If the COVID-19 pandemic has done nothing else for the Catholic Church in North America, it has suddenly made many of our priests and deacons experts at how to stream daily Masses live over the internet, or otherwise record them for posting on YouTube, Facebook, Vimeo, and other video social media. Not wanting to leave many parishioners without a connection to their dioceses or parishes, many bishops and parish priests have taken to the internet with a daily or weekly streamed liturgy that is usually available to all, one that was done with their parishioners in mind.
Not every parish has the wherewithal or the capability to do this (mine doesn't), but there are many who do, and for those who don't, there are many dioceses who are now sponsoring daily Masses. My own Bishop is streaming one on Facebook and YouTube each day from the chapel of his episcopal residence, and has since the beginning of the crisis locally. Bishop Robert Barron has even begun an initiative for daily Mass from his personal chapel sponsored by Word on Fire. It is one of the more popular new daily Masses being streamed.
In thinking about this new desire to connect with parishioners through media, we probably shouldn't forget those who were doing it long before we thought about any need because of a pandemic. The Catholic TV Network in the Archdiocese of Boston had a television Mass when such Masses were still in black and white. EWTN has been putting daily Mass on television and radio since the inception of that network.
When it comes to putting the Mass on the internet, one organization deserves particular mention. As far as I know, the National Catholic Broadcasting Council (Canada), which is chaired by a deacon (Deacon Mike Walsh), was among the first to put a complete daily-as opposed to merely a Sunday-Mass on YouTube. I have to admit that I have found that resource invaluable.
The reason for this is because a couple of years ago at our diocesan meeting with Bishop Stika, he laid out a few expectations for his deacons. One of these is that we should attend daily Mass whenever possible, assisting at the altar if we can. I reminded the bishop that my physical limitations impede me from doing that every day. He said that in the absence of an ability to be at Mass every single day, I might consider a streaming Mass or a television Mass. I discovered the daily TV Mass sponsored by the NCBC on YouTube, and found it to be a help and support when I couldn't be at daily Masses.
Now, the Church finds herself in a situation because of the COVID-19 pandemic where public Masses are suspended. EWTN has begun putting their entire Daily Mass on YouTube, rather than merely the readings and homily, as they did for years. I always thought they should put the whole Mass on YouTube all along. Furthermore, many parishes have begun YouTube channels and Facebook outreaches, and their pastors are sharing their daily Masses with the world.
When this pandemic passes, I hope that many of the parishes, dioceses, and ministries which are making daily masses available via the Internet now will continue to do so. At nearly every Mass in which I assist, I always include a prayer for the homebound in the general intercessions. As more and more people are beginning to access the internet today, that includes many homebound people, and I firmly believe that parishes ought look for ways to connect with the homebound within their Parish boundaries, making them feel welcome and included even if they don't have a way to make it to Sunday Mass. More parishes having an internet presence with the ability to stream liturgies is one way to do that.
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