The effects of Corona - the virus not the beer!

Fr Michael Riordan working on Isidore Farm. Photo: St Columbans Mission Society

Fr Michael Riordan working on Isidore Farm. Photo: St Columbans Mission Society

While Society seemed to continue on as normal in many ways, the Churches seemed to have lost their role in society. The Churches provide space for community but were told by the government not to allow large groups of people to gather causing the cancellation of Masses and ceremonies.

I suspect that in future years rather than BC and AD we will have BC and PC (Before-COVID and Post-COVID) as this "experience" has had immense effects on all aspects of our lives.
 
To be honest, living in Jeju (Jeju Island is the largest island in South Korea, located in the Jeju Province) has meant that I have had to put up with little disruption of my daily life. Here we have not been under lockdown and while funerals and weddings, for the most part, have been cancelled or low key in the Churches; outside things seem very much as before. Because of my involvement with Isidore (Isidore Farm was established by Columban, Fr P J McGlinchey to eradicate the poverty of Jeju.)  I attend quite a few non-Catholic weddings and funerals, and these have continued more or less as before. I attended a wedding (more accurately the 'afters') recently where there were over a thousand guests throughout the day.
 
While schools were closed, for some reason all the 'cram schools' were doing a roaring trade! While kindergartens were due to close, ours (and I presume others too) was asked to run a skeleton staff to facilitate families, where both parents were working. This resulted in about a 75% attendance rate of kids - we were for all intents and purposes open for business. 

Corona Beer. Photo: Wikimedia CommonsWhile society seemed to continue on as normal in many ways, the Churches seemed to have lost their role in society. The Churches provide space for community but were told by the government not to allow large groups of people to gather causing the cancellation of Masses and ceremonies. 

From my limited reading of the 'lives of the Saints', in former years when a disease or plague struck, the Church or at least some of its members were in the forefront of taking care of the sick, being with the dying and burying the dead. Those who carried out this great work became acknowledged as Saints. In this pandemic, the Churches have been, more or less, told "to keep out of the way" and let the State handle all these "good works" or 'corporal works of mercy'. The new saints for the most part are the health workers of all and no religion. Of course, there were individuals like the elderly priest who refused to use a ventilator so a young person could be treated instead, but for the most part, it seems the Church as institution was very much sidelined. 

'The Church looked like an organisation that could be done without..."

In Korea, the Church's involvement in health services is limited. I think that this pandemic probably showed the Churches as being on the fringes of society rather than at the centre, (I am not talking about identifying with those at the fringes). The Church looked like an organisation that could be done without; when all the issues and problems of the pandemic were dealt with it could return to its meetings and rituals with certain restrictions – gone will be the days of 'mass (in terms of size) events'.

On Jeju, we are enjoying the cleaner air and reduced pollution as well as the freer roads due to lack of tourists coming to the island. This of course has financial and social repercussions for those depending on tourism for their income. 

In Isidore, we have had to temporarily close two projects: the retreat house and the youth education centre. While we are paying full wages to the staff (70% of which the government will refund), this cannot continue indefinitely. We must evaluate the roles of these projects for the new reality. On the other side the farm, feed mill, kindergarten, hospice and nursing home are still providing needed services and employment, which will become even more important as the country (and the island) tries to find an alternative economic development model; it seems improbable that we can continue with the BC model.
 
The pandemic raises a huge number of issues for the Church and Society and, I think, we should be proactive in deciding the future direction rather than waiting to see what happens and allow 'the powers that be' try to return (probably unsuccessfully) to the before-COVID systems and structures. I think it is a "Kairos" moment for Church and Society. 

Fr Michael Riordan SSC lives and works in South Korea. 

Comments (2)

  1. Sharolyn:
    Oct 14, 2020 at 02:28 PM

    It is a shame that churches couldn't be more front and centre in responding to this pandemic, but maybe they played a quiet role. And maybe, like you said, what happens next is vital.

    I know ours has plugged away in homes, faithfully. Many on the outside of the church have been folded in as large gatherings give way to more intimate ones (whether online or in person). Participating in online services has not been perfect but we have been able to include video contributions from such a broad range of people in the congregation that the diversity has been fantastic to see.

    I like your point about being proactive in helping decide the future. What does that look like? Still so much uncertainty, but the world certainly needs Jesus and the hope he offers more than ever.

    Reply

  2. Jo & Kevin Bell:
    Oct 14, 2020 at 05:02 PM

    Dear Michael,
    Sorry we are not visiting you this year which we had planned to do! So good to read your writing about the current situation. Sad to hear the Church has lost some of its role because of Covid-19. We are so proud of the Isidore Farm, and the so many years that it has provided a major benefit for Jeju Island; and you yourself have done so much of the farming as well as the Church activity. We hope and pray that the Good Lord will allow this great work to continue, or maybe change it in a spectacular way.
    Blessings and Love, Jo & Kevin

    Reply


Write a comment

Required fields are marked *





Allowed tags: <b><i><br>Add a new comment:*

2023 Columban Christmas Appeal

Support the Columban Christmas Appeal, providing comfort to the lonely, hope to the despairing, and assistance to those facing challenging circumstances through our various ministries and outreach programs in the many countries where we serve.