The Catholic Weekly 29 March 2020

catholicweekly.com.au 12 NEWS 29, March, 2020 George and Randa Sabat and their children pray at home during the coronavirus lockdown of Bethlehem,West Bank. PHOTO: CNS/COURTESY SABAT FAMILY Staying safe doesn’t mean we can’t help others. In a time of crisis it’s our faith that should shine forth to help those who need a little light and love in their lives. W hen there’s a disaster, many people feel the impulse to rush out and do something right away to help. But to help in this pandemic, we must stay in, don’t do things, don’t go places. The isolation of COV- ID-19 has added a whole new layer of anxiety and sense of helplessness. But there are still ways we can ease each other’s suffer- ing as we wait out the pan- demic. As Catholics, we have a duty to seek out ways to help, if we can; and as mere humans, we will benefit emo- tionally if we find ways to act. Here are some concrete things you can do to help others, and yourself, while the crisis lasts: 1. Check the quarantined ON THE rare occasions you do leave the house, before you go, check in with people who are fully quarantined, or with people who are only so- cial distancing, but may have trouble going out safely (the elderly, or the sole caretak- er of young kids or a disabled person, for instance). Let them know you can pick up what they need – gro- ceries, library books, a pre- scription – and drop it off on their porches or mailbox. 2. Cook for the ill WHEN YOU cook, consider making extra and freezing it, in case someone local falls ill and needs an easy meal. Just be careful to observe best hy- gienic practices! 3. Thanks those working hard IF YOU’RE getting a lot of food and goods delivered to your house, consider adding a friendly note of thanks and encouragement for keeping the world running. Delivery people are run ragged lately, and the con- stant exposure to lots of peo- ple is wearing on their physi- cal and mental equilibrium. 4. Monitor those living alone SETUP a schedule among your family, friends, or neighbours to call vulnerable people every single day, tomake sure they’re still healthy and not languish- ing from loneliness. Don’t just try to remem- ber to check in, and don’t as- sume someone else is doing it. Make it a true part of your routine (and maybe assign one person the role of “daily call reminder”) so no one falls through the cracks. 5. There’s no rubbish IF BEING homebound is driv- ing you to de-clutter, keep an eye out for items that might be useful to other people, and of- fer them up for the taking on your local social media neigh- bourhood group. Your old cell phone might make a huge difference to someone who’s more isolated than you. Likewise for art and craft supplies, books, DVDs. One friend published a list of things that she would leave on her porch, labelled and san- itised, for anyone who wants them. Ways to help all in a crisis The Coronavirus causes isolation, fear and stress. It’s time to put our faith into action – not just for ourselves but others too 6. Watch out for others’ needs IF ANYONE among your friends and neighbours has allergies or special die- tary requirements – coeliacs who can’t eat gluten, or peo- ple with severe nut allergies, or babies who need certain kinds of formula – ask them if they especially need certain foods. When you do your shop- ping, keep an eye out for these items that go in and out of stock quickly, and snag a few. At very least, don’t buy these items yourself unless you truly have a medical need for them. 7. Start social networking MANY OF these tips depend on some kind of local social networking. If there’s not al- ready a neighbourhood (or church, or school) group in your area, start one! 8. Lighten up the world SOCIAL DISTANCING doesn’t mean you have to stay indoors; it just means you can’t get close. If you do go out for a walk, consider making the outdoors more cheerful for people who need cheering up in this desolate time. Some friends are deco- rating the trees outside their house with woollen yarn (here in the US it’s called ‘yarn bombing’), to make the neighbourhood more colour- ful for anyone passing by. You can also leave cheery or cheeky messages and pic- tures in chalk on the side- walks, to make people stroll- ing through deserted streets feel more connected. 9. Safe activities SOME PARENTS are setting up “social distancing scaven- ger hunts” in their neighbour- hoods. They all agree to put a cer- tain picture or design in their windows each day – a rain- bow, a blue flower, a smiley face – and kids headed out for some fresh air canhave the fun of hunting down all the houses with the sign of the day. 10.Turn to Mary - she’s a mum CONSIDER PRAYING The Angelus at noon, if not also at 6 am and 6 pm. It’s a very old practice that’s fallen out of favour in modern times, but if Catholics are going to be home at noon anyway, it’s a great time to pick it up again. It only takes a few min- utes, and can be learned eas- ily. Stop what you’re doing and remind yourself that, even though we’re isolated, we’re not abandoned. Every- one praying at the same time helps us feel more connected to God and to each other. 11. Relieve besieged parents IF YOU have a lot of time on your hands, consider offering one-on-one virtual story time to parents who could use a break from entertaining their kids. It will take some organi- sation, but it could be fun for kids, helpful to parents, and gratifying for people who miss the days of reading aloud to little ones. 12. Unleash your creative side TURN TO art. If we’re forced to slow down, let’s make the most of it. I’ve started #with- Draw2020, a daily art chal- lenge with prompts for each day, and every kind of artist, from kids to amateurs to pro- fessionals is welcome to take up the challenge. Several friends are using the daily prompts to write po- etry, as well. 13. Encourage others MAKE A resolution to be en- couraging, not discourag- ing, as you interact with oth- ers. Try to avoid policing each other’s emotions. We may not be able to offer concrete help, but at least we can refrain from criticising the way oth- er people are managing their stress and fear. If you think someone is being overly fearful, or overly flippant, or is making jokes that are too dark for your taste, just move along. If university students, athletes, or performers are mourning the loss of their moment in the sun, let them mourn, and don’t shame them with horror stories about people who’ve suffered worse deprivation. Let peo- ple manage the stress in their own way, as you manage it in yours. 14. This virus will disappear REMEMBER THERE is life be- yond the virus, and help other people remember. It’s tempt- ing to talk only and endlessly about the pandemic. It’s im- portant to share medical in- formation, but it’s also impor- tant for our mental health to remember there’s more to the world. As Catholics, we have a duty to seek out ways to help, if we can; and as mere humans, we will benefit emotionally if we find ways to act.” Simcha Fisher Columnist FEATURE