Priest to go ahead with Confirmation, Communion after ‘off the cuff’ postponement

Fr Michael Toomey criticised an “off the cuff” remark from the Tánaiste on June 29, saying the Government “pushed aside” the celebration of Baptisms, Confirmations and Communions.

At a press conference yesterday Leo Varadkar responded to a question regarding whether Confirmations and Communions will go ahead in July, saying: “They’re off, unfortunately”.

In a personal statement responding to Mr Vardkar, Fr Michael Toomey said, “I will not be following this ‘off the cuff’ statement”.

The Waterford and Lismore priest is the administrator of the parishes of Ardfinnan, Ballybacon and Grange, and Newcastle/Fourmilewater, and said he will be going ahead with two Confirmations this weekend.

He will also continue celebrating “the Sacrament of Baptism with families… until such time as my Bishop advises otherwise”.

The Government has “pushed aside a sacramental celebration… despite the church being opened for Mass and other services”, Fr Toomey said.

“[N]owhere on the official guidance (gov.ie) as of this evening (June 29), has there been any mention of such a postponement,” he continued.

Consultation

“The church has again not been consulted in how we can work together to minimise the spread of the virus, nor has there been any thought on the wider impact this will have on our students and parishioners.”

Fr Toomey, who is a regular celebrant of the RTE weekday Mass on RTE News, noted that “there was never an instruction to cancel Baptisms at any time during the pandemic”, though some diocese and parishes did so on their own initiative.

“We in the church and indeed, all places of worship have done everything asked for, and more,” the priest said. “Yet, again, we are merely being brushed aside without any consultation and consideration for the Sacraments and the lives of so many young people and families.

“While I fully appreciate that the concern of the virus and the new delta variant is serious, and the authorities are concerned about gatherings afterwards,” Fr Toomey added, “we have ensured we have shared the best public health advice, and advised against such large gatherings, and I will continue to do so.”

Fr Toomey said there is “no reason why such controlled and restricted liturgical gatherings cannot take place in our churches, which are safe and adhere to public guidance”.

Fr Toomey added that he would be bringing his concerns to the bishop today (June 30).