv/letterkenny.

The Lord is close to us at this time and in steady prayer it will become more clear to us.

Yours in the Lord
+Alan