A Sense of Community

    The first day I did this was a fiasco, my camera took video sideways, even though I was holding it horizontal, and the sound wasn't really good.  I looked down all of the comments that were being made and was embarrassed at how many people were complaining about the picture.  I know you have to watch it so you get a crook in your neck, but I am trying hard…and why aren't you just watching the sideways Mass instead of commenting?!

Throughout the last several weeks, I've been live streaming our Sunday and daily Mass as well as all of the Holy Week services before Easter on our parish Facebook page.

   I admit I was appalled at all of the comments that were being posted during the Mass. 

The next day I had my act together better and the video was straight like it was supposed to be. I didn't expect any comments today. But I was taken back when comments began flying across the screen again, but this time with Likes, and Hearts floating up the screen.  I was glad my video was turning out better, but I was still really surprised people were commenting during the Mass.  I admit I am starting to sound like the Mass police here but I couldn't help but think, 'Hey you, stop typing and pay attention to the homily!" 

   But after several weeks as this kind of thing just kept going and more and more people were finding us on Facebook to 'tune in to' Mass, I finally noticed that the comments were almost all alike.   As soon as I went 'live' just before the bells rang for Mass, people were jumping on and wishing each other Good Morning,  and happy day, and thanking us for live streaming Mass.   It suddenly struck me as a beautiful thing they were doing.  Members of our parish were congregating at Mass, just like they do on Sunday or during the week, checking in on each other, making sure older members were there for Mass, asking for prayers for each other or a loved one who was sick.  Most of the time it was just a whole line of, "good morning!' scrolling down the screen.

   It caught the attention of our pastor who would always watch the Mass after it was posted on our Facebook page.  He realized the need for people to comment as our sense of parish community right away, something that took me a few weeks to figure out.  What a beautiful thing. Yes, they were typing at their computers while watching Mass, but if you think about it, don't you nod your head with something in the homily when you are in church?  Or wave or nod at a neighbor at Mass or smile and tear up?  People were instinctively doing this but since we couldn't see them, they used their keyboards instead!

   Now I relish sitting down after I've posted the Mass online and read the comments, me myself checking on everyone who was there and making sure older members are okay too.  It is something learned during this time of quarantine and social distancing that we desperately NEED each other to reach out to and hug.  And are we not blessed we can do it with a stroke of a keyboard?

Lights, Camera...Mass!

  The phone rang. I rolled over and looked at my old clock radio. In a panic I jumped for my phone when I saw it was 2:40 AM. Only emergencies call at that time of night!  I answered in a breathless hello.  The voice on the other end sounded familiar..."hey Lisa! This is Tom Hanks. I hear you are making videos like crazy there in Southeast Missouri and I want you to come work for me!"
  My heart was pounding, "What? A stupid sales call in the middle of the night?!" I immediately hung up and crawled back in bed. My husband asked if everything was okay. "Yes, just some jerk pretending to be Tom Hanks wanting to hire me for movies."
  "Oh. Hope you said no."
  Suddenly country music began playing. I woke up, for real this time.  My alarm was going off. Rats, it was time for another day. Did I just dream Tom Hanks called me?  Yup.
  My life for the last twenty days has been filled with live streaming daily Mass, making videos of Stations of the Cross, Perpetual Help devotion videos, a video pilgrimage of churches for Holy Thursday and even a video of my fellow staff members telling our parishioners we miss them. Of course all six of us were in social distancing stances.  I had never made so many movies and videos of anything or anyone in my life and you can ask my family and they'll agree that I've been known to make a lot of movies.  But now I was dreaming about them and thinking I was on the verge of becoming famous! Hahahaha!
  I've been trying to look on the bright side of Lent and this virus pandemic because watching and reading news has been all too depressing.  My own brother suffered for two weeks with the virus without knowing that is what is was until he got out of the hospital. We are grateful he recovered. It has been a scary time and still is, but I just cannot keep dwelling on the scary.  As someone reminded me, in the first Easter Story the apostles and the women were scared too. But who stayed by the cross? Who went to the tomb?  The girls. So here I am, a woman who, though scared, must shout the good news of Easter!
  During the last twenty days I have learned how to live stream on Facebook. I have almost worn out my phone doing this every morning and every Sunday to bring the good news to all of our parishioners who are home wishing they were attending Mass.  I am told that being able to see the Mass has been saving their sanity. At least that is what my prior pandemic daily Mass going mom told me. If for no other reason I'll continue for her sake!
I have to admit it is hard to sit through Mass silently whispering the responses so as not to disturb everyone on the other side of the camera and not be able to receive Jesus physically.  After a few days someone asked me to find a spiritual communion prayer to read during Communion. That helped me and everyone else watching feel a little better. But it's still hard.
Sundays brought a whole different dimension when I volunteered to cantor at Mass and run the camera.  Somehow I thought it would be easy to sit in the choir loft, run the camera and sound and sing the songs and responses during Mass.  I have learned a big lesson during Lent...sometimes you bite off more than you can chew. But it has all been worth it to help everyone feel closer to the sacrament of the Eucharist even if we cannot physically receive Jesus.  We will get through these times and we all continue to do what we must to help each other survive both physically and spiritually.  Many churches in our diocese are live streaming and recording Mass.  It is a beautiful thing to see how people are reaching out to help others.  God bless each and every one of you and know that these times will come to an end and we'll be back worshiping the Lord in person together with our church families!