Primary and second-level schools throughout the mid-west are opening their doors this week after being closed since last March due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and with nervousness among principals, teachers, pupils and parents about safely bringing children back into a classroom setting, Bishop of Limerick Brendan Leahy has urged people to be supportive and patient, and to adhere to HSE guidelines. “It will be a challenging time, so we need to be patient and we need to encourage”, he said, adding that it is inevitable that there will be moments of irritation, but we cannot let them take over.
“It is wonderful the schools are re-opening,” he added. “Schools are the heartbeat of communities across the diocese. Life thrives when they are up and running. Perhaps we don’t always appreciate it, but, along with the pupils, we all benefit from the community life that schools generate.”
“I want to commend school principals for going way beyond the call of duty in working out the practical arrangements for school re-opening. I am mindful too of pupils, teachers and members of management boards who will have to re-adjust to all kinds of new ways,” he said. “The schools re-opening calls on all of us to do our part by encouraging all concerned. It is good for the children and young people to be resuming a structure that facilitates their personal growth. It is important that we promote all the advice given by the health authorities, especially about hand-washing and social distancing.
“I want to assure the pupils, teachers and staff of my prayers and the prayers of the Diocese of Limerick. We appreciate this is both a wonderful time and a challenging time for all concerned,” he concluded.