Since the beginning of the pandemic, in my ministry with dioceses, parishes, and other groups, one issue continually emerged: dealing with loss. This issue was experienced in many ways, but primarily through the death of family members and friends. This reality was personal for me too. All fifteen of the priests and brothers with whom I live tested positive for the virus and three of them died.
Another profound loss during these very difficult times has been that of the Eucharist and connection with our faith communities. I have listened to many stories of how painful this loss has been, especially the inability to attend and receive the Eucharist, which is the sun and center of our lives.
We are death-resurrection people. If we are to experience the resurrection, we must embrace the loss. Two major aspects of doing so are grieving and ritualizing. We are a Church rich in ritual. Yet, I believe, we as Church have failed in providing life-giving rituals during these difficult times.
There are two principles to help in dealing with loss. First, you can’t say hello until you’ve learned to say goodbye. We will only be able to allow new people in our lives when we embrace and accept the profound pain that accompanies loss.
Second, grieving is never completed. Even seemingly small losses experienced in the present will resurrect the unfinished business of the grieving of past losses.
Questions for reflection
1. What are the greatest losses, personal and ecclesial, you have experienced during this pandemic?
2. In what concrete ways have you dealt effectively with these losses?
3. What more do you have to do?
We invite you to add your comments to this blog entry on our Facebook.