Different way of being and ministering at this time of Covid-19 at Sacred Heart Church of the First Peoples in Edmonton, Alberta
The Corona virus spreads disease by copying itself from one person to another resulting in sickness and isolation. At Sacred Heart Church of the First Peoples we are spreading good news with technology’s ability to copy itself to people all around Canada.
Since the time of the restrictions on liturgies we have been broadcasting mass every morning at 9:00 am using Facebook Live and an iPhone. At 7:00 pm we broadcast the Rosary from our Blessed Sacrament chapel. We offer the prayers each day in Cree and English and people are watching live and at later times during the day. We are astounded by how many people are following these videos: the first day we noted 4,700 views!
We can hardly believe the reach our simple videos are having. We can see a large following from our own local parishioners but also from Northern Saskatchewan, Manitoba and the N.W.T. from Indigenous communities where both of us have served over the years. People post their appreciation and requests for prayer on the video feed. The comments are all positive and filled with faith and echo our solidarity in this time. There is obviously more spiritual connections and communions than ever before ranging from BC, AB, SK, MB, NWT and other places including India. People love hearing Fr. Susai’s clear Cree words and singing. We both are more engaged in these ministries than in other ordinary times.
Br. Zac
This last week St. Joseph Seminary closed, and we have taken in a seminarian who did not have a place to go, Brother Zac. Weekday evenings we connect to a meeting of the Eritrean community by video and give spiritual counsel and teaching particularly aimed at meeting the crisis in faith. In the afternoon Fr. Mark makes a lighthearted two-minute video with the parish cat and some interesting Christian trivia. People love these little moments of relief in contrast to all the heavy news coming through our screens.
We are so grateful for our volunteers and staff who continue to work in the parish meeting the needs of those who still turn to us for help of all kinds.
You can connect to our video services through parish website or on our Facebook page.
Blessings to you all in this time of confinement, may it be like those times of confinement that preceded great times of social development and faith.
By Susai Jesu, OMI and Mark Blom, OMI
