The Catholic Weekly 19 April 2020

catholicweekly.com.au 7 19, April, 2020 Find out more catholichealthcare.com.au/bodymindspirit 1300 216 675 Holistic aged care for every stage Home Care | Retirement Living | Residential Aged Care Body. Mind. Spirit. In brief Universal wage idea POPE FRANCIS said the COVID-19 pandemic should give rise to con- sideration of “a universal basic wage” to guaran- tee people have the min- imum they need to live and support their fami- lies. “Street vendors, recy- clers, carnies, small farm- ers, construction workers, dressmakers, the different kinds of caregivers: you who are informal, work- ing on your own or in the grassroots economy, you have no steady income to get you through this hard time,” Pope Francis wrote in an Easter message. “This may be the time to consider a universal basic wage which would acknowledge and dignify the noble, essential tasks you carry out,” the pope said in his 12 April letter. ACROSS THE Archdiocese of Sydney, a group of priests are preparing for their new role in a COVID-19 world. The volunteer group of around 14 priests dubbed the Archdiocese of Sydney’s ‘Fly- ing Squad,’ answered the call for priests willing to visit those suffering from the Coronavi- rus. The pandemic has raised concerns that virus victims could face their end in isola- tion. Strict quarantine rules around the world limit the contact a patient can have when battling the virus. The idea, an initiative of Fr Sam Lynch, parish admin- istrator at St Thomas’ and St Patrick’s in Summer Hill, sees priests aged around 40 and younger, who have no exist- ing health conditions and are deemed to be ‘low risk’, train- ing to visit the sick. The priests will receive expert training, in the use of personal protective equip- ment (PPE) when preparing to visit patients and admin- ister the sacraments, both in hospitals and in homes. “This is something that was discussed for a while and re- ally started in the last two or three weeks,” said Fr Matthew Meagher of All Saints Parish Liverpool, one of the group’s volunteers. “If the situation gets worse, if people with COVID-19 are housebound or critically ill at home, we want to be prepared to visit those people and be with them as they face that challenge.” The Flying Squad will work in pairs across areas of Sydney’s Archdiocese, ready to respond should the need Our clergy step up for sick and ill Bishop Richard Umbers blesses vials of holy water for use by ‘Flying Squad’ clergy. PHOTO: DAVID RYAN arise. The group has arranged to undertake training at St Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney to learn how to lower the risk in a home visit, learn proce- dures regarding safety equip- ment and understand proper practices when in close prox- imity with a patient. “I’ve visited one patient who had COVID-19, I got a call around 10.30pmandwent to be with them.,” Fr Matthew said. “When you’re at the hospi- tal you just do and wear what you’re told. We want to pre- pare to be able to do that on our own in homes if the situ- ation calls for it. “We will travel in pairs so that one priest can go in and be with the patient and the other is there to assist with protective equipment and making sure we all stay safe.” The Flying Squads news ar- rives at the same time as med- ical experts warn of the need to ensure PPE is used by cler- gy when visiting the sick. Dr Catherine Lennon, a Sydney GP and NSW presi- dent of Doctors for Life says organising more personal protective equipment and educating those working with the infected is urgent. “As a doctor I think it’s vi- tally important that all health- care workers, hospital chap- lains and priests should have personal protective equip- ment and P2 masks,” Dr Len- non told T he Catholic Weekly . “These are people on the frontline givingmedical, emo- tional, spiritual and practical support to people - some of whom may have COVID-19 detected or undetected.” “Personal protective equip- ment is definitely available in Australia and urgent meas- ures should be taken by our bishops and priests to prior- itise safety in the way people are helped. “We must learn from the tragic circumstances in Italy where more than 70 Catholic priests died from COVID and more than 100 doctors died from COVID.” Overseeing the implemen- tation of the initiative, Bishop Richard Umbers was pleased with the response from Syd- ney’s young clergy. “Fr Sam Lynch has been a great help in ‘seeing a need and doing something about it’,” said Bishop Umbers. “Thanks to his initiative we have various WhatsApp groups up and running amongst the priests and PPE equipment to ensure we are ready for any contingency. “The sacraments structure the Church and it is Fr Sam’s love for the priesthood that has led him to find ways in which we can continue to ex- ercise our priestly ministry as safely as we can.” ¾ ¾ Benjamin Conolly FOR FIFTEEN years on East- er Monday, young adults from Somascan parishes in West- ern Australia have been trek- king across the white sand of WA’s Coogee Beach with Ro- sary Beads in hand. It is a cherished tradition of public witness that has brought so many youth, and their families, together in prayer and friendship. With the NSW parishes of Moorebank and Holsworthy joining the Somascan fami- ly, this year’s Easter Monday ritual was set to go national on 13 April … until the spread of the coronavirus caused the closure of churches and pub- lic gatherings. Adapting to this new situ- ation and following the lead ¾ ¾ Mathew De Sousa Online Rosary grows of others in Youth ministry across the country, Somascan Religious Br Sheldon Burke CRS and Somascan Move- ment Australia decided to take the Rosary Walk online. On Easter Monday, 15 young adults in Western Aus- tralia, New South Wales and Tasmania joined together vir- tually to pray for their families, the nation and the Church. “In this time of self-isola- tion, it was so important that we continue this tradition, coming together as a spiritual family, to pray for one another and the Church,” said Br Shel- don Burke CRS The cross-country collabo- ration continued as 40 youth from the Somascan parish- es in WA and NSW gathered once more, with those from St Felix Bankstown, for a recita- tion of the Holy Rosary on 15 April. The youth were joined by Moorebank/Holsworthy par- ish administrator Fr Mathew Velliyamkandathil CRS and assistant priest Fr Chris De Sousa CRS and led by Brother Sheldon Burke CRS. Somascan youth members from Moorebank and Hols- worthy parish will continue their CARE nights, featuring live-streamed Adoration, rec- itation of the Holy Rosary and Divine Mercy Chaplet, on the first Friday of every month via ZOOM and be able to partic- ipate online in Lectio Divina every Tuesday night. Any youth who wish to be part of youth ministry at Moorebank parish can con- tact the parish office for more information. NEWS