Coping with Corona

What Our Parishioners Had to Say

WhatsApp Image 2020-04-29 at 5.02.06 PM

Not the life I had expected in my first months of retirement! I was set to travel! Hopefully things will be better later in the year. I’ve found the time very lonely as my kids are all interstate. Streaming of mass by Fr Janeesh and his team has been highly successful. Well done.

MICK O’BRIEN

Lyn and I are coping with the social isolation quite well. Talking with family and friends by phone or internet. ‘Zoom’ for meetings has become accepted very quickly.

I must confess that God seems to be more present in my life when I am at my weakest rather than when I am strong!  He seems to find His way into the Bits and Pieces of my life at these challenging times.

God Bless and keep safe

HERBIE O’FLYNN

Parish Team During Holy Week

The sudden need to live stream mass and inability to get the community involved, got the Parish team to step into action. 

Rebecca Simmons (Pinto Jayawardena)

Hey Everyone,

During COVID-19 I have been spending time at home with my husband. I have been baking a lot of sweet treats and sending them to my parents. I have also learnt to cook a lot of different types of foods with the guidance through video call with my Mum. (Curries)

During this pandemic I have really missed spending time with the church community and seeing Father Janeesh and his lovely team (specially Siji, Jane and Katrina). I pray and hope that this will all calm down soon and we can all be together.

I hope everyone is safe and keeping well. Hope to see you all soon
Rebecca XO

Sandy Downey

I have been knitting, completing lots of Sudokus and just recently challenging myself to learn all 195 countries of the world – their names, capitals, continents and where they are on the map.
Sending out a big hello to everyone and a virtual hug xo

Our Musicians who have been working tirelessly to provide us with music.

Mei,  and her children, Amanda and Caitlin 
Our regular 9am mass pianist, Mei, and her children, Amanda and Caitlin, have been working together with bass guitarist Sam, to create music for the livestreamed masses. They work from their respective homes, sending files back and forth between them in order to create the final piece. Mei plays the piano, and records the voice tracks with her children. The files are then sent to Sam, who records the bass guitar, edits the tracks, puts them together, and produces the song. They have been doing an amazing job working together and providing music every single week for our parish.
Sam Jay on his Bass Guitar and editing. 

Al Jane Estrada

Covid 19 has a big impact on everyone. We are limited with our activities. We can only go out for basic needs.
But in exchange families get to spend more time with each other.
Its good to hear mass and see fr Janeesh online.

But each time I leave for work, I fear for the unknown, because i’m a frontliner.
So please ” stay home so we can go back to our families.”

Menaka Mendis

We really miss the church, especially during the Easter time and so we thought to give our home a bit of the Easter feeling.

Janice Dias

It’s been an amazing time to get in touch with our faith, I have been spending time reading the Bible. I also enjoy the virtual masses very accessible. Thanks Siji and team for putting this all together and keeping our community connected !

Liz & Ian Merrigan

Ian & I have been coping quite well but looking forward to getting out with family & friends, going to the movies or restaurant or a footy game! I’ve been walking my dog, baking, gardening & watching a few shows on TV. Ian has been doing some farm chores & a bit of landscaping & reading.
Keeping busy – which is good- stops us thinking too much about all the things that we can’t do. How the world has changed (for now) – makes you appreciate all the little things in life.
Stay safe & well everyone. God bless. 

Alfreda Conteh-vanday

During this coronavirus pandemic. It has been a bit hectic. I have 3 kids. I am a mum, teacher and nurse at the same time. I help the kids with the home remote learning from Monday to Friday. Because of my kids, I have cut down my shift at work only work 3 days in the week now. This break has made me and my family to come more closer to God.

Denise Cervasio

Hi everyone! I have been using this time as an opportunity “allowed” by God in order to come closer to Him in the “silence and stillness” within our own hearts, spending time with our God in contemplative prayer, reflecting on our lives, spiritual reading and study via YouTube (talks by various Priests,Bishops,) and music. God has balanced this (for me) with lots of work, gardening and lawns maintenance on my 4 acres. Sometimes I struggle because I miss everyone in personal “presence”. Some people are NOT able to use Zoom or others means of facial contact …
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Fr. Janeesh! Love from Denise to ALL

Fr Janeesh Jose

We often say this: ‘Unexpected things happen in life”. COVID-19 is something unexpected in our times. We have never experienced this sort of restrictions in our life or being self isolated because of pandemic. Because of the lockdown of our church, I terribly miss my parish community. I miss greeting everyone before the mass on Sundays. However, I have great faith and hope that sooner we shall meet again as a community at St. Pats. Hope everyone is safe and sound. God bless!

Our hard working Philipino Choir Group

Sheila Resuggan

My first thought when we went into lockdown, was to have a real clean out of every room, went great with 2 boxes of goodies for Vinnies.

Thank God my close family is great and supplies me with many needs. 

I have made and received many phone calls and cheer up gifts, which have included ” make you smile” drawings from the great-grandchildren – I certainly haven’t been forgotten.

When I’m feeling a bit low I take my mind back down memory lane to when Ron and I first met on the bus and go through all the happy memories we shared over our 59 plus years together.

The media seem to have forgotten not everyone is online, with no internet I have been getting up for 6:00 am mass each Sunday

A highlight was being selected to attend the first Sunday mass back in the church, it was like the Christmas gift you have waited all year for, a truly wonderful experience. 

One of our senior parishioner

It helped to see mass each day and I was able to get my weekly shopping which was a big help. We missed seeing our friends and family but when the lock down was eased that was a help. Otherwise we prayed a lot and watched TV and got some jobs done around the house that needed doing.

But the worst part of this Covid-19 lockdown was not able to get to the Real Mass and receive Holy communion. 

Bernadette Barker

We are of the generation that grew up doing what we were told when we were told and not to answer questions hence we can follow the government instructions . Doesn’t mean we like it. But understand it is for the good of the whole community.
We are of a generation that had little to no money so with the stimulus package are doing ok given we own our own house and car and know the difference between want and need.
As for Tony and myself living in our retirement village set on 60 acres we are able to take a walk on a good day say hi to all the other residents doing the same thing. Keeping social distancing.
Yes all our organised social activities have been cancelled.
My personal way of looking at the situation it is what it is and try and see the positives we could be in America or worse God forbid
A friend here says any day we get out of bed open our eyes is a good day

First Mass with Parish Community on 24th May 2020

Share your Story.

Welcome to the ‘Coping with Corona’ page. In one way or the other, we have been doing things differently over the last few weeks.  Sharing your tough moments or the lighter side of your life will continue to make our community stronger.   So, send us your stories, prayers, anecdotes or just comments and we’ll share them on our Parish Website.  Do keep to a maximum of 100 words.  If you have photos or drawings please email them to  siji@stpatrickspakenham.com.au 

Enter your Story here