The pastor of St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Manitowoc reflects on Holy Week and the restrictions put in place by the Safer at Home order that we must live by for the time being.
Father Doug LeCaptain tells Seehafer News the challenge presented by the COVID-19 shutdown is to re-think and re-do ministry, differently.
He adds we’re not going to gather in a public way this Easter. LeCaptain says they’re reaching many parishioners through means of social media, including a live-stream of daily mass at 6:45 from the Waldo site.
Another offering is Cafe’ with Priests at 8am to allow for a fun way to connect with people.
SFA also holds a 20-to-30 minute session at 10 for educational purposes involving a priest & elementary & middle school students, a mini-retreat mainly for adults at 4pm and an online holy hour every Sunday at four during the duration of the shutdown.
There’s a live feed of the 9:30 Mass Easter Sunday on 980-WCUB, and a parish mailing went out to alert parishioners about the options available to worship through radio & t.v.
Father Doug also spoke of what could be parallels of what happened to Jesus and and what we’re going through during COVID-19.
He explained that Jesus was hailed by his followers as he rode into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, while our lives were much different & joyful before the stay-at-home order.
Referring to our savior’s Last Supper Holy Thursday with his disciples, LeCaptain said more families are gathering together for meals at home than before the crisis began.
He says on Good Friday, Christians die with Christ and should pick up the cross and embrace him, just as we carry a cross of heavy burdens or challenges in life.
And then for Easter Sunday, and his resurrection we will rise with him in a new life, just as we gather inside our home with board games played, conversations and reflection on the good coming from this time of crisis.
