All are struggling to adapt

When I was a little girl we played, “Here is the church, here is steeple, open the doors and see all the people.” How surreal it is today for our priests to not see their people. Priests, not only in our diocese, but throughout the country, are offering Masses digitally—some videotaped in churches, some in small chapels.     
For many parishes this meant stepping up their social media platform. Today, at least for the short term, Facebook, Zoom, and YouTube are the new parish church. Our homes are where we gather for Mass.     

In the Diocese of Grand Island many priests are livestreaming Masses and going live on social media.  Bishop Joseph G. Hanefeldt has been livestreaming Mass on the Diocese of Grand Island Facebook page, as well as on the diocesan website, www.gidiocese.org     

We thank all our priests for their ingenuity, their sacrifice and their love. This is a confusing time for everyone, and the new normal doesn’t seem normal at all, and we are all struggling to adapt.

All of us must believe in God’s ability to meet us regardless of the location. The Church remains the Church whether gathered or scattered.     
Today we are all faced with so much uncertainty around the coronavirus. What doesn’t change is that God’s mercies are new every morning and God’s love will uphold us.     
“For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” Matthew 18:20