Confessions on the front porch

Parishes are trying new ways to stay connected during COVID-19 quarantine
 
When the spread of coronavirus cancelled large gatherings across the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City, parishioners and staff turned to Facebook, YouTube and Zoom to share worship services with parishioners and conduct meetings with co-workers.
 
Parishes also found ways to adapt their various ministries to continue to bring the Catholic faith to their people.
 
Saint James the Greater Catholic Church – Oklahoma City
At Saint James the Greater in Oklahoma City, parishioners who are retired or not working were recruited to keep the senior meal delivery program going after many of the regular volunteers took a temporary break due to COVID-19.
 
“Currently our Meals on Wheels ministry is the only program still in service,” coordinator Judy Mesa-Canady said.
 
“Normally we prepare from-scratch hot meals for about 20 to 22 seniors every Thursday and Friday,” Mesa-Canady said. “Our group decided to continue to prepare hot meals and perishable food products every Thursday and deliver two days’ worth of food.” 
 
The usual two delivery routes were split into three to accommodate the larger amount of food delivered and the expected increase in service to more seniors sheltering at home, she said.  
 
“We have volunteers that not only work in the kitchen and deliver meals, but take turns buying groceries. Each volunteer is special and enjoys sharing their talents – and sometimes treasure – to help the elderly,” Mesa-Canady said. 
 
She noted one silver lining: with only six volunteers allowed in the kitchen at one time, members of the group are spending time in the church praying individually.  
 
Saint Joseph Catholic Church – Norman
Father Joseph Irwin moved Saturday afternoon confessions to the front porch of the rectory at Saint Joseph in Norman to allow people to celebrate the sacrament while keeping a safe distance from him and each other.
 
“It worked pretty well,” Father Irwin said. “All priests are trying to find ways to minister as best they can. It’s a hard call.”
 
About 15 people came to the porch confession the first week. Father Irwin said normally three times that many would attend.
 
One parishioner told him her family is gathering in the backyard to watch the parish’s Mass on Facebook Live on a large screen so they can all be together “celebrating Mass with you.”
 
“It’s been good. Anything on Facebook gets lots of views,” Father Irwin said.
 
The parish has live-streamed Masses, adoration and other prayer opportunities. Father Irwin also posts short cell phone videos with updates for parishioners.
 
Saint John the Baptist Catholic Church - Edmond
The staff at Saint John the Baptist in Edmond set a goal of calling every parish family – about 3,350 households – to see how members are doing spiritually and ask if they have any prayer intentions.
 
“It’s just a way to reach out to everybody,” said Stephanie Graham, director of stewardship, community life and communications. “We don’t have as much to do right now, so we decided ‘Let’s start calling.’”
 
The parish’s Samaritan House – which helps Edmond residents in emergency situations pay rent and utility bills and ensures they have food for their families – normally serves 70 to 75 households a week.
 
“We don’t know how many that will decrease or increase (due to the pandemic),” coordinator Jesus Medina said. “The need for food is out there.”
 
He said adjustments have been made to limit exposure to both volunteers and clients.
 
Food availability is an issue. The Samaritan House normally buys food in bulk – three pallets per week – from Crest, but the grocery store currently needs the products to fill its own shelves, Medina said.
 
Many of the ministry’s volunteers are in the high-risk age group so fewer than half are currently working, he said.
 
Days of operation were cut to Monday, Wednesday and Friday rather than every weekday.
 
“Everyone who’s continuing to volunteer is taking a great risk to their health. I think that’s remarkable,” Medina said.
 
The parish also is broadcasting morning prayer and evening prayer with the priests, daily Mass and Sunday Mass every Sunday at 11:30.
 
Epiphany of the Lord Catholic Church – Oklahoma City
Tracy Russo said the staff at Epiphany of the Lord in Oklahoma City have become video gurus.
 
“Our parish has purchased Zoom and is still having most of our meetings and faith formation via Zoom,” said Russo, youth and young adult director.
 
A "check-in and pray time" hour at 10 a.m. daily, except Sunday, is attracting people of all ages from near and far, and the parish website features things families can do together during this time to stay busy and keep connected to their faith, she said. 
 
“We have sent out hundreds of the old-fashioned snail mail letters to, hopefully, everyone,” Russo said.
 
She also has been working on letter packets for all parish youth that include a blessed piece of cloth each cut from the same bolt of fabric. Families are encouraged to set up sacred spaces in their homes and include the cloths to connect them to each other, she said.
 
“We're pretty tangible people and want to physically touch our faith, so this piece of cloth is something that will hopefully remind everyone that even though we aren't able to hold each other's hands during prayer, we are still connected,” Russo said.

K.S. McNutt is a freelance writer for the Sooner Catholic.
 
Photo: Vince Nizza prepares ground turkey casserole with noodles while Mary Ellen Wolf packs nonperishable food items for delivery. Photo Bruce Baker.