The dictionary gives two definitions of waiting: 1) the action of staying where one is and, 2) delaying action until a particular time.
The first definition – staying where one is – is rooted in passivity. The second definition – delaying action – is rooted in proactivity.
The Church is in a long period of waiting right now. Waiting for the restrictions to be lifted. Waiting for our Churches to be re-opened. In our waiting, are we passively staying where we are or are we getting ready for action when action can be taken?
When the opportunity comes, it is too late to prepare. So, we better get ready now.
In May 2020, Carey Nieuwhof wrote, “By now you’ve realized that the coronavirus pandemic is not an interruption, as much as it is a disruption.” One year later, his words continue to echo in my mind.
Many Catholics think that the biggest impact of the pandemic is the interruption in celebrating the public Mass. I don’t think that is true. I think the Church has experienced a significant but temporary interuption to the celebration of Mass. But it has created a transformative disruption in terms of the missionary dimension of the Church.
Many Catholics think, and feel, that the biggest impact of the pandemic is the interruption in celebrating public Mass, but I don’t think that’s true. Share on XNot being able to celebrate the Mass has been a heavy burden felt by all, especially our beloved priests. It is painful but not permanent.
Our souls ache to receive Communion and our hearts long to be with our communities, but the Mass itself has not changed, nor will it in the months and years to come. Livestreaming will not become an acceptable means of fulfilling one’s Sunday obligation. Even in the case of shut-ins, who have no possibility of participating in Sunday Mass, livestreaming doesn’t fulfill their obligation. Rather, they are under no obligation to participate in Mass when through no fault of their own they are unable to. The temporary pain of not attending public Mass won’t become the status quo. It will go back to normal.
What cannot return to normal is the approach we have to the missionary dimension of our parishes. An unintentional approach will no longer suffice. It actually never did, but it was considered normal.
The pandemic has caused our parishes to become quite innovative in their approach to connecting with people. Livestreaming Mass is only part of the efforts. Outdoor Masses, parking-lot confessions, drive-up adoration, prayer groups meeting on Zoom, pastors creating YouTube channels and sending bite-sized messages to their congregations, youth taking groceries to elders.
We may think that we were forced to become creative to deal with the challenges of the pandemic, but more importantly, the Lord has shown us what is possible!
Some parishes have started a telephone tree through which every parishioner gets a phone call from a volunteer who just checks in every two weeks. That is beautiful, even heroic.
What is animating that creativity? Love … love for Christ and zeal for souls.
Love motivates a pastor to figure out how to download a video from his phone onto YouTube. Love drives him from the comfort of his rectory to hear confessions in the parking lot even when it’s raining. Love animates all kinds of creativity to stay connected to the 99 sheep.
That same innovation and zeal to reach parishioners during the pandemic needs to animate our missionary outreach after the pandemic is over. Share on XThat same innovation and zeal to reach parishioners during the pandemic needs to animate our missionary outreach after the pandemic is over. We need to shift our energy and zeal from those we are trying to keep (parishioners in the pews) to those we are trying to reach (non-church goers).
We have learned valuable skills and technologies to care for our community, after the pandemic, may these skills and technologies be used for the sake of missionary outreach beyond theexisting community. The Church is the only organization in the world that was created NOT for it’s own members.
We need to shift our energy and zeal from those we are trying to keep, parishioners in the pews, to those we are trying to reach, non-church goers. Share on XThis is where the real disruption is taking place. This is where the Spirit is speaking. This is where I see we see his protagonism, his catalytic and prophetic presence. The Lord is allowing us to learn how to “outreach” effectively with our own people so we become passionate and capable of reaching those not yet in our parish communities.
The Lord is allowing us to learn how to “outreach” effectively with our own people so we become passionate and capable of reaching those not yet in our parish communities. Share on XWhen Winston Churchill said, “Never waste a good crisis,” he wasn’t speaking about temporary adaptations to get through a tough time. It’s about leveraging the momentary crisis as a burning platform to bring about deep, transformational, organizational change. The coronavirus has created this kind of crisis for the Church. The lockdown has been an interruption to the celebration of public Mass, but a disruption to the missionary dimension of the Church.
Churchill's, “Never waste a good crisis,” wasn’t about temporary changes. It’s about leveraging the momentary crisis as a burning platform to bring about deep organizational change. Share on XOpportunities like this are rare. The crisis is forcing us to innovate and adapt our strategies and tactics in a way that is aligned to the spirit of what was envisioned when St. John Paul II called for a new evangelization – “one that is new in its ardor, new in its methods, and new in its expression.”
The crisis is forcing us to innovate and adapt in a way that is very aligned to St. John Paul II's vision for the new evangelization – “new ardor, new methods, and new in its expression.” Share on XCome Holy Spirit and fill us with a renewed commitment to the mission of Christ, which is still very far from completion.