The Catholic Weekly 17 May 2020

24 NEWS 17, May, 2020 WITH COVID-19 restrictions being eased this weekend churches have now been al- lowed to open their doors for the first time in more than seven weeks. During the pandemic, clergy have had to modify centuries of tradition to stay connected to their congrega- tions by live-streaming Mass, conducting drive-in recon- ciliation, taping parishioners’ images to church pews, even holding Zoom prayer meet- ings. And while we’ve all felt the pain of not being able to vis- it our local Church, what is it our priests have missed most and what are they looking for- ward to? Loneliness, pain and suf- fering are just some of the feelings expressed by our clergy but the one common denominator in all of their re- flections is that they miss the people. Quite simply absence makes the heart grow fonder. Here are some of their thoughts. Fr Chris Ryan MGL Parish Priest St Declan’s Penshurst “I have above all missed the people. We have put photos of people up on the pews and are live-streaming Masses, but none of that comes close to the daily interaction we normally have with people. I can’t wait till we hear their responses to the parts of the Mass again. I’m also looking forward to meeting the new people who have been watch- ing Mass online and have told us that they are planning to come to church for the first time or come back to Mass for the first time in many years. I’ve felt very blessed to be living in community with my brothers in the Missionaries of God’s Love, and I feel very deeply for those priests who live alone and have had so little contact with others as a consequence. I already knew that St De- clan’s and Our Lady of Fatima were great parishes, but the way in which people have put their hands up to care for oth- ers fills me with great joy and hope for the future. I feel hon- oured to be their parish priest.” It’snot just laity. Sydneypriestsopenupaboutcopingwithshutchurchesandmissingcongregations ¾ ¾ Debbie Cramsie Absence makes the heart grow distinctly fonder Fr Kevin Bates sm Parish Priest St Peter Chanel’s Hunters Hill “These past couple of months have been strange, reflective, challenging and even restful! They have called for some cre- ativity, patience and prayer- fulness. Personally, I have missed being with our people very much. I’ve made up for this to a small degree by phoning a number or parishioners each day to see how they are travel- ling. In the process, I’ve learnt a great deal about their own joys and challenges and have been inspired by the creative ways in which so many have responded to the life in lock- down. For health reasons I have been self-isolating. Even though so many parishion- ers have been so generous with their offers of support in a number of ways, I’ve had moments of loneliness and a certain loss of direction which have required me to do some work on myself in order to get on an even keel again! Occa- sional Zoom conversations with our Pastoral Council members have been a great tonic. It’s been a joy to provide a weekly Mass online and also our parish bulletin which we email out to anyone who wants to receive it. Keeping the bulletin and our website alive has been a focus each week.” Fr Lewi Barakat Assistant Priest St Mary’s Cathedral “The temporary closure of our Cathedral was a painful acceptance of the difficult re- ality we’ve all had to face and seeing the doors closed hurt. It was especially hard as a priest when you know and see on a daily basis howmany people come to find refuge and strength fromGod here at St Mary’s Cathedral. I’ve seen families rediscov- er their need to place God in the centre of their households andmake daily prayer more of a priority and I’ve seen priests faithfully offer the Holy Sacri- fice of the Mass every day, for the spiritual benefit of those whom they cannot see in front of them. The cathedral doors being opened is an answer to our prayers … it’s not yet back to “things as usual” and nor should it be. But when we do come back to more accessible hours I pray that it is with greater grat- itude and reverence for the Sacred – for that which God has set apart for us to encoun- ter and glorify Him, especially the Eucharist. I’ll be a happier priest when the people of God can safely return to God’s house.” Monsignor Kerry Bayada Retired “The last seven weeks of shut- down have been the most challenging of my years as a priest, because I have been deprived of contact with peo- ple through liturgies, sacra- ments and day-to-day pas- toral care. These ministries, have been taken for granted for so many years as a priest. When they are taken away from you, it leaves an empty space, It has given me time to think about what is essential in life. As a result, I have had more time to read, reflect and pray. I have no doubt that I will see and do things differ- ently when it is all over. It has made me appreci- ate the Mass as a communal celebration and how vital it is for all of us. It also touches on how just being with each other in the celebration of the Eucharist is a means of sup- porting each other by sharing the message of the readings and the sharing of the body and blood of Christ. Absence makes the heart grow fonder. Finally, I feel the lack of so- cial contact with people in just the ordinary way in which we socialise. At present, there are days when I don‘t see or speak to anyone. Social contact is something I now appreciate more deeply than ever before. I believe so much good may come from this situation and hopefully we will assess what the true values in life re- ally are for us.” Fr WilliamChow Assistant Priest Our Lady of the Rosary Parish, Fairfield “As priests I think what we have missed most is celebrat- ing the Sacraments with our parishioners and the face to face social interaction with them. In particular the cele- bration of the Eucharist, and Confession. The people are I’ve seen families rediscover their need to place God in the centre of their households and make daily prayer more of a priority and I’ve seen priests faithfully offer the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass every day...” Fr Lewi Barakat who we live for as priests, and not to have our people in our parishes on a regular basis has been difficult. I am very much looking forward to welcoming our pa- rishioners back to the church and for them to know that throughout the COVID-19 Pandemic their priests have been praying and celebrating the Eucharist for them. The parish and the parish- ioners have shown how much they love their priests, how much they love their Church, and how much they love their faith even during these dif- ficult times. Whether it has been cooking and dropping off food at the Presbytery, ask- ing how they can continue to support the Church, and ring- ing up to ask “How are you doing Father?” These random acts of kindness have brought joy to my heart! It has been clear to me the people of God have not abandoned their Church as the church has not abandoned her people. “ Fr Darryl Mackie Mission Integration Man- ager St Vincent’s Private Hospital Life has been vastly different since COVID came to town! Masses usually with members of the community became quiet and private with a new recognition of the power of prayer and intercession for my hospital colleagues. One of the great fallacies of our times is that what we do in life often defines what it means to be a human being. I watched some incredible healthcare professionals be- come national heroes over- night. The time in isolation for so many has become a time of reflection and being present to family, to partners and to God. This new focus of being for the future will enrich our lives and the lives of those whom we love. In an often busy world time has been giv- en back. I now look forward to our communities gathered and watch the smiles, those read- ing the bulletins, those kids teasing their siblings, even those catching a nap but most importantly see our Aborig- inal Elders be present again to the community! Celebrat- ing God’s continual presence among us. Fr Chris Ryan MGL Fr Kevin Bates sm Fr Lewi Barakat Mons Kerry Bayada Fr William Chow Fr Darryl Mackie NEW