Adjusting from ‘Circuit Breaker Mode’ to Ordinary Time
By Adeline Low and Fr Edward Seah
Soon after we welcomed the New Year and even before our first term break, our world entered a very unusually challenging time. We have yet to fully recover from it. COVID 19, which became a pandemic, continues to affect us all with no regards for social status, race, religion and age. This virus had swept into our world and closed our churches and schools. Initially, we were all saddened by the disruption and uncertainty. For the Catholics, we missed our Mass as well as the religious celebrations and devotions as we entered the Lenten and Easter seasons. Over time, we learnt to adjust ourselves by keeping in spiritual communion with the Church through online masses, prayer sessions and inspirational talks.
The Chaplaincy team of Montfort Junior and Montfort Secondary Schools encouraged families of their students to commemorate Holy Thursday and Easter Vigil in their homes with Washing of Feet services and by lighting candles to welcome the dawn of Easter Sunday.
The young and even the not-so-young have found the online Holy Mass With Children meaningful and insightful. Not only do they get to be in spiritual communion with the whole Church during mass but also benefit greatly from the catechesis facilitated by inspiring catholic families as part of their preparation for mass. Many schools continue to encourage their children and parents to pray together among themselves using what is offered online by the church locally and universally.
As the Church moves into the Ordinary Time of our liturgical calendar, and we as gradually adjust to the ‘new normal’ ahead of us, let us live in hope and faith as we continue to pray for one another, especially those who are uncertain about their jobs as well as their health. We pray for parents and family members serving in the front line as healthcare personnel, law enforcers and care ambassadors. We also pray for all our teachers, parents and students who are badly affected by this pandemic. May God’s help and grace be upon them. And may St Michael, the Archangel, defend us and protect all our schools. Amen.
