Tony Dempsey Chai Brady and Aron Hegarty
Wexford GAA stalwart Tony Dempsey has called on Gaelic clubs to team up with local parishes to ensure a safe return to public Masses. It comes as the Church this week published guidelines for Masses to be open to a congregation from June 29.
Mr Dempsey – a former Wexford hurling manager and member of the Dáil – told The Irish Catholic that people are anxious to get back to liturgies. “The sooner there is a safe return to Mass the better,” he said.
“We have to seriously consider the psychological and spiritual consequences of people not being able to go to Mass for so long,” he said.
He said that “there is a very good relationship between the local parish and [GAA] club. I think it would be great for the GAA to get involved and give their time and expertise in terms of stewarding and things like that,” he said.
“The clubs have a lot to offer and they will have no problem in stepping up to help the parishes,” he added.
Mr Dempsey said that there are many prominent young GAA stars who are regular Massgoers and would have “no problem” in getting involved.
Challenge
Meanwhile, Bishop of Derry Donal McKeown has called for parishes to embrace the challenge of rebuilding the faith community as public Masses are set to get underway.
He said that most opportunities to celebrate identity “have vanished” or being forced to be “lived in virtual form”.
“We face the challenge of building and rebuilding our Church…we want to be able to get back to gathering our parish congregations around the table of the Lord,” he said.
Dr McKeown said the “major need” is for parishioners to look after church buildings and make them “the safest places in town”.
Archbishop Eamon Martin also used a weekend homily to make a plea for volunteers: “I also call on the younger members of our parishes to step forward in helping us manage the transition back to full parish life and celebration of the sacraments.
“We will need volunteers to assist with cleaning, stewarding, reading, ministering the Eucharist and other roles and responsibilities which some of our older members may be unable to fulfil at this time,” he said.