Statement by Bishop Alan McGuckian SJ on recent Government Covid 19 Guidelines

30 Jun 2021

Postponement of Sacraments – Confirmation and First Holy Communion

It is with a heavy heart that I have to inform priests, young people and their families and the staff in our schools of the need to postpone our Confirmations yet again. The government, at very short notice, has declared that Confirmations and First Holy Communions ‘are off’. I know that all of our schools and parishes were making preparations to have small ceremonies in complete compliance with the Covid 19 guidelines. The Government have made it clear that NPHET have called for this deferment as a result of the rising threat from the very contagious Delta variant.  This sudden decision will be a cause of deep disappointment to all those involved. Again I am very sorry that that we need to comply with this decision and I recognise the great inconvenience this causes to so many people.

Bishop Alan McGuckian SJ
Bishop of Raphoe

 
ENDS