The Pandemic, Community & Worship

 Reimagining U.S. Catholicism Today.

On Mondays during October, Commonweal had a series called that were available live through Zoom, . Each topic had a panel of four people and a moderator for a discussion that lasted about an hour long. They are all available now on the Commonweal YouTube Site

The following, the final and best one, was on the pandemic, community, and parish life.  Below I give an outline of the conversation with brief phrases that may help you through the hour, and also help you to comment on the discussion. 

The Future of Community & Sacramental Life | 

Claudia Avila Cosnahan (moderator): Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, Los Angeles 

Question: what  has the pandemic revealed 
about  the role of the parish in the mission of the church?

Darius Villatobos  National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry

1. how fragile parish life is (gave example of deacon who had to take over responsibility when priest was absent) it was not clear who leads the parish?

2.  challenge to be church outside of the walls of the church, who provides external leadership

Natalia Imperator-Lee, Professor of Religious Studies, Manhattan College

The virus revealed fictions about our community such as shared government; having our revenue stream depend upon in-person worship is really a problem.  Ordained ministers devastated without sacrament as a way to relate to people.  The soccer mothers who do catechesis have not heard from their pastor in seven months.   On the other hand a woman who moved to Seattle reconnected by internet with a former pastor offering Mass in New  York.   

Neomi De Anda  Associate Professor of Religious Studies, University of Dayton

Never was a parish person,  but more aware now of all the other places outside of the parish, such as schools, hospitals where we have  been practicing faith  for thousands of years. The real question is not the parish but how is Catholicism penetrating life. 

Brett Hoover Associate Professor of Theological Studies, Loyola Marymount University

Our parish programs were all focusing attention on parish and parish worship. People are now absolutely without help. People do we know how to pray outside of Mass. They are angry at churches for not opening. 

Claudia What transformation is required?

Natalia  Mass going was central to new Evangelization. But thousands of Catholics here and even more abroad don't have access to the Mass.  We need a new understanding of Eucharist. We have made it too small by limiting it to the Mass. What does it mean to be a Eucharistic people outside of Mass?

Brett: Remember the prophetic critique of ritual worship: too much emphasis upon worship but a neglect of caring for the needy. . Worship needs to be in every part of life where love and mercy are shared.

Darius : Who are leading parishes?  In many case its is the youth ministers in charge of livestreaming and social media. How do we create safe places for our lay ministers and the creatively of young people. Clergy not equipped to engage our community beyond the sacraments which creates a lack of trust.

Neomi People do not see it as OK and even necessary to stay home from Mass, and that this is a pro-life issue

Brett In some parishes multiple volunteers are checking on everyone. There are lots of opportunities on line but a generational gap with regard to social media.

Neomi Other possibilities beyond the internet are needed because not everybody is comfortable with it.

Darius  The coming holidays are going to be very difficult because we are not going to be able to gather as parishes and extended families.

Natalia  The virtual church brings a new appreciation of Incarnation and the sharing of material life

Claudia Many questions from the Zoom audience about how we understand the Eucharist

Natalia I am not saying sacramental ministry is not important, but that the meal is not the only place where we share life, sacrifice, and service.

Neomi  Breast feeding, the sharing and nurturing of new life is an example of the most basic things we do.  Family gatherings need to be reformulated, all of life is fragile not just parish life

Brett A greater sense of shared responsibility is needed. Eucharist has eschatological aspect; it is always imperfect, the blessing of partial measures, the full presence of Christ in limited circumstances.

Darius More emphasis on importance of being sent, the Eucharist as food for the journey; the virtual breaking of bread, not only in this place and this time

Claudia Many leaders wanting to take on leadership, but established leadership  shutting things down.

Brett The hierarchical mentality even when it is not needed, we don’t need pastoral leadership or permission to do many things.

Darius  Those unconnected with the parish might better represent our church then the church going. While Mass is hard to engage people, creating spaces to answer basic issues (sexuality, politics) might be easier. Father is not going to mind you bringing somebody new.

Neomi  Shared homily and reflections which began with priest, went to bible study, and lectio divina

Darius The issue of race, and the availability online of seminars in how to talk about race

Brett People finding things elsewhere not just in local group

Natalia The stone which the builders rejected, the quasi monastic life with family or alone, rediscovering simple pleasures

Neomi  The notion of fasting from basics such as hugging, sharing of meal 

Brett  We are too achievement oriented, the need to incorporate grief, the cross and resurrection and not always be Mr. chipper

Claudia Question: has it changed the trajectory? what is here to stay?

Natalia Accelerated some changes, polarization. People who were leaving have cut loose. A rediscovery of the psalms, don’t rush through lamentation

Neomi We accompany God by accompanying everybody else who is suffering.

Darius  Our church needs to offer spaces for prophetic dialogue; people felt more comfortable at home and in other places

Brett: Less worrying about disaffiliation; can’t all be done in parish; we need to pray and live at home