In turbulent times, isolation can be one of our worst enemies. But in times like this, when isolation takes on more levels and meanings than we ever knew existed, being removed from friends, co-workers, loved ones, church community, as well as the sacraments, is terribly dangerous.
None of us knows how long the current state of affairs will last or what will happen next, but this issue of The B.C. Catholic as well as those in recent weeks have some advice for readers. Pray. It comes from our writers, from clergy, from the archbishop, and from Pope Francis. Many of us – although not all –have more time on our hands than usual. It’s time that can be put to excellent use in prayer.
While praying as well as doing acts of charity we can offer thanks that we’re blessed to have access to what the church quaintly refers to as modern means of communications – or in common parlance social media, internet, email, and that old standby the newspaper, both print and digital.
Staff at the Archdiocese of Vancouver are largely working remotely now, and although our personal contact is limited in personal access, 21st-century technology allows us to continue doing all we can to keep the faithful informed and connected with their parish and Catholic communities.
There are good indications it’s working. Just look at our story Soaring Online Masses, Web Traffic Proving Church Never Stops, where you can read about our new Church Never Stops initiative.
It also looks like the archdiocese’s efforts are being well received both by parishioners and parishes. Here’s just a sampling of notes of appreciation from the past few days.
- Thanks so much for these updates. Being able to join the Archbishop in prayer is a wonderful gift, and much appreciated by the elderly. It makes us feel included.
- Thank you for setting up all the online communication means and platform so we can connect ! Please stay healthy and well.
- Thank you for sending us these updates. My questions on protocol and how to behave while listening to online Mass were addressed in the interview. I am grateful for that. I am part of a faith study group in our Parish and we are continuing the weekly Faith Study through Zoom. This is such a blessing.
- God bless each and every one who has made this Easter Triduum so accessible and prayerful for us all. Now we can truly say, “He is risen! Alleluia, Alleluia!”
- I am so proud of our Catholic Community as I look at the wealth of wonderful material available to help us in this challenging time. At the beginning of the virus and when our churches had to be closed it was terrible. I’m sure many people were like myself, very lost and sad. However that has all changed, now that the Archdiocese has been able to give us all the opportunities to practise our faith and live Lent and Holy Week with our Blessed Lord. I am so very thankful to be able to go online and participate spiritually in Mass and Stations of the Cross.
- Thank you for the news and link for Cathedral Masses available. For someone with such an attachment to our Mother Church, this is a supreme gift. I cannot describe the feeling I got when the Cross came into close view at the beginning of the Chrism Mass. It took my breath away. Of course I missed the sea of priests in their white robes forming a cross along the width and aisle of the cathedral, and that motion as they moved out along the aisle, a sea of white, each priest holding the sacred oil for his parish. Whoever does the oil delivery to each parish should receive a very special blessing.
And my favourite, emojis included:
I need my Faith?
Therefore, every day I…
Say my Rosary and offer it up for the end of this virus, for the poor and sick
all over the world, for those who do not know our Lord, and for those who need
God’s help the most❤️
I watch the Mass on my iPad
I give to organizations that help the poor.
Most importantly, I pray for all clergy, nuns and those who are involved directly
In helping. They are special people??
Thank you for every moment of joy?
Thank you, my Lord and my God?
Support like that is encouraging as well as inspiring, especially now when the future of communications and newspapers is so unstable. Catholic newspapers like The B.C. Catholic face challenges unlike any other media. There are fewer than a handful of us left in Canada, and in the U.S. one diocesan newspaper has already closed while another about to cease publication only managed a last-minute reprieve thanks to a federal coronavirus aid loan.
A number of public and private emergency aid initiatives for media are being discussed, from Facebook grants for news organizations to journalism grants. In the U.S., media advocacy groups are asking for federal assistance for struggling local news outlets, including diocesan newspapers.
We can leave as a separate discussion whether such funding is a good idea, or whether the answer lies in decisions like France’s competition bureau ordering Google to compensate news organizations for using their content. Whether we would qualify for such compensation is another question, since Catholic newspapers are in a category of their own. We’re not commercial publications, and we don’t qualify for government-paid advertising that goes into community and ethnic newspapers. We’re reliant on our publisher, the Archbishop of Vancouver, as well as the faithful, and God.
Meantime, we’re launching a new initiative as an added way of helping our Catholic community. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating impact on the economy, including businesses that serve the Catholic community. As one way of helping owners and employees who are suffering, we’re going to publish free business listings so owners can let Vancouver’s Catholic community know they’re still operating and eager to serve.
Many businesses advertise in parish bulletins that are no longer being seen. The B.C. Catholic business listings can help owners reach out to tens of thousands of B.C. Catholic print, digital, and online readers. Whether your business is still operating face to face or has moved to delivery or pick-up service, we want to help you let Catholics know you’re here for them. To have your business information listed, just email advertising representative Raymond Loretan at ads@rcav.org.
And finally, please share our web, print, and social media content so everyone in the archdiocese will know #ChurchNeverStops.
