While the country’s best-known shopping centre may be shut, the parish church in the Dublin suburb of Dundrum remains open and will be offering a gift of holy water this Easter.
Fr John Bracken – Co-PP – lives next door to the church and is able to keep it open daily for private prayers and reflection.
“On Easter Sunday and Easter week we will be making available small bottles of holy water for people to collect and bring home and to a neighbour who may be staying safe.
“I will stand outside church on Easter Sunday afternoon from 2-3 pm if anybody wants to send a relative/neighbour for a drive by collection,” Fr Bracken told The Irish Catholic.
The parish has also set up a cross of hope and connection. It is located within the view of the webcam congregation and, according to Fr Bracken, is “a visual reminder to the celebrant of the many watching at home on the webcam”.
“For the last five weeks, people have placed prayers in the baskets or sent them by phone/email, etc. Their requests are prayed for at every Mass, and I read a few intentions every day at the end of prayers of the Faithful.”