Maynooth College Reflects on Covid-19: New Realities in Uncertain Times
THE coronavirus pandemic has, among other things, forced many to think about 'church' in new and different ways.
The banning of public worship for large chunks of the past 13 months - as continues to be the case in the Republic - has been one of the most obvious ways in which 'church' has had to adapt in the era of Covid-19.
There are others, of course, and Archbishop of Armagh Eamon Martin issued a call to explore what the Covid crisis is saying about the Church, its identity and mission, its relationship with the State, and about prayer and faith.
As one might have expected, members of the theology and philosophy departments at St Patrick's College, Maynooth have responded to the Archbishop Martin's request and the new context in which every part of society finds itself.
In a volume of 16 essays, the Maynooth experts explore the practical, spiritual and philosophical aspects of how the virus has affected us.
Maynooth College Reflects on Covid-19: New Realities in Uncertain Times offers a variety of reflections from the perspectives of theology, scripture, philosophy, ethics, liturgy, pastoral, and canon law.
The book seeks to address questions including: how do we find God in a pandemic?; how can parishes engage meaningfully with their parishioners in times of restrictions and lockdowns?; and what might be the last effects be on Church life in the future?
Anyone serious about thinking through for themselves the implications of the pandemic on the life of faith will find this book useful, either personally or for guiding group discussion on the issues.
Maynooth College Reflects on Covid-19: New Realities in Uncertain Times, edited by Jeremy Corley, Neil Xavier O'Donoghue and Salvador Ryan, with a foreword by Archbishop Eamon Martin is published by Messenger Publications, £8.95
