Dear Pastors and Parish Leaders,
Dear brothers and dear fellow Christians,
the start of the Covid pandemic is almost three years ago. I think this time left a lasting impression on us. Most of us have never experienced such a plethora of restrictions on public and private life. If we now noticeably return to a familiar everyday life, not everything will be the same as before.
The lifting of most pandemic-related restrictions in the area of worship and our events as well as the omission of far-reaching measures to contain the pandemic in the state sector encourage us to take stock in various ways and to consider the consequences. I would like to share a few thoughts with you:
- We were inventive on many levels. Above all, through the possibilities of technology, we have learned and practiced new ways of communication. Virtual meetings and events have become established and can help us in the future, especially as a diocese, to make appointments with little effort and do a wide variety of things – from working together to spiritual offerings and education. These formats also relieve our face-to-face meetings. We can have more time for personal things and the quality of our encounters when routine matters can be dealt with virtually instead. Even over long distances, at least a minimum of contact and relationship is possible, including with those who have to stay at home for various reasons.
- Our services can now be celebrated again without restrictions. But perhaps during the pandemic we also learned to appreciate the power of reduction and to do things more consciously. Let us share what is beautiful and valuable in the liturgy so that it builds us up and strengthens us. Celebrating together in prayer and singing builds up. This applies to the attention to the biblical word and its proclamation as well as to the fellowship in the Eucharist, which can now again be received in both forms, wherever the rubrics suggest it. Together with Archbishop Stefan, it is important to me to promote the possibility of receiving Communion of the Chalice for all those celebrating in our Archdiocese. Perhaps this can initially only be started on a few occasions and celebrations, perhaps initially with Eucharistic celebrations on weekdays. But I would like to encourage you to keep an eye on the topic, e.g. B. in the pastoral teams and liturgy circles.
Where several priests are present at the celebration of the Eucharist, I would also like to encourage Archbishop Stefan to rediscover and cultivate concelebration. An exchange in the Council of Priests or on other occasions could also contribute to this.
- The number of sick people in recent weeks shows that the pandemic has also resulted in other health restrictions for many people. We are more sensitive to common infectious diseases. Therefore, many continue to consciously pay attention to good hand hygiene in everyday life and continue to wear masks in large gatherings. I invite you to continue to treat each other with understanding and respect, even after the measures against the corona pandemic have expired, if someone for personal reasons wants to remain wearing a mouth and nose cover for the time being. Hand hygiene before distributing communion could also be maintained as a protection against other infectious diseases.
- In many places, our churches are gradually filling up again on Sundays and public holidays, at least that’s how I can describe it. But we cannot hide the fact that the disruption to what we are used to has also made many of us think and make personal decisions. There is much personal withdrawal from attending church services or events, temporary or permanent. This concerns many pastors and parishioners. We should hear this signal and, in the sense of outreach pastoral care, if necessary seek direct contact with people and learn from what they have experienced and what they have to say.
- Last but not least, I am still very grateful for all the humanity and solidarity that was lived in our pastoral rooms and parishes during the pandemic. Many believers have helped in various ways to help fellow human beings in everyday life, to accompany the sick and lonely, the dying and the bereaved, so that together we can get through the pandemic as well as possible. I am still impressed and grateful for what z. B. Pastoral and church teams and other groups and individuals have contributed to it! As a pilgrimage pastor and pastor, I paid particular attention to the so-called “steward services” at the church entrance, which in some phases of the pandemic did a very strenuous and sometimes unpleasant job. At this point I would also like to express my sincere thanks to you. And maybe it will come up in one place or another, e.g. B. in tourist regions of our Archdiocese, to turn this “steward service” into a greeting and/or farewell to the party at the church door, which gives a friendly face and word or the weekly newspaper of the parish or similar. I would also find that a good consequence of a challenge that we sometimes had to face with difficulty during the pandemic.
As of today, the pandemic is not quite over. Some things will keep us busy. May the development no longer deteriorate. Many thanks to you and all of you for persevering, supporting and helping to shape things in the vastness of our archdiocese and on site. On behalf of our Archbishop, I send you and the local fellow Christians warm greetings and blessings at the beginning of Ansgar Week 2023.
P. Sascha-Philipp Geißler SAC
Vicar General
Archdiocese of Hamburg
At Mariendom 4
20099 Hamburg
Phone office: (040) 248 77-300
www.erzbistum-hamburg.de
Here you will find the church official and other announcements on the occasion of the corona pandemic as well as the FAQ section of the Archdiocese of Hamburg
