Fr John Bracken PP of Holy Cross Church in Dundrum, Co. Dublin, gives Communion to a parishioner on
December 1 after public worship restrictions were lifted in the Republic. Photo: Chai Brady Chai Brady, Ruadhán Jones and Jason Osborne
There is widespread relief at a return to public Mass in the Republic, with many parishes now looking to the challenge of having as many people as possible present for Christmas Mass.
Catholics in the North, however, will have to wait until December 11 before a return to public Masses.
Fr Tom Ryan of Ennis in Co. Clare told The Irish Catholic “there’s nothing like the presence of people on the ground and people are very happy that Mass is resuming and looking forward to being part of the community”.
In Co. Roscommon, Fr Joseph Gavin in Ballaghaderreen said parishioners are “absolutely enthusiastic…I suppose people are anxious to get back, the volunteers are delighted to be able to come back again to help out”.
Many parishes are now looking to the challenge of Christmas Masses and are conscious that not everyone will be able to attend either on Christmas Day or Christmas Eve. Instead, parishioners will be asked to attend a Mass at some stage over the Christmas period and many parishes will operate a ticketing system.
In Portlaoise, Co. Laois Fr David Vard said: “We’re glad to be open, but we’re a bit nervous about crowds and how we’re going to do it and how can we get to as many people as possible during Christmas without turning anyone away and with being safe”.
In Co. Galway, Headford parish priest Fr Ray Flaherty said that “Absence makes the heart grow fonder! There’s that kind of sense about it, that they’ve really, really missed it.
“I suppose it’s a bit like the water pump, it’s only when the water goes that people realise the importance of it,” he said.
Fr Francis Judge in Crossmolina, Co. Mayo said that “even though the Masses won’t be long it’s just the fact that they can come together and to be together and to pray.
“It means an awful lot to them. It means an awful lot to the community,” he said.
In Abbeyleix, Co. Laois Fr Paddy Byrne summed up the feeling as “relieved”.
“The Eucharist is about being together, and whilst obviously we maintain our correct procedure, we’re well fit for it and we really are confident that we will do so absolutely as we did robustly with proper procedures and sanitisers”.
Fr Denis O’Mahony in Co. Kerry said that the overwhelming feeling “is happiness and relief that people can get to Mass.
“But Christmas will be a different situation: it will be more difficult to please people – they have their preferences,” he said.
Cork-based Dominican Fr Maurice Colgan said there was a huge “sense of excitement” amongst parishioners.
However, he also expressed concern about the upcoming celebration of the nativity.
“The church is normally packed, with standing room only. For that Mass we’ll definitely do a booking system. We’re considering it for the weekends. But what we’re definitely going to do is put on more Masses,” he said.
In the Dublin suburb of Ballinteer Fr Liam Belton said that people are delighted to be back, but that it is also a boost for priests. “It’s a big plus to ourselves here to see people in the pews again, it really is”.
In Clara, Co. Offaly Fr Joe Deegan said people “are very happy that we’re allowed back to have some kind of public worship…It’s positive for people – it’s great”.
Fr Gary Chamberland of Dublin’s Newman University Church said that “The Eucharist is never really complete without the people of God present…People were really beginning to feel this time, even more I think than the first time, a separation from the Eucharist”.
Fr Ted Sheehan in Glounthaune, Co. Cork sounded a note of caution. He said he is worried that a lot of young families have not yet returned to Mass. “We’re looking at the future of our parishes, and a lot of families with young children didn’t appear to come back”.
In Co. Waterford, Fr Milo Guiry of Ardmore and Grange said it is vital that parishes stick to the guidelines. “People are looking forward to it – a sense of normality. But, you have to run a very tight ship: either you do it right, or you don’t do it at all,” he said.