CHRISTMAS MESSAGE 2020
It has been a difficult time for everyone. For bereaved families, for families with members in nursing homes and hospitals due to restricted visiting. People who have been deprived of the opportunity to gather for the celebration of Mass have experienced a huge lacuna in their lives. Moving towards Christmas the disappointment of family members who are unable to come home and share the Christmas with us contributes to the loneliness associated with Christmas for many people. For young people who love to gather and relate with their friends it has been very demanding.
Likewise, for our priests – the things we need to do, would like to do and want to do we cannot do them in the way in which we were accustomed and yet our priests have responded very generously to the challenge of the pandemic. Here in Tuam our Administrator, Fr. Pat Farragher and Fr. Seán Flynn have spared no effort in arranging Masses on the webcam and radio, providing every opportunity to address the faith and sacramental requirements of parishioners. As a parish we have been blessed with a wonderful team of volunteers, ushers, all involved in the various ministries and in the cleaning and sanitising of our churches. The people of the parish have been most considerate and understanding of the situation in which we find ourselves and have been co-operating very generously and constructively in all of this and I would like to acknowledge the positive response which is so encouraging and reassuring.
As you are aware our Cathedral is currently undergoing refurbishment. We are very fortunate to have access to St. Mary’s Church of Ireland Cathedral for daily Mass, for which I wish to thank Bishop Patrick Rooke and Dean Grimason. In addition the sports hall of the Mercy Secondary School is available for weekend Masses for which we are grateful to the Principal Gearóid Leen and the Board of Management. The Blessed Sacrament Chapel is also for adoration. I deeply appreciate the extraordinary generosity and support of all who contribute to the Cathedral and are making it possible for this work to progress.
Charitable organisations like St. Vincent de Paul and those who do such wonderful work locally and help to alleviate suffering and hardship, enabling families to have a better Christmas, find it extremely challenging. None of us knows the different forms which poverty can take behind closed doors. The calls made on local organisations such as St. Vincent de Paul increase in the lead up to Christmas. In other years these organisations depended on the generosity of the Mass-going people to rally to their support. In view of the lockdown and restricted numbers their resources are considerably reduced while the demands made on them continue to increase.
There is an innate generosity in people which, I believe, surfaces particularly in this season of goodwill. Locally and at this time of year as a people we respond majestically to this challenge. Over the years on a global scale the Archdiocese of Tuam in the past 27 years has contributed €9,802,185.98, almost ten million to Trocaire, while this year to date the Archdiocese has contributed almost €210,000. This speaks volumes for the generosity of our people. Finally, I want to thank yourselves for your co-operation, understanding, generosity and support and I take this opportunity to wish you and yours a very happy and peaceful Christmas and pray that the New Year will be a year of great blessings for you, your family and all those dear to us.
