Catholic Community Schools will host a special livestreamed Mass for health care workers and first responders at 10:30 a.m. Friday, May 1.
Father Ron Weyrens, chair of the CCS board, will celebrate the Mass, which also will be shown throughout St. Cloud Hospital and in their chapel as a gift to those working the frontlines with COVID-19.
A group of CCS principals came up with the idea for the Mass during a brainstorming session, according to Sandy Baldwin, CCS service learning coordinator. They wanted an opportunity for everyone to pray together and make it an act of service to others.
“Our plan started out as a celebration of the continued Easter season, and as we looked at the readings for the upcoming dates, we saw the repeated theme of ‘bread,’” Baldwin said. “That theme made us think of Jesus as our strength and our need for this strength during this time of isolation, especially for our students,” she said.
Along with hosting the Mass, CCS will donate bread and butter from Great Harvest and Custom Catering, both in St. Cloud, to physically sustain the health workers and first responders at the hospital, Baldwin said.
“As members of the CCS community we all believe that service to others is a part of who we are,” she said. “This is a key part of our service learning program.”
A few students were involved in producing a video that will be shown at the end of Mass, Father Weyrens said. Students are also involved in creating thank-you cards for health care workers and first responders.
There will be a very limited number of people involved in the production of the streamed Mass, and no one will be physically present in the pews, Baldwin said. “Our community will truly experience being the Body of Christ to one another in this time of social distancing.”
To view the Mass, go to www.catholiccommunityschools.org.