Two Lanarkshire churches have installed hands-free Holy water dispensers in a bid to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
Parishioners at St Francis Xavier Carfin, at Carfin Grotto, and The Sacred Heart Church in Bellshill, are now able to bless themselves thanks to a generous parishioner’s ingenious idea.
Carfin man Paul Lawlor missed the use of Holy Water fonts, which had been banned from churches due to the risks, but after discussing an idea with his son, Chris Lawlor, of Lawlor Technologies, they came up with a solution.
Paul began building two prototypes in a shed and kindly donated one to St Francis Xavier Carfin and his former parish, The Sacred Heart in Bellshill.
Sancta Familia Media posted a video of the dispenser which has since gone viral and led to a lot of requests for more with a further six sold.
The video shows the dispenser situated as you go into the church.
John Patrick Mallon of Sancta Familia Media said: “One of the things we’ve been missing most going into church is almost a natural reaction to bless yourself with Holy Water, but of course given the fonts were a source of possible infection with multiple people dipping their hands in it during this time of the pandemic, one of our parishioners here in Carfin, Paul Lawlor, has come up with an idea which allows us to still have that blessing but without having contact. It’s really smart and you can put your hand underneath and you are able to bless yourself.
“Wonderful, so thanks to Paul Lawlor, and sponsored by Lawlor Technologies.”
Back in March, Motherwell Diocese issued precautionary measures against the spread of coronavirus within their parishes.
The Rt Rev Joseph Toal, Bishop of Motherwell, issued a letter – to fathers, revered deacons, sisters and others – that explained he believed it is “prudent to make comment on the possibility of coronavirus affecting Scotland” and has taken preventative steps.
These included:
■ Emptying the Holy Water stoops for blessings;
■ Suspending the sign of peace for the time being;
■ Holy Communion being given in the hand rather than on the tongue;
■ And the lay faithful will not receive the precious blood while the present crisis continues.
At the time, the bishop said: “First it is necessary to pray – both for those already suffering with this virus and then to pray for God’s help that we may be protected from all harm.
“Having heard of the consequences of an outbreak of the virus in other countries, particularly in the restriction of movement and the closure of public buildings, we can foresee that restrictions will be put in place in Scotland also, and I would expect that gatherings in churches will be limited.
“We must hope and pray that our daily lives will not be restricted because this new disease has come among us.”
