THE COVID-19 -PANDEMIC AND SILVER LINING IN ST. SIMON COMMUNITY
By Fr. Christopher Bologo
INTRODUCTION: The havoc Covid-19 pandemic has caused the world is unimaginable. By my calculation, it will take five to ten years for the full impact of the pandemic to be known. The damage is to the economy, people’s spiritual lives, politics, health, environment and truth. Unfortunately, the damage still continues around the world at an alarming rate. St. Simon Church had her share of the negative impact because of the disruption in the life and activities of the parish. Mass attendance dropped completely at the beginning of the pandemic as with all churches, and almost all parish activities were cancelled. Fortunately, our parish did not record any death arising from the virus and the few we know of that contracted the virus recovered fast and it didn’t spread at all.
Interestingly, the expected retirement of the former pastor, Fr. Warwick James, and the arrival of the new pastor, Fr. Brendan McGuire, happened during the peak of the pandemic. The feeling of parishioners regarding the change of guard in the parish leadership at such a crisis moment typifies the general experience of parishioners throughout the period of this pandemic – challenging. However, in spite of the painful challenges the parish community has had to grapple with during the pandemic, there are also positive aspects, some “silver linings.”
THE PARISH BECAME A MIISSIONARY CHURCH MARK 6:7: The pandemic offered parish leaders the opportunity to be a missionary church by not sitting and waiting for people to come to church, but seeking ways of reaching out. The priests and parish staff made calls to parishioners to ask how they were doing, while assuring them that the parish was with them in prayers as the virus raged. The new pastor, Fr. Brendan, had over fifteen zoom meetings with parishioners to introduce himself and encourage his flock. Some parishioners offered to go buy groceries or run errands for parishioners who needed help. The staff offered small group faith sessions, children faith formation, retreats and zoom discussions, confirmation classes, youth ministry and other meetings on Zoom.
THE TECH MINISTRY EXPANDED: There was a tech component to the life of the parish pre-pandemic, but during the pandemic, it grew exponentially. Pre-pandemic, the parish didn’t have a live streamed Mass but the pandemic necessitated it. From having Mass on zoom, the ministry has now grown to include live streamed Masses on Face Book and You Tube. Other spiritual activities like Fr. Brendan’s retreats and penitential rite of reconciliation were also live streamed. We have been able to share baptisms, funerals, First Holy Communion and Confirmation with distant family and friends. Furthermore, meetings of Parish Staff, Pastoral Council, Finance Commission, and the Liturgy Board continued through zoom.
CHECK IN MINISTRY: The parish took advantage of the Covid protocols to have a check in desk where parishioners met volunteers and staff who managed church attendance and wished them well as they arrived at Mass. The priests also went round before all Masses to greet and assure the parishioners of our prayers and support. This was another highly effective ministry during the pandemic, one that we don’t yet know how to replicate post pandemic.
A QUICK SWITCH TO OTHER METHODS OF CELEBRATION: The Parish Life Group (PLG) and staff were quick to plan creative ways of getting together to celebrate some very important events in the parish. A few in person or “in car” events were organized with strict adherence to Covid protocols – Blessing of the Animals, Birthday Drive Throughs for Fr. Chris and S. Rebecca, Halloween Trick Or Treating, Christmas Love & Lights, graduation for the Class of 2020, etc. One of our most original and popular ideas was the Wine & Word program where we learned about wine, nature and the word of God while socializing over Zoom. It is the view of many staff and parishioners that the drive-through parties and the Zoom opportunities should remain a parish culture for some events.
A DIFFERENT KIND OF YOUTH MINISTRY: In spite of the distressing time, the parish had a successful youth ministry that saw the confirmation of over seventy 8th graders. The children’s ministry too was not left behind as over fifty 2nd graders received First Eucharist. The youths were engaged in a hybrid session of zoom and a few in-person learning and fun activities.
OUR SCHOOL SURVIVED IN A BIG WAY: Our school knocked it out of the park by getting all students online within a week of closing the doors. When it was safe to bring children on campus, the maintenance staff went into high gear to get the campus ready to accommodate our precious students. Every week brought new information, new challenges as the school provided quality education to both in person and virtual learners. As the word of the quality education provided during pandemic spread throughout the neighborhood communities, the school’s enrollment went up. We could not be more proud or more in awe of Ann Kozlovsky and the entire school staff. They safely provided the best education possible under conditions that were constantly changing.
THE SPIRIT TO SUCCEED AGAINST ALL ODDS CULMINATED IN THE CELEBRATION OF THE 65TH AND 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE PARISH AND SCHOOL RESPECTIVELY.
CONCLUSION: There are many other beautiful things that happened during this time that space may not allow me to mention. However, we thank God, the Pastor, Fr. Brendan, other priests, the staff, volunteers, and indeed, all of the parishioners for the determination to continue with ministry in spite of the daunting challenges that came with the Covid-19 pandemic.
PRAYER: God, may the Delta variant of Covid-19 and vaccination hesitancy not derail the efforts we have made at containing this deadly virus.