KOTA KINABALU: The St Simon Catholic Church Likas Parish Pastoral Council (PPC) Chairperson expressed her concern over the spiritual life of the people as the Government begins to ease the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO).
Anne Wong, in a statement issued on May 9, said it is still unknown when public Masses will be able to resume amid the uncertainties of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Under this situation, how has our spiritual life become?” she asked.
“Many of us felt very sad when public Masses were first suspended. Many said they wept during the Triduum online Masses because they felt so separated from each other and our pastor.”
She said even if churches re-open for public Masses, it will be very different from before the MCO.
“The risk of infection and dying from Covid-19 would still be there,” she said, adding that the “new normal” for life beyond the pandemic will also have an adverse effect on public Masses
“In the meantime, even if we want to, we cannot receive the Eucharist sacramentally.
“As this continues indefinitely, there is a danger of many of us forgetting the Lord — in the ‘new normal’ schedule of work, play and prayer times.”
She said the fear of infection is causing many to be glued to their mobile gadgets for hours — daily.
“We forget to do the one thing necessary: to go to our Lord Jesus in the Eucharist — even if spiritually — and in the Word, to pray and seek the intercession of our Blessed Mother and all the Saints.”
Anne said despite not being able to receive the Lord sacramentally at Mass, there are many ways to still live as disciples of Christ and suggested “Ten things you should do until public masses return” by Patti Armstrong on the National Catholic Register.
The suggestions include:
- Follow daily/Sunday Mass online
- Pray the Rosary
- Open your Bible and read it
- Develop a devotion to the dying to help escort them safely into the arms of Jesus.
The Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu suspended all public Masses from March 15 while the first phase of MCO was enforced on March 18, the day before the Feast of St Joseph.
Download the Pastoral Letter below:
St Simon Catholic Church Likas 