We’ve had to become innovative, that’s for sure. Having to close our church doors three weeks ago to the peoples’ prayer and sacramental life caused us great sorrow and anguish. However, little did we know that together, as a Team, we could do great things. What a blessing to have two under-25s on our Team! And little did we know that sitting behind the reception desk and in the finance department were two seriously creative tech-savvy people!

Our main focus at this time has been to keep in touch with our parishioners as best we can, to support them in their prayer life in the absence of the Eucharist, and to ensure theirs as well as our health and safety is maintained.

Bulletins

To achieve this, we have continued to produce a weekly bulletin that is accessible on the parish website, Facebook page, and on outdoor church noticeboards. Admittedly it’s half the size of the previous editions but, for many of our parishioners, a hardcopy is the only medium of communication they will have and so we will continue to produce these. Letter-box drops are being done by visitation ministers and Team members to those who have asked for a copy.

Staying in Touch

As soon as the churches closed, a meeting of the Visitation Ministry was organised. Fr Peter and Marcia Sharp, the parish Visitation Co-ordinator, asked that each minister make phone calls to their “regulars” as a means of staying connected. As well as the Visitation Ministers, the Passionists Family Group members, MenAlive and the Parish Stewardship Council members have come on board and have been allocated several parishioners with whom to stay in touch during the course of the pandemic.

The youth of the parish have volunteered their time and know-how to help the older generation use their devices and install apps such as Zoom and What’s App.

Church Chat

An interview with Fr Peter, recorded live in our parish studio each week and sometimes twice weekly, is up and running on our Facebook and Youtube pages and parish website. Our first guests were Lizzie and Maddi, our Youth coordinators with the knowledge and tech savvy ability to “talk the talk” and reassure us all is possible. They introduced themselves, read one of their favourite gospels with an accompanying explanation, and spoke of their plans in Youth ministry. Activities for the young are happening each weekday via Zoom during this stay-at-home period.

Church Chat is written and presented by Fr Peter and the guest-of-the-day, produced, directed and edited by Jeffrey “Spielberg”, former parish Finance Officer, graphic designs by Raquel, receptionist, sound and lighting by Jeffrey “Spielberg”, with running commentaries from Anne, Norm and Marcia. All rights reserved.

Resources

Facebook, Youtube and our website are our major forms of communication. On these we place links to various prayer resources and online Masses. We are grateful to be able to view the livestream Mass from the cathedral each day.

Anne Sheehan