By Matters India Reporter

Rome, April 3, 2020: Father Mathew Vattamattam, General Superior of Claretian Missionaries, has directed his members worldwide to avail their institutions to the public as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“When needed, our institutions should be open to respond to the emergency situation of the pandemic. In some places, we have given our building facilities to respond to emergency needs in proper understanding with civil authorities,” said Father Vattamattam in letter dated April 2.

“In many places, our brothers have started organizing food distribution or other help for the people affected by the lockdown by joining hands with others in a shared mission,” he said.

“Wherever it is appropriate, we should join hands with others in offering the needed support for humanitarian services or other needed support as volunteers or collaborators, of course, taking due safety measures responsibly,” said Vattamattam, an Indian.

The Claretians, formally the Congregation of Missionaries, Sons of the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary, are a community of priests and brothers, founded in 1849 by Saint Anthony Mary Claret. They are present in more than 65 countries on five continents.

“Even though we are still baffled by this historically unprecedented spread of COVID-19, we shall face it with Christian fortitude and join with all people of goodwill, sharing the best of us to fight the pandemic virus,” the Superior General said.

He urged his members worldwide to remained anchored in the Gospel of love and not be misled by misinformation, conspiracy theories and trolls in media.

“I am happy to know that Claretians in most places have taken this virus threat seriously and are responding to it creatively and responsibly. After the infected persons, the most affected people are those who have been living in a “hand to mouth” situation and are hit very badly in the present lockdown. It is the poor who always pay the price when things get out of control. It would be terrible irresponsibility on the part of humans if hunger kills more people than the virus in many countries under lockdown. We shall be sensitive to the situation of our brothers and sisters around us who are affected in various ways and participate in whatever way possible to alleviate their plight,” he said.

The COVID-19 lockdown is not a “holiday in” time for us missionaries. It is a time to fulfill our prophetic mission by discerning “timely, opportune, and urgent” responses in each situation, Vattamattam reminded.

The Superior General urged his members to dedicate the Rosary or do 30-minute daily adoration for the sake of the suffering humanity to Jesus in prayer.

“Through this gesture, we shall unite ourselves with the whole Church, walking towards the light of the Risen Lord to welcome the deliverance from the pandemic,” he said.

The “lockdown” or social or physical distance situation in most of the countries is needed, yet they provide deeper occasions for “spiritual connection” to God and social solidarity with each other, Vattamattam said.