The Outreach of Zoom

The way we on the Capricorn Coast celebrate and gather has evolved during this time of pandemic. Zoom is the great ‘gatherer’ at the moment and many in our community have begun to explore ways of: catching up, meetings, praying together, Mass, reflecting and simply saying hello to each other. Certainly an innovation has been to use zoom to gather people to pray if they cannot attend Mass. At the moment where only ten people are allowed to be in the church, for those who are not able to attend, people can link into ‘zoom’ and gather with others online for the 12noon Mass for those unable to be in the church. Each day there are many who gather online this way and it also is a time to say hello and see how everyone is. The link is offered in our bulletin each week and on the Parish Facebook and webpage. Weekly prayer and Gospel reflections have been a great comfort to those who are in their home and not able to gather with others. Many who are first time users of the online and internet, are slowly gaining confidence and are finding it a saving grace and at the moment, the best way to stay in touch. Thank goodness for ‘zoom’.

During this time there have been loved ones who have died and recently, family who were overseas and not able to attend the funeral of their grandmother, attended online from America, Ireland, and in places in Australia. It was a great comfort for them. At a suitable time we will gather as a community to give thanks to God for their lives and to hold their families in prayer.

Facebook continues to be a source of outreach. Local photos are attached to the daily Scripture reading and are a reminder of the beauty and inspiration of both the Word and our surrounds.

God Bless, go gently and stay safe.

Fr Matthew