These times of global crisis, uncertainty and worry around the coronavirus invite us to a wider communal response of solidarity – beyond our homes and hometowns — so that no one is isolated even amidst the self-containing or quarantines.
We invite you to join us in this prayer, adapted from a message by Father Joseph McShane, SJ of Fordham University:
God of all mercies, grant:
To those of us gathered here, safety and good health;
To those afflicted with COVID-19, swift healing;
To the frightened, courage;
To the dying, comfort;
To the dead, eternal life;
To health-care providers, strength and stamina; To our leaders, wisdom and compassion;
To our nation, unity of purpose;
To the Church, the grace to serve the suffering selflessly;
To all believers, strong faith in Your presence;
To the whole human family, unity of heart; and
To us, your servants, the reward of knowing that we are doing Your will when we spend ourselves in loving service of others.
May the God of all consolation walk with us through these difficult times.
We ask this through Jesus, now and forever.
Amen.
For easy reference, we have pulled together the following valuable resources for you to consult and share with others:
Health:
- COVID-19: What You Need to Know, Resources and Updates (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- Rolling Updates on Coronavirus Disease (World Health Organization)
- All You Need to Know About the Coronavirus (Johns Hopkins Medicine)
- Maryknoll priest offers advice on how to cope with the trauma of COVID-19 coronavirus (Maryknoll magazine)
- A Therapist’s Guide to Emotional Health in a Pandemic (Lori Gottlieb, The Atlantic)
- That Discomfort You’re Feeling is Grief (Interview with David Kessler, Harvard Business Review)
Spiritual Resources:
- Take the pledge to protect and prioritize the well-being of all (by Pax Christi USA)
- Lessons from a hospital chaplain when hope is harder to find (Meghan Murphy-Gill, National Catholic Reporter)
- Catholic Volunteer Network (prayers, articles and general resources)
- The Time to Act like a Community is Now! (Adam Taylor, Sojourners)
- Faith in the Time of Coronavirus (James Martin, S.J., America)
- My Teenagers Were Exposed to Coronavirus (Holly Taylor Coolman, America)
- Eight Ways to Handle Staying at Home (Susan Salaz, U.S. Catholic)
- The ‘Culture of Encounter’ in an Age of ‘Social Distancing’ (Interview with Marcus Mescher, Crux)
- Returned Maryknoll lay missioner Barbara J. Fraser on experiencing COVID-19 isolation from Peru (Catholic News Service)
- Additional Coverage by Catholic and Christian Publications:
Prayer, Online Masses, Music and Daily Reflections:
- Add your prayer in our Virtual Chapel.
- Maryknoll Society, 11 a.m. Sunday Mass via Facebook Live
- Novena for Pentecost by Dan Schutte Music
- Prayers During the Coronavirus Pandemic (Xavier University’s jesuitresource.org)
- Coronavirus Prayer Card (USCCB)
- A Coronavirus Prayer (Kerry Weber, America)
- Una Oración por el Coronavirus (Kerry Weber, America)
- Pandemic (Lynn Ungar)
- Prayer for a Pandemic (Cameron Bellm)
- When This Is Over (Poem by Laura Kelly Fanucci)
- COVID-19: A Prayer of Solidarity (USCCB)
- Be Not Afraid by Catholic Artists from Home (Salt and Light Media)
- Shelter Me (pandemic-inspired new hymn by Jan Michael Joncas, Young Voices of the Philippines)
- Catch the Spirit Virtual Premiere (The University of Notre Dame Folk Choir)
- Maryknoll Prayer Guild
- Prayer to St. Roch, patron saint of epidemics (U.S. Catholic Mission Association)
- Patrick’s Breastplate Prayer
- Catholic Women Preach (weekly reflections)
- Francis Xavier, NY (Sundays, 11:30am EST, recorded)
- Catholic Extension Sunday Mass
- CatholicTV Mass
- La Santa Misa en español (CatholicTV)
- USCCB Daily Readings / Lecturas del Día
- Bilingual Sung Night Prayer from the Liturgy of the Hours (Facebook Live with Pedro Rubalcava at 11:00 pm EST).
- Oración bilingual de completas de la liturgia de las horas (Facebook Live con Pedro Rubalcava a las 11:00 pm, hora del este).
- James Martin, SJ (Daily Facebook Live Reflections at 3:00 pm EST)
- Center for Action and Contemplation Daily Meditations
Global South:
- A look at hunger in Africa during COVID-19: Sisters stepping in (Doreen Ajiambo, Global Sisters Report)
- COVID-19 in Africa: To eat or to heal? (John-Allan Namu, The Elephant)
- The U.S. is exporting Covid-19 to Latin America (Antonio De Loera-Brust, America)
- Plight of migrants during COVID-19 pandemic highlighted by Caritas (Elise Ann Allen, Crux)
-
As Covid-19 crisis grows, Latin America’s basic ecclesial communities step up to help (Eduardo Campos Lima, America)
- Millions Had Risen Out of Poverty. Coronavirus Is Pulling Them Back (Maria Abi-Habib, New York Times)
-
COVID-19 threatens devastating impact on world’s vulnerable people (Chris Herlinger, Global Sisters Report)
- The Next Wave: Will the pandemic leave an even bigger path of destruction in the most vulnerable and conflict-riven countries? (Colum Lynch and Robbie Gramer, Foreign Policy)
- New front: Worry over COVID-19 spreading in African refugee camps (Jillian Kestler-D’Amours, Al Jazeera)
- How to Tackle Coronavirus in Informal Settlements (Mark Weston, Mail & Guardian)
- The Pandemic is about to devastate the developing world (Brian Klaas, Washington Post)
- Coronavirus: Brazil’s Bolsonaro in denial and out on a limb (Katy Watson, BBC)
- Zimbabwe and South Sudan among most vulnerable countries in Africa (UN News)
- Tanzania’s mild response to COVID-19 and its implications for the 2020 elections (Neil Edwards, AfricaSource)
Official Church Messages:
- Pope Francis prays in Rome churches asking God to rid the world of the coronavirus
- Message of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development (Cardinal Turkson)
- United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
- Reflection and Prayer, Archbishop José H. Gomez, President USCCB
Children, youth and families:
- National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry – COVID-19 Resources
- Schools Are Closing for Coronavirus. Now What? (New York Times)
- Sing-along songs with Shannon Matthew Cerneka
- Little Life Lessons from Mrs. Weller’s Kitchen (YouTube)
- Religious Education in a Time of Coronavirus (Heidi Schlumpf, National Catholic Reporter)
Advocacy:
- Maryknoll Office of Global Concerns
- ‘COVID-2050’: A threat to take seriously (Maria Montello, Maryknoll Lay Missioner)
- Charity can’t replace social safety nets (Daniel José Camacho, Sojourners)
General Resources:
- Pandemic Resources for Nonprofits (River Network)
- Reducing Stigma (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- How to talk about COVID-19 (World Economic Forum)
- Keeping the Coronavirus from Infecting Healthcare Workers (Atul Gawande, The New Yorker)
- The Doctor Who Helped Defeat Smallpox Explains What’s Coming (Wired interview with Larry Brilliant)
- COVID-19 related stats on healthcare and health inequity (Social Justice Resource Center)
- Planning a Virtual Conference
- 8 Cardinal Rules for Running a Virtual Meeting (Forbes)
- Smart Traveler Enrollment Program
If you would like to share additional resources that you have found particularly helpful, please email us here.
Image by S. Hermann & F. Richter from Pixabay
Ted Miles is the executive director of Maryknoll Lay Missioners.
