“Hello and welcome to everyone gathered here this Sunday. I hope you are all well despite these straightened circumstances in our land. Remember, if one needs to draw strength to help them through any hardship, the compassionate grace of The Lord is only a prayer away.
“Before we begin, I would like to say a few words in these harrowing times. Each day one is reminded of how this land of ours is changing. And although we should embrace progress when it helps build up the people, I fear a different change has gripped Ireland.
“It pains me deeply to hear some of the correspondence I receive from colleagues in other parishes. Increasingly they lament how their flocks shrink while those that remain suffer unduly so. How it’s harder for countrymen to stay and easier to leave our ancient green
