Chai Brady
Catholic schools and universities across Ireland have rallied around health workers as they battle the coronavirus (Covid-19) by providing facilities and other services, with the Bishop of Down and Connor saying he is “delighted” they can be of assistance.
Bishop Noel Treanor specifically praised St Malachy’s College who are supporting staff at the Mater Infirmorum Hospital in Belfast and St Mary’s University College who are assisting healthcare workers in the Royal Victoria Hospital.
Speaking to The Irish Catholic he said: “We’re delighted that St Malachy’s College, our oldest diocesan educational institution and grammar school [opened 1883] can make its facilities available to the staff.”
The school is handing over premises to the NHS for use as showering and changing facilities for hospital staff. Both the hospital and the school were opened by the Church, with Bishop Treanor being a trustee of both.
“St Mary’s University College…directly across from the Royal Hospital complex, they too have made available their facilities during this period of time.
“The availability of these colleges and schools is an indicator of the fact that people are working together, pulling together, that they are pooling resources willingly and voluntarily in order to support the entire national health system…in their service to those who are infected with the coronavirus.
Services
“Clearly our schools are not limiting the services they’re making available. Some of those schools and teachers, in order to provide support for children of essential workers, have opened their doors to care for these children and to provide spaces for them.
St Gerald’s College in Castlebar, Co. Mayo has also offered its facilities to Mayo University Hospital, with equipment such as hospital beds being moved there. Other schools have also creatively reacted to the crisis, with St Gerard’s School in Belfast who made a motivational video for healthcare workers with sign language used throughout.
“There’s a great voluntary spirit and voluntary air of support in civil society and these are of course initiatives to be supported and I believe that people, and in these cases members of Boards of Governors and school principals and teachers are very alert to the potential they have for supporting society in this very, very trying time,” added Bishop Treanor.
If you know of a school helping to alleviate the coronavirus crisis practically or creatively, please send photos or info to news@irishcatholic.ie