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The religious of Dublin are closing their doors this weekend, reluctantly but accepting that “it has to be done.”
In messages to their clergy on Friday, Dublin’s Catholic Archbishop Diarmuid Martin and the Archbishop of the Church of Ireland, Michael Jackson, warned that their churches would almost certainly have to close.
The government decided that as of midnight tonight, the city and county of Dublin would go to alert level three for the next three weeks.
Archbishop Jackson said the prospect was “both frustrating and terrifying,” but added: “It is important that we face this with resilience and hope.” Archbishop Martin said churches will remain closed “except for private prayer, weddings and funerals.” Attendance at these would be limited to 25 and religious services would only be connected online.
Swords co-pastor Father John Collins described the intensification of restrictions as “disappointing.”
“We have to listen to what scientists are telling us, but it is understandable that people are upset. It’s not easy to tell, but some people just haven’t behaved responsibly. And yes, people very much missed attending mass during the confinement.
“Most of our congregation would be older and very responsible. We are a quiet bunch, but I think people will be pleased to see the government send a strong message.
“The whole webcam experience, with mass streaming online, is now a reality, but it is not the same spiritual experience.” However, many parishioners had welcomed smaller numbers at baptism ceremonies and holy communions, he said. “People have found them more devoted.”
Canon David Gillespie, vicar of St. Anne’s Church on Dawson Street, said it was “unfortunate” that people were unable to attend Sunday prayer services.
“I feel sorry for the people for whom it is important to go to church every week, especially at a time of so much anxiety, but the well-being of the people is more important than going to church.
“We are fortunate that at the beginning of this we installed the equipment to transmit online services. He wasn’t quite dragged kicking and screaming into online services, but he wasn’t enthusiastic. I would always rather see people on the benches in front of me than a camera, but it was worth it. It has allowed us to hold the community together and even build it.
“Where we would have had 100 people in church on a good Sunday, we have had 200 people watching on devices, from all over the world. We will certainly keep streaming online even after the pandemic. “
Fazel Ryklief, chief administrator of the Islamic Foundation of Ireland mosque on South Circular Road, said the community would close the mosque “very reluctantly”.
“When we closed earlier, it was more of a morgue than a mosque. The imam was saying Friday prayers live on Facebook when no one was allowed into the mosque. Then we had 50 people inside to pray and about 60 people prayed outside.
“We have to respect the rules, but it will be difficult for people. In Islam, going to the mosque lifts your spirits. They will miss it. “
Dublin’s small Jewish community hopes there will be some room this weekend to mark Rosh Hashanah, their new year.
Maurice Cohen, chairman of the Jewish Representative Council, said the Orthodox synagogue had been “operating at a very low level” since the start of the pandemic, while Hilary Abrahamson, former president of the Progressive Jewish Congregation in Dublin, said her synagogue in Rathgar he had not. reopened since March.
“It is a small and with social distancing it would only fit 20 people. How would we choose who? So we have been closed. It’s very sad, but we have moved on ”. The community had been in close contact by phone and Zoom.
Cohen said those who attended the synagogue would miss it. “But we will comply with the rules that we have.”
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