Parishes calculating financial losses
A number of Cork parishes have suffered financial losses of more than 50 per cent of their normal yearly takings since the beginning of the pandemic
The news comes as parishes within the Cork and Ross Diocese prepare to submit their yearly audits by the end of this month, after which the full extent of financial loss will be known.
Speaking to the Cork Independent, Bishop of Cork and Ross Fintan Gavin said donations to the Catholic Church are much lower than previous years but that many parishioners continue to donate online.
Bishop Gavin, who was ordained in June 2019, added that the heating and general maintenance of churches is still a necessity to meet the funeral needs of parishioners.
“Yes, donations to church are significantly reduced. Every family’s budget has also been changed by this pandemic. We still need to heat and maintain our churches and of course they are also central to meeting the needs of families who have bereavements at this time,” said the Bishop.
The pandemic has also brough a halt to communion and confirmation ceremonies with hundreds of young people still waiting for their big day.
Bishop Gavin said that the diocese will not be able to begin planning for the resumption of these ceremonies until the Government eases restrictions.
He said: “When this happens, planning for the ceremonies will involve parents, schools and parishes. There are still a number of young people who were due to receive these sacraments in 2020 who have still not been able to celebrate them.”
Meanwhile, with Easter approaching, the church has resigned itself to a second year of parishioners being unable to congregate for mass.
Bishop Gavin said that all parishioners are now restricted in how they keep the sacred feast days of Holy Week and Easter.
He said this year many parishes have set up live streaming facilities through which they will celebrate some of the key ceremonies with parishioners joining in from home.
“All the Easter ceremonies will also be celebrated at the North Cathedral in Cork where I will be the principal celebrant,” he said.
Elsewhere, speaking the day before St Patrick’s Day, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland Eamon Martin sent a message of unity and hope to those in Ireland and abroad.
He said: “I pray that people who are struggling with the pandemic, whose livelihoods have been threatened, or have contracted the virus, that they will find in Saint Patrick the courage and resilience to go on.”