With Masses throughout the diocese suspended and church buildings closed through at least April 13, parishes are finding meaningful ways to keep connected with parishioners using online resources as well as old-school methods.
Among the efforts: livestreaming Masses and other video messaging, phone calls, emails and posts on social media.
“Every parish seems to be doing similar things to stay connected,” said Benedictine Father Edward Vebelun, pastor of parishes in Albany, Avon, St. Martin and St. Anthony.
Even though people miss the immediacy that regular church ministries provide, Father Vebelun said, it has been meaningful to reach out in different ways.
“I think that they are all cooperating with the ‘stay-at-home’ policy and doing their best to make sure everyone is safe,” he said. “I am especially inspired by the way [our parishioners] are looking out for each other. The healthy bonds of family and community really bear fruit in moments like this.”
Since church buildings in the Diocese of St. Cloud have been closed to the public to comply with Gov. Tim Walz’s March 25 stay-at-home order, it has been even more difficult to stay in touch. But pastors say parishioners are adjusting.
“People are sad about the changes, having to be away from the church. But they understand,” said Father Mark Innocenti, pastor of St. Andrew Parish in Elk River. “We are all uniting in prayer to overcome this.”
“Parishioners seem to be adjusting to the necessary limitations on our activities,” said Father Tom Knoblach, pastor of Holy Spirit, St. Anthony and St. John Cantius parishes in St. Cloud. “There’s some appropriate sadness and a sense of loss, but [they are] also appreciative of efforts to keep them informed, engaged in the spiritual life and encouraged by their faith.”
“Having to abstain from the Eucharist for a time is a great sorrow,” Father Knoblach said in a March 20 letter to parishioners. “But it can help us appreciate the many Catholics in our world who live with this situation daily due to persecution, lack of clergy, times of war, imprisonment, and other causes.”
Many parishes are livestreaming or pre-recording Masses for the first time. But it is still a different experience from a typical Mass with a congregation present.
“I find it really weird to do this,” said Father Steve Binsfeld, pastor of St. Mary Parish in Alexandria of pre-recording Masses for Holy Week and Easter. “The Mass by its very nature gathers people, and we are not able to do that. So we do what we have to do to stay in touch with people.”
Father Knoblach has been a celebrant for the diocesan TV Mass for several years, so recording Masses ahead of the day they air is familiar.
“It underscores why Catholic liturgy is meant to be personal and ‘physical’ as part of our sacramental view of the world and the meaning of the Incarnation — the Word was made flesh and the Church’s celebration of that Word is also intended to be enfleshed,” he said. “When this is not possible, something is evidently missing in the experience, although we know this is temporary and the best we can offer right now.”
Although Father Vebelun’s parishes are not livestreaming Masses because of technology issues, they will be recording some of the primary rituals of Holy Week with reflections and posting them on their website.
They will also be working with other area churches on an ecumenical Easter celebration to be broadcast on the Albany Radio Network, KASM.
“We have been working with Our Savior Lutheran Church and other area Protestant churches for several years on Thanksgiving and Memorial Day services,” he said, “so this was a natural connection to build upon for a community-wide celebration.”
Many parishes also have signed up for myParish App and are either using it for their parish or encouraging parishioners to follow the diocese on the app to stay informed.
The app includes the readings of the day, links to prayers, and Lent and Holy Week resources.
For those people without computers or internet access, an old-fashioned phone call can help them keep in touch.
“A few of our staff reach out by phone to those who are elderly or those we don’t seem to have email so we can make sure we are connected with them with all the changes happening,” Father Innocenti said. “They have been very appreciative of these calls as we check in asking if they need anything and letting them know they are in our prayers.”
Father Vebelun said calling community members has been the most edifying experience for him.
“It has afforded a wonderful one-on-one connection to so many people that I don’t ordinarily have sufficient opportunities to have personal conversations with,” he said.
The last few weeks have been a learning experience, but there also are blessings.
“We take a lot for granted and actually don’t count our blessings enough,” Father Binsfeld said. “I also have learned that people really do hunger for the Eucharist and for being together … and that has shone through all this.”
Father Innocenti said he sees people coming together in family units — the domestic Church.
“If there is a blessing in all this it is the opportunity to spend time with our families without the busyness of so many activities that we run to all the time. It is a time to make God the center of our homes. I am praying for that blessing, too, for all families,” he said.
This has not been the Lent that any of us had planned, Father Knoblach said.
“It has united us in the very purpose of the season, to enter into the mystery of the Lord’s Cross, to deepen our trust in the Lord’s grace and mercy, and to surrender our wills to God’s will,” he said.
Editor’s note: Bishop Kettler will be celebrating Chrism Mass and Holy Week liturgies privately; the schedule and livestreams are available at www.stcdio.org/liturgies. The latest coronavirus updates from the diocese, along with prayer and spiritual resources, are available at www.stcdio.org/coronavirus-update.