Chai Brady
A Belfast-based priest has said he is “genuinely concerned” about loneliness among his parishioners and the future emotional impact Covid-19 restrictions could have.
Fr Martin Magill PP of St John’s said a parishioner told him “the loneliness is killing me”, a sentiment he says was echoed by others who approached him.
“I suppose I am aware of loneliness but I don’t think I was aware of it to the same degree that happened during the pandemic until I got that response,” he said.
“We need to make sure there’s a support system. I would be concerned the issue of loneliness has come more to the fore than it has been before the whole lockdown.” Fr Magill said the issue is “very important” and “something we need to be more aware of”.
“The reality is, I don’t think we’re going to really know until this is well over. I would be genuinely concerned about the emotional impact this has had on us, we’re living through it at the moment and to some extent we get on with it but maybe it’s only really afterwards that for some of us we realise: that was really difficult.”
His comments come after Archbishop Eamon Martin and other Christian Church leaders welcomed an appeal made by the BBC who are offering resources to combat loneliness and have engaged charities.
“My first response to the BBC appeal was well ‘that sounds sort of interesting’ but I have to say as time has gone on and I heard some of their publicity around it, I’ve realised it is significant,” said Fr Magill.
The Christian leaders said that “reaching out to those who are feeling lonely and isolated is an important part of the Christmas preparations for local churches”.
“This year, we have had to think even more creatively about how we do that while protecting public health, but we are conscious that this pastoral and community outreach will be more important than ever.”