Br Kevin Mascarenhas with members of the Place of Sanctuary Ireland. The Presentation Brothers extends their prayers, thoughts, best wishes and expression of solidarity to all affected in so many ways by this COVID-19 outbreak. The united effort, both local and global, to combat this virus, has been phenomenal. People have rallied together to do their part in the flight against the spread of the virus. Every one of you is doing your part to save lives – whether that’s by staying home to protect your families, community, friends or an elderly person, or working in the health sector as frontline workers, or supporting those on the frontline, or by leaving home to keep the country going as a key worker. We thank and applaud you for this and wish you and your families the absolute best at this difficult time.
What does this mean for the Presentation Brothers and the Presentation Family? As a human family, we all need inspiration on the ordinary living out of our lives, and more so at this time of crisis. The challenge is to find answers to what or who inspires us (me)? In other words, why do I get out of bed each morning and, despite the lockdown and restrictions, and still find meaning, hope to keep going. The other side of the coin, then, is who and how do I inspire others? Or how can we be an inspiration to others during and after this pandemic? Pope Francis would say we need to proceed by way of discernment. What is God asking of us now as we seek to respond to a suffering world? We see the witness to Christian Hope as the great need now.
Brother Marin Kenneally, Director of the L.E.A.F. Project, based in Cork, would say that the “Major challenges in mission awaits us. Beyond this crisis, there will be a great need for repair, renewal, and healing. Many people, perhaps most especially those who suffer poverty or disadvantage, will need help. God is setting a new agenda for the Church now. Religious and lay groups are called to be at the centre of this.”
Through the initiatives of the L.E.A.F. Project this is how we are trying to help now:
PRAYER: We are praying for the deceased, the bereaved, the sick and the recovering. We are praying for medical personnel and frontline/essential workers. We have many past pupils of our schools in these categories, including many young people, who are laying their lives on the line now. They need our prayerful support. We are praying for civil and Church leaders that they may have the wisdom and courage to lead well.
COMMUNICATE: We are staying in touch by phone, text, WhatsApp, email, Zoom, etc. Offering words of encouragement and hope. We are conscious, especially, of those who ae elderly, feel vulnerable or isolated.
PRACTICE: We are putting into practice some of the gems from our Leadership Conference last year. We need them more than ever now! We are conscious of the Power of Gratitude and practice it as we connect with people.
PRESENCE: We are being present in the moment, praying for the grace, to act in a way that is worthy of our call.
PREPARE: Thinking of the challenges post this pandemic, we are discerning how we might respond to the needs of people who might be disadvantaged, suffering or in need of support.
MESSAGES OF HOPE: A series of ‘Messages of Hope’ at this time of the coronavirus has begun. Several people involved with or connected to the L.E.A.F. Project have been invited to share a word of encouragement with others within the Presentation Brothers, the Presentation Family and beyond. The first message is from Bishop Fintan Gavin, Bishop of Cork & Ross. Bishop Fintan has been incredibly supportive of the L.E.A.F. Project and very connected to the Presentation Family since his arrival in Cork as bishop.
Another message was from Dr. Sean Crowley, a young Irish doctor, who has returned from New Zealand to serve in Ireland during this time of the Coronavirus.
A special message was given by Sr. Marie Dunne, a Holy Faith Sister, who was co-ordinator of music and liturgy at the L.E.A.F. Conference in Dublin last July. She has composed this beautiful song, “I light a candle for you each day”. In the context of the coronavirus, Marie has dedicated the song to medical personnel on the frontline and all essential workers.
Another message was shared by Kevin Jansson, winner of the ‘Jeune Chopin Award’ 2018 He played Chopin’s Preludes Op. 28, No. 1 No. 4, and No. 7. Kevin is a student at the world-renowned Juilliard School of Music, New York. He is at home in Cork now. He shares his talent of music with the world.
These messages will be available on YouTube and you will find a link on our website: leafprojectpb.com.
Through the initiatives of the Place of Sanctuary Ireland, this is how we are trying to help now:
Brother Kevin Mascarenhas is a member of the Place of Sanctuary Ireland and the Cork City of Sanctuary. Places of Sanctuary Ireland is a network of groups in cities, towns, and local communities whose primary aim is to create a culture of welcome and safety for refugees, asylum-seekers and other immigrants, many of whom are seeking sanctuary from war and persecution. It creates opportunities for Irish people to meet these newcomers to our country, to hear their stories and to help them find a new home here among us.
To offer support to people in Direct provision, a COVID -19 Task Force working with asylum seekers in Direct Provision Centers around Ireland in this time of crisis has been setup. The Direct Provision Centre is a place where asylum seekers live while their application for asylum is being processed. The cramped conditions in these centres are not ideal for social distancing.
Place of Sanctuary Ireland and Cork City of Sanctuary have set up a COVID-19 Task Group, (C-TG), in Cork, whose job it is to advocate on behalf of the asylum seekers to relocate them to more appropriate accommodation conducive for the implementation of COVID-19 standards and guidelines.
The C-TG have set up a resident’s platform in the Direct provision Centre. In this time of COVID 19 crisis, it is important that communication and contact with residents are done smoothly and swiftly inn order to ensure that all information and communication reaches all residents in a timely manner. Many of the asylum seekers would speak different first languages. Therefore, through this resident’s platform, a committee in each Direct Provision Centre provides information in relation to covid-19 to residents in their own languages.
Trained City of Sanctuary member organisations, groups and volunteers make regular phone calls to those in direct provision centres. These calls, dubbed ‘Connect Call’ is essential as psychological support service is needed, especially for those in self-isolation
Three other initiatives encouraged and supported through the City of Sanctuary in response to persons in Direct Provision Centres at this time of COVID-19 are: The masks making initiative by the residents, supported by Cork city of Sanctuary, the provision of laptops for students in direct provision to help them have access to study resources online while they are out of school during the lockdown, ensuring that all residents have access to reliable Wi-Fi service so that they have reliable access to up-to-date information about what is happening around them from a domestic and global perspective.
On a global level, The Mission Development Office of the Presentation Brothers has applied for a Misean Cara Emergency funding to help support the government of Ghana’s efforts to contain COVID-19 in those areas with extremely poor health care systems. The fund will help poor families with food, soap, and other essentials. PPEs and other protective gear will be purchased for health workers in the community health clinics in villages. The funds will also, be used to support vulnerable households, pregnant women, the aged in the towns and villages where the Brothers live and minister.
Pope Francis says,
“This is the moment to see the poor. Jesus says we will have the poor with us always, and it’s true. They are a reality we cannot deny. But poor are hidden because poverty is bashful. In Rome recently, in the midst of quarantine, a policeman said to a man: You cannot be on the street, go home.” The response was: “I have no home; I live on the street.” To discover such a large number of people on the margins…. And we do not see them, because poverty is bashful. They are there but we do not see them: they have become part of the landscape; they are things …. To “see” the poor means to restore their humanity. They are not things, not garbage; they are people”.
If you are interested in knowing more about becoming a Presentation Brother, please visit their website: www.presentationbrothers.org