Observing Lent in pandemic

By Tanya Connor | The Catholic Free Press

As the second Lent affected by the coronavirus pandemic approaches, parishes are looking at how to enable people to safely and conveniently participate in devotions and receive formation.
Among options being planned are in-person gatherings with masks and social distancing, online get-togethers, programs and devotions that individuals can access - live or later - and printed reading material.
The current situation offers both benefits and challenges.
“I’m trying to reach busy adults who don’t necessarily need to spend a whole lot of time, but they like to do prayerful reflection,” said Romeo Marquis, faith formation facilitator at Blessed Sacrament Parish in Worcester. He said he created an online Lenten program similar to the one he offered for the first time last Advent.
“I think even when we return to whatever normal was, we’ll continue this type of program,” he said. “It’s so well-received.”
The Lenten program, “Watch with Me,” is free for parishioners and those who aren’t parishioners, Mr. Marquis said. To pre-register, people can email Mr. Marquis at rmarquis48@outlook.com. Before Lent begins and each Sunday of Lent he will email them the needed link for accessing the program on their smartphones, tablets or other devices, he said. They can use the 15-minute video, song and prayer any time that week.
Mr. Marquis said he made the program known to those who used the Advent program, and advertised it through the parish’s weekly Flocknote and the Diocesan Dispatch.
Father Brian P. O’Toole, pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Worcester, faces a challenge in reaching parishioners this Lent. He said many are older folks and don’t use the internet, where they could learn about - and access - what the parish offers. And some aren’t coming to the church in-person because of the virus.
Nevertheless, he’s working on ways to have devotions in-person in the church and online this Lent.
He said he’s trying to figure out the logistics of offering Evensong (sung Vespers or Evening Prayer with meditations by Father Joseph Sica, called “Embrace This Holy Season”).  Father O’Toole said he’s trying to offer it in person and online, “trying to keep it safe and, at the same time, keep it prayerful.” He hopes to at least have Friday Evensong via Zoom and post it on the parish website ololma.org for people to see later.
“I’m working also on Stations of the Cross,” trying to use “our Stations” for live and Zoom participation, he said.
Father Michael J. Roy, pastor of St. Roch Parish in Oxford, is also facing challenges.
“We want to do something to help strengthen people’s faith during Lent,” he said. “We haven’t seen some people in almost a year,” because of the pandemic.
Lent “has always been a critical time for Catholics as they struggle to hold fast to the teachings of our Lord,” he wrote in his letter in the Jan. 31 parish bulletin. “In the midst of this pandemic and all of the ways it has disrupted our lives it is more important than ever to establish as a priority our relationship with Jesus and the Church … “You are aware of the high regard that I have for the Light of the World retreats that we have conducted here,” Father Roy wrote. “My heart aches knowing that it has been a full year since we had our last retreat.” He said those who’ve taught the parish how to provide these retreats “have come out with an excellent ... way to share the Good News during a pandemic” - a video series called “Awaken,” which includes catechesis, testimonies and small group discussion.
“It’s an excellent way of gathering people together and reconnecting with their faith,” said Terry Ann Renaud, religious education director. It doesn’t matter where they are spiritually, or if they’re even Catholic.
“We want to make it available to as many people as possible,” Father Roy said.
At least four times have been scheduled for people to meet in the church hall for “Awaken,” Mrs. Renaud said. Since sign-ups continue until Ash Wednesday, more groups - in the hall, in homes or via Zoom - could be created. The parish can also help individuals use the series.
People can register by emailing the parish at strochrectory@gmail.com or by calling the parish at 508-987-8987 or 508-987-2382.
Other Lenten options are listed in the parish bulletin.
St. Mary Parish in Uxbridge, also unable to offer its Light of the World retreats for a year, is finding another way to help parishioners evangelize - the Augustine Institute video series called “The Search” - said Diane Moriarty, pastoral associate.
“Do you know someone who is questioning, seeking or can’t seem to find their way?” asks the parish website stmaryuxbridge.org. “Please invite them to watch ‘The Search’ with you!”
“It’s a very visually appealing series and very thought provoking,” Mrs. Moriarty said. “We’ve had great discussions” with Light of the World faith-sharing groups and other parish groups that have used or are using it - with the idea of later inviting others to watch it.
“What I like is they have people from so many fields – science, art, medicine, religion, psychology” on the videos, she said. “It’s just great to see these great people proclaiming the faith with such vigor … in relation to their field.”
During Lent St. Mary’s is offering “The Search” in person in the church hall, but the 10-person maximum has been reached. More people can join Zoom sessions by registering on the parish website or calling the office at 508-278-2226.
“A lot of the names we don’t recognize, so we’re excited to meet them,” Mrs. Moriarty said, in reference to those already registered.
The parish advertised “The Search” through word of mouth, in-house fliers, local newspapers and the Diocesan Dispatch, Mrs. Moriarity said.
St. Mary’s is using Zoom in addition to the in-person sessions “because we can reach more people,” she said. “We weren’t sure if we could form community on Zoom,” but found that successful with other parish ministries.
“People have gotten used to Zoom,” she said. “I think, moving forward, Zoom will still be with us.”
Michael Hoye, a seminarian doing a pastoral year at St. Mary’s, favors in-person gatherings, and his 11-week offering is filled.
“It just seems like it goes a lot better in person,” he said.
He is putting together the course, “Literature and the Catholic Mind: The Path of Virtue,” using short stories by Catholic and other writers, he said. Participants will read the stories for homework, discuss them with the group, listen to his lectures and discuss how to apply the virtues to their lives. After Masses during Lent and the Easter season he will distribute his lecture notes to those interested.
Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Hopedale is also using the in-person approach, reported Father William C. Konicki, pastor.
The parish is addressing a current challenge through an eight-week JustFaith Ministries course called “Faith and Racial Healing,” being held in the church hall.
Sacred Heart will also have many activities accessible on the website sacredhearthopedale.org for youth and adults, said Pam Chaplin, ministry and operations manager.
Father James M. Steuterman, pastor of St. Richard of Chichester Parish in Sterling, said he is offering a five-week series called “Back to Basics” for people to watch live or later on the parish Facebook page, facebook.com/saintrichardsterling.
“I’m putting it together myself,” he said. “I’m using a lot from St. Ignatius.”
It is “for older people, to remind them of the ideals of following Christ” and “for younger people, to present the spiritual journey in a personal way that they can be attracted to.”
He also reported that the parish has subscribed to the Augustine Institute’s online platform called “FORMED,” which he describes as “a Catholic resource that people are liking very much - there is much there for everyone.” The parish bulletin said people sign up on the website https://signup.formed.org/, enter the parish zip code (01564), click on the parish name and enter their own name and email address. Then they can download the FORMED app by searching “FORMED Catholic” in their app store.
St. Richard’s is also planning to live-stream Stations of the Cross during Lent.
Deacon William A. Bilow Jr. said St. Anne Parish in Shrewsbury, where he’s stationed, is offering Stations of the Cross and exposition of the Blessed Sacrament in the church the Fridays of Lent. A recorded version will be available on Facebook for people to watch when convenient and it might also be livestreamed, he said. The website stannesparish.org is to provide more information.