The Church in the age of COVID-19

    In reflecting upon the “consequences” of the COVID-19 outbreak throughout the world, one that readily comes to mind for me is the adaptations we as the Church are making by means of technology. In fact, the restrictions placed upon us by civil authorities has moved the Church to use what technology we already have at our disposal more readily to serve the faithful in so many creative ways.     

Certainly, there are some who have experienced a kind of compulsion from trying to digest an overload of information about the virus, leading to greater anxiety, fear, isolation and more.  However, the balanced use of technology has been a great blessing in this time when “gathering” as a parish community has been suspended. I have been able to record and livestream liturgies from the Cathedral, thanks to Pax Christi Multi-Media, a local company here in Grand Island who are members of the Cathedral parish.  Many pastors have also used technology to keep people connected. Religious Education classes and Catholic school teachers are also using technology to provide online instructions for their students.  Parishes are providing online giving to receive necessary tithing funds in order to sustain their operations financially.  Others are finding creative ways to hold meetings using teleconferencing, while everyone “attends”, or rather “participates", from their own location.  Just this past week I provided retreat conferences for priests of the Diocese of New Ulm, Minn., for their annual retreat this year while at home via Zoom conferencing from the Chancery office here in Grand Island.

We are learning to adopt as a Church to the circumstances of this pandemic and there is still much more that we can do.  My point is that the COVID-19 outbreak is helping break down the sad but all-too-common tendency of “business as usual.”  More and more, we can and ought to be using “creative thinking” to our advantage, rather than the frustrating excuse that “we have never done that before.”   

In the mid 1970s, as my paternal grandparents grew weaker and less ambulatory, they were no longer able to attend their beloved Missouri Synod Lutheran Church out in the country.  At the time, there was no technological solution that made it possible for them to be connected to their pastor, their beautiful Church or the other members of their congregation.  Now, however, in our time, we as parishes have the technology to livestream our liturgies to the homebound, and other church activities as well.  Thus, when we can again come together, we ought to livestream our Masses and other devotions so that the homebound or those who ought not to venture out in nasty weather might still participate, feel connected and pray with those who are able to be at Mass, so as to thrive instead of feeling isolated and cut off.  Then, moments later, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (EMHCs) could arrive with Holy Communion from the very Mass which they viewed by means of technology.

I say this because in recent weeks, friends of mine from various parts of the country (Fla., Va., Wis.) have viewed online the liturgies I have celebrated at the Cathedral and commented on how close they felt to me once again.  My cousin, Mary Ann, who lives in Fremont, had the foresight to call the nursing home in my hometown where my mother lives and ask if they could set up an iPad or computer so she could watch and pray with me live- streamed from our Cathedral.  Needless to say, this made her day! Many of you may have similar stories.

The point is that having the means to stay connected during this time of social distancing is causing us to be creative and adapt to the situation in which we find ourselves. Learning to change is good and what the Church is doing in this regard has so much potential.  Many are expressing deep gratitude for the way in which they are able to stay connected in their faith during this time when they cannot physicallly come to Church.

Maybe we ought to apply the same principle to other aspects of our lives, rather than be forced to adapt. For many of us, our social lives and entertainment activities have been greatly curtailed.  On this side of the COVID-19 restrictions, we are beginning to see just how much time and energy and resources we have put into those things.  At the same time, many have discovered that they have more time for family life, more time to pray, to read, and to consider the needs of others.  The principle of what I call “less is more” comes to mind.  Less time, energy and financial resources spent on a lifestyle that is addicted to entertainment and social activities may provide us with more time for God and others, and the prudent and generous use of our resources.  I pray that when the restrictions are lifted we come to appreciate less activity in our lives and set new priorities to serve God, our neighbors and exercise better self-care as well.

Consider then, the positive consequences of the COVID-19 situation, and just as we are using the current means of technology at our disposal, ask the Lord to show you what other graces and insights he is providing for you in these challenging times.

Please be assured of my continued daily prayer for the safety, well-being and healing of all people in our diocese, and for protection and strength of all, especially those who are caregivers for those among us who are ill.  In this Easter season let us look to Christ, who is our hope!