Melbourne Archbishop Peter A Comensoli celebrated a memorial Mass on Sunday for all those who have died during the COVID-19 pandemic. Source: Melbourne Catholic.
The Mass was held at St Patrick’s Cathedral in East Melbourne, with similar Masses held in parishes around the archdiocese.
More than 3000 Victorians have lost their lives to COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic in 2020. Countless others lost family and friends during this time, both here and overseas, and were unable to farewell their loved ones at funerals due to restrictions, lockdowns and closed borders.
Individuals and parishes were invited to submit the names of those they would like remembered during the Mass. More than 1100 names were inscribed in a “Book of Remembrance” which was placed under an icon of Our Lady in the cathedral.
During his homily, Archbishop Comensoli acknowledged the great, largely silent, pain that the community continues to carry at this time.
“We who remain have, over these past two years, carried the sadness and anguish of not being able to properly farewell these members of our families, or friends we have made … To us, Jesus now speaks his words of hope and healing, and of the greater journey that lies before us all.
“In so many ways, the road of human struggle remains for us. COVID continues to take its toll; war has reappeared; a new parliament will need to grapple with economic, social and security challenges; personal and family realities will always emerge.
“Yet, this road also extends into the hope of a new Jerusalem, and a new way of living. The journey of Jesus to his death was what enables our journey into his Resurrection. It is to us that his love and peace are given, now that those we have loved are at peace.”
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More than 1,100 names remembered at Memorial Mass (Melbourne Catholic)
