The global health crisis has paralyzed the spiritual lives of many. With self-isolation and quarantine in place and a ban on public gatherings, churches are now going digital. In response to COVID-19, churches took to Facebook or Zoom to live-stream the Holy Mass.
The rise in digitalization has been able to gather an avid amount of viewership, especially following quarantine protocols. As the world organizes the holy mass, sacraments, and catechesis in a time of the pandemic, does the community give shape to this worship?
Rev. Fr. Angelo Colada, Social Communications Director of the Archdiocese of Jaro, said the streaming of live masses online and on-air did aid the faithful cope with their spiritual thirst which brought about by the pandemic.
“Aside from the Holy Mass, prayers like the Holy Rosary were supplemented in order to sustain the spiritual life of the people,” Fr. Colada said. He further stated that it was effective in reaching out to the people, most especially those who are not yet allowed to physically participate in the congregational gatherings.
Now, even under the modified general community quarantine, Iloilo resumed religious services but with 50 percent of capacity. While the government and medical authorities battle to sustain a minimum loss from the rise of COVID positive cases, churches administered due procedures of practical health standards while in the parish.
The Archdiocese of Jaro advises parishes to adopt COVID-19 prevention protocols such as social distancing, wearing of masks, and using alcohol in public.
Public gatherings increase exposure to risk, thus, hence it had become important to shift the Mass and Church sermons to a digital realm. Religious worship has a profound significance to communities, but, because of the pandemic, churches have to provide protections for its parishioners and congregants in innovative ways.
Remote participation in services has become imperative to ensure public safety. It led to a large concern with active and practicing Catholics to ensure that the Holy Mass, sacraments, and church proceedings are carried out consistently as well.
“Much is needed to be emphasized most especially in the reception of the sacraments, wherein we are reminded that we are to receive it in person and not online or over the phone,” Fr. Colada mentioned. “There are modifications made on how it is to be administered due to the implications of the minimum health standards,” he said.
The Sacrament of Confession is still to be received in person, and the people can approach the priest if they desire to receive the sacrament. However, there are certain guidelines made on how it is to be celebrated. One example is that the penitent and the confessor will observe wearing face masks and 1-meter physical distancing.
Challenges of church digitalization
Temporary transfer of church services to social media or TV networks doesn’t mean it’s always a breeze. Connectivity issues and technical difficulties were among those challenges that the Archdiocese faced in the commission.
“These are among those unprecedented situations that might happen during the broadcasting the Holy Mass online,” Fr. Colada said. “However, as days passed and with the help of the expertise of our technical staff, the streaming was improved,” he added.
He relayed that there were no intermittent connections experienced because of the enhanced equipment used in broadcasting the Holy Mass online. For the parishioners, however, much can be said about timing in the broadcast on live television.
*Nang Angela relayed to us that not all times the channel broadcast the 6AM mass on TV. “Wala kami Facebook, te, paano kami ya pamati?” Nang Angela woke up at 5AM just to watch the 6AM mass but only got dismayed to see no live-streaming of the morning mass. Finally, a neighbor told her to listen to the radio to listen to prayers, masses, and rosaries from the church.
Meanwhile, *May, a mother of two children, finds it hard to listen to mass online because her children kept borrowing her phone to play games. And when her children make a fuss, she has to give up the phone to her children just to calm them down.
Despite all of this, the digital realm has been able to offer great solutions to the repercussions and turmoil caused by the pandemic. What’s more, COVID-19 has caused a great amount of psychological stress and it had become ever more important to develop a sense of communal healing.
The digitalization of the church proceedings has been able to de-stress and comforts the Catholic community. Nang Angela mentioned that listening to prayers and spiritual teachings on her radio or TV akin to meditative therapy for her.
In times of communal distress and trauma, the world needs guidance and help through the healing process. The digitization of churches has been able to help those in need by propagating the word of God, His blessings, and enriching the souls of the catholic community with healing energies, love, and hope.
Digital worship in the near future
This pandemic restricts our limitations and it’s no science to know that it may continue for a while. However, it was able to embed hope and probably a new milestone. The health crisis might last longer (but, not forever) and the parishes will always find ways to conduct church services just as before.
“As of the moment, the Archdiocese is making a move to provide online catechesis, not only to the old but to the young as well,” Fr. Colada said.
He mentioned that one of the successful initiatives that reached the young ones during this community quarantine was the Flores de Mayo sa Panimalay.
“Though children can no longer participate the Flores de Mayo in chapels and churches, the catechesis and the prayers for the children were done online and were entrusted to their parents, elders, and young people who have access to the media posted through our Facebook page,” he said.
You may visit the Archdiocese of Jaro, Commission on Social Communications on the Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/Jarosoccom
