Chai Brady
There is “cautious optimism” and delight as Catholics return to public Mass in the North this week.
The return in time for the celebration of Holy Week and Easter has been described as “great news” as people were at “the end of their tether”.
Catholic activist Tracey Harkin told this paper: “I think the feeling among the Faithful is that it’s long overdue, I think there’s been a huge amount of frustration North of the border and south of the border.
“I have a house full of young people and you can just see their mental health dipping, the same I’m finding with older relatives, myself as mom I love the Eucharist. I’m a bit sick of watching things online, it’s like we’ve been doing it for a year and it’s great to have that option but it’s not at all like being there.”
She added: “I’m delighted that it’s opened… People were just at the end of their tether and I think that was reflected in the statement that came out from the bishops as well.”
Paula McKeown of Living Church in the Diocese of Down and Connor said: “There is cautious optimism. Throughout the pandemic people speak of missing family and that applies also to the Church family.”
She said so many families have been impacted by the pandemic through loss, living with long Covid and fatigue experienced by frontline workers.
“A return to Church is desired by so many and clergy and volunteers are working hard in making preparations to do so safely and maintain a blended approach by continuing to minister online where we are engaging with great numbers of people too. So it is certainly a time of great hope and people are looking forward to gathering, albeit at a distance, and most importantly people are looking forward to being fed spiritually by the Eucharist,” she said.