Thousands tune in for virtual Masses as streaming options rise

The churches were closed to the public, but it didn’t stop more than 30,000 Vancouver Catholics from tuning in on TVs, computers, tablets, and phones as dozens of parishes provided livestreams of their weekend Masses.

Parishes from Squamish to Chilliwack offered as many as five weekend celebrations of Mass to online viewers, all in response to COVID-19 restrictions on large social gatherings that has led to congregation-free Masses across Canada.

Viewers accessed Masses on a variety of platforms, from YouTube to Facebook to Zoom, with audiences averaging from a few hundred to a few thousand, the largest being Holy Rosary Cathedral which had more than 7,000 views of its five streamed Masses, followed by St. Joseph the Worker in Richmond, which had more than 5,000 online views.

Considering each registered view could have had more than one pair of eyes watching, it’s possible the total audience was substantially higher.

Many of the viewers left likes and comments expressing their appreciation for the opportunity to participate in Mass, albeit virtually. 

Masses were also offered in Vietnamese, Spanish, Mandarin, and Cantonese, while St. Andrew Kim Korean parish in Surrey provided a link to Mass on Korea’s Catholic Peace Broadcasting Corporation.

At St. Anthony of Padua in Vancouver, virtual hospitality ministers welcomed visitors and Mass readings were displayed on screen. Viewers could participate in chat room discussions and were welcomed by pastor Father Justin Huang who spent time after Mass chatting with them and answering questions.

Some pastors also posted short video messages to their parishioners with Masses offering them words of comfort and assurances of prayers.

Makani Marquis, senior director of communications for the Archdiocese of Vancouver, said new parishes are coming on board. As of Monday, there were 24 parishes streaming Masses, including The Virtual Parish, the archdiocese’s new “online parish” that features a virtual Mass and online community for Catholic Christian Outreach members and other young adults. 

Father Paul Goo, the archdiocesan vocations director who has become the Virtual Parish’s virtual pastor, said about 130 people attended online, and the community didn’t limit itself to watching Mass. “What I think is really cool is the fact that we tried having small groups after Mass.”

Using Zoom’s “breakout room” feature, a dozen groups of three or four people gathered for about 15 minutes, each led by a pre-selected small group leader. “We had discussion questions about the day’s homily and moments of connecting with God during the day,” said Father Goo. “The response was very positive.”

The archdiocese lists all streaming parishes at https://rcav.org/coronavirus/#streaming,  as well as links to TV Masses by the Canadian Catholic Broadcasting Council, Salt + Light Media, and EWTN.

If your parish has recently started streaming online Masses, contact the archdiocesan communications office to be added to the list of parishes.