Creative Shepherding during Covid-19 pandemic

How quickly times can change! Over the course of the last week: public Masses have been cancelled; some are asked to shelter in place; the anxiety level has increased exponentially. Though this email is meant for priests, I am sending this to everyone so that you can see how priests and parishes around the country are responding to this crisis. Please reach out to your priest, share these ideas with him, affirm him, ask him how YOU can help with their efforts, and pray for him. These are uncharted waters for everyone. Priests, I realize that every parish and situation is different, so adapt these ideas as you see fit. I encourage you to share resources with your parishioners that do not have to be replicated physically at your parish. Whatever you can do to keep people connected to the parish is vitally important. People are going to get out of the routine of going to Mass, bible study, confession, and more. We don't want the devil to win any souls during this pandemic, so please think of creative ways you can use your priestly and God-given gifts to keep your parishioners united with the Church.

Ideas from Around the Country

Social Media: Start live streaming your Mass on Facebook Start a YouTube channel to stream Masses. You will need 1,000 subscribers to live stream, so post on your and your parish's social media to get those subscribers Post often on social media channels (messaging ideas below)

Keep in Touch with your Flock

Reach out to parishioners in the time you would have spent in meetings each day. Call them. Email them. Post on social media. Remind them to be more prayerful during this time, scheduling in prayer in their day, especially with their family. Share how a family can keep Sunday a day of prayer without attending Mass. Remind them to check on their neighbors. Share what they have with their neighbors. Messaging about Be Not Afraid! is welcome at this time. Share with them what the parish is doing (i.e. social media, live streaming Mass, drive by confession, outside of house blessings). Organize a parish rosary or divine mercy chaplet from home. Have parishioners email someone at the parish if they will participate and then let the parish know how many families joined. This can be done weekly. Maybe new spiritual habits will be born from this troubling time. Have them email their mass intentions to a certain person at the parish who can send them to you to have for your private Masses.

Confession

I have seen priests getting creative on how to still offer the important sacrament of confession. Drive by confession Safe distancing confession (not in cars)

Adoration

Adoration from the car Messaging from that parish : " CHANGE IN ADORATION for the time being...beginning today, -- will be exposing the Blessed Sacrament in the window of the rectory. Adorers are invited to come to the rectory and stay in the comfort of their cars while still doing Adoration. Starting today, it will run 2pm-8pm M-F. We will update you all if anything changes. We are working to follow the directives of the Bishop, Governor, and President with respect to social distancing. Thank you all for your understanding and your continued support and unwavering faith! " Adoration in the sanctuary Messaging from that parish: While public celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is suspended, know that the church is NOT closed. . Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament remains from 9AM-7PM Monday-Friday! With that, please still engage in the advised "social distancing" by spreading out within the church. Come, let us adore Him.

Outside House Blessing

If you are able, you can go bless a home and family. Though you are staying outside, circle the house with holy water, offer a Gospel reflection, and encourage them to make their family and home a domestic church during this unusual time You could give the family blessed salt, holy water and a blessing that they could then use inside their home.

Keep in Touch

Please send me your creative ideas, too! Let us pray for one another and for an end to this virus. As always, know that you are in my prayers. If you think of it, please pray for me, too. God bless you! Rhonda Gruenewald Vocation Ministry Cell: 281-352-4005 rhonda@vocationministry.com www.vocationministry.com St. Alphonsus Liguori, Pray For Us! Join the Liguori Society ‌ ‌

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