In a letter addressing the parents and children, teachers and priests of Limerick, Bishop Brendan Leahy said it is with great regret that, following both the email from the Taoiseach’s department today and last week’s recommendation from the HSE, it is necessary to defer First Holy Communion and Confirmation ceremonies until further notice.
The Bishop of Limerick said, “I deeply regret that we are in this position again of having to defer these special celebrations that you all had committed to and were so looking forward to.”
Bishop Leahy acknowledged the huge inconvenience and disappointment this will be to families. He said, “I also regret the timing and that families have only a matter of days to react ahead of the first scheduled ceremonies next week. While this is very difficult for people to take, we should not ignore warnings given about the substantial threat from the Delta variant and subsequent advice from the Taoiseach’s department relating to this.”
In conclusion, Bishop Leahy said, “If anything, this latest COVID-19 set-back is reminding us all again of our vulnerability. COVID has, indeed, reminded us of many things but, above all, our need to do whatever we can to protect the vulnerable in society. So, it is with a heavy heart that I ask you to accede to the Government’s strong advice to defer.”
Read the letter in full here.
ENDS
