SUNDAY 9 MARCH 2025 was a Day of Reflection across the UK for the COVID-19 pandemic – it is five years since the start of the UK lockdown.

Over Lent, let us also take the opportunity to pray and remember those who lost their lives since the pandemic began and to honour the tireless work and acts of kindness shown during this unprecedented time. 

The Shrine was closed from that day and did not finally open again until 19 July 2021. However, we were able to celebrate Mass in the Shrine on the Feast Day that year, but otherwise apart from the daily prayer of the Carmelite friars no one visited. 

The Shrine of Saint Jude team were able to work throughout the Pandemic – either at home or in the office – helping supporters with their prayer requests and being available to everyone who wrote or called us.

We also produced daily reflections, which then moved to weekly reflections. These remain our website as they are still as useful now as they were then – written by many Carmelites and friends of the Shrine. My favourite reflections were those written on 'Pandemic Heroes' – many of you! 

We were also able to publish two books that are still useful today as they reflect on hope. You can still donate for these before they are completely out of print. 

  

"Thought provoking reflections, providing much needed spiritual nourishment to myself and my family living amid COVID" – Miss A Parry

"Clear, profound and practical – you do not want to miss this book" – Mr A Joyce 

"Absolutely brilliant and a wonderful mix" – Mr J Griffiths

"Very pleased  with this book. It is a good mixture of thought, prayer, and even humour! Necessary antidotes in these troubled times! Every Christmas I send my church friends’ a religious item or booklet with their Christmas card; this  booklet is is perfect for that!" – Mrs M Round

"It's like the start of a joke: a Jesuit, a Carmelite, and a Parish Priest walk into a room.. but in this book, we get the humour, but we also get real answers we need for this Pandemic. Well done to all involved" – Mr M Sharrockian 

Finally, we were able to create some videos and interviews during the difficult period, which you can rewatch below:

In some ways, it all seems so long ago, but in other ways, it was all too recent. Saint Jude, pray for us.

www.stjudeshrine.org.uk