Oblate News

‘You are not alone’ – a reflection during covid times

By Kirk Jacob

Over the last two years, we have all experienced feelings of uncertainty, loneliness and “aloneness” due to the global pandemic. At times, it has felt like we have carried our grief and our joys, our ups and our downs all by ourselves, but when we reflect on our global covid reality, we were never really alone as God was always with us even though we may have been unaware of His presence.

We had the opportunity to explore some of our experiences of living through these unprecedented times and the impact it had on our faith communities. Reflections were given to three particular faith communities from the London region: one from the Broadwater farm area in Tottenham which surrounds four Catholic parishes and the other from the two Kilburn Oblate parishes as well as the Filichamp Filipino community. Another group from Anglesey, Wales met via zoom. All the four groups had explored what they had been through during these covid times. We had the wonderful covid reflection writings of Pope Francis’ ‘Let us Dream’ in conjunction with the three S’s (Security, Solidarity, Significance) to inspire us on our journey together as we allowed our thoughts and feelings carried deep within us during the pandemic. As a result of a safe space created through sharing in small groups, we received the valued wisdom through people’s experiences of the pandemic.

We recognise that we were not alone as we experienced the kindness shown through family, friends and even strangers. People also realised that worship and prayer could be done in a different way: for example, on-line daily Morning prayer and streamed parish masses. There was assistance given for people who were isolated and on their own. People reached out to others who were in need during the many lockdowns during the pandemic. People were able to connect even though they weren’t able to leave their homes.

Here are some of the thoughts shared by our participants during our time together reflecting on the covid reality theme: ‘You are not alone’.

‘It made one think in a different way’.
‘Lots of deep thoughts and reflections’.
‘I found the sharing with others and listening to the personal stories of others very useful.’
‘I was able to talk freely on my experience and learn a lot more on what’s going on with me and my world and others.’
‘It did help a lot in many different ways. eg. The pandemic, bereavement.’
‘Various feelings experienced like that of counselling, Relaxing, Belief, Happy, Amusing Collective, Communal, Peaceful.’
‘It was so amazing, brilliant and loved the theme and thoroughly enjoyed the presentation and well thought out programme. At the end, we all felt like a big family and everyone was very relaxed and enriched.’
‘It was magic! Thank you. In everything it was what I needed, its difficult to explain. Thank you everyone.’

Kirk Jacob – PIM Facilitator for ‘You are not alone’ – Reflection during Covid times.