Parish Community Shares in Compassion and Provides Essential Outreach During Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected all of us. But even in such a difficult time, there were still blessings to be found, no matter how small. The time of church closures helped us realize the blessing we have in our parish community and, especially, the opportunity to receive the Eucharist.

When the parish closed, Steward for Pastoral Care Bene Reece took the step to get a list of all the parishioners who were homebound and isolated, and then had volunteers call them.

“We had a big group of volunteers who were reaching out to people,” Bene says. “Some of these were people they didn’t even know.”

Fr. Lou Cunningham received special training to be able to safely administer the sacraments at the hospital and assisted living facilities.

“Both Fr. Jim and Fr. Lou never stopped visiting the sick and the dying that asked for sacraments, prayer, and spiritual support during the pandemic,” Bene says.

Bene also organized a project to give gifts and blessed items to all the homebound, about 200 people in total. This continued through multiple holidays during the pandemic. The gifts included door rosaries made by the Benedictine Monks at Saint Martin’s Abbey, batteryoperated candles that were blessed, holy water, and cards of encouragement, to name a few.

A large part of the outreach has also included streaming Mass. Bene notes that several people who hadn’t been coming to Mass before the pandemic were reunited with their faith. The online Mass also drew Scott and Katy McPherson to SMP. The couple had been thinking about becoming Catholic for several years — Katy was raised Episcopalian and Scott was Armenian Orthodox.

“We had heard about Saint Michael, but one Sunday when churches were closed we watched the livestream Mass,” Scott says. “The whole Mass was beautiful. We just decided that ‘This is where we want to go. Let’s become Catholic — let’s just do it.’”

The couple was brought into the Church in January. They are excited about the Catholic faith and being part of the community at SMP. And while they certainly appreciated the livestream Mass, they are thankful to be at Mass in person with the opportunity to receive the Eucharist.

In recent months, the Eucharist has also been brought to the homebound since many of our neighbors don’t feel comfortable attending Mass in person.

“I’ve heard so many stories of people, after months of not receiving the Eucharist, the power that it had, and the tears,” says Kim Kondrat, Steward for Community Outreach. “It is such a joy to hear that.”

Kim also coordinates the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Grief Support and the St. Peregrine Cancer Support groups. The cancer support group met virtually throughout the last year, and the grief group has started meeting again in person while observing COVID-19 precautions.

“The grief support was so incredibly needed,” Kim says. “There is so much extra grief with the isolation.”

Another group that adapted to the uncertainty of the past year is the Prayer Shawl Ministry. Members meet in a park when the weather has allowed. While making the shawls, they pray for the person who will be receiving one. This ministry has been a valuable way to offer hope and comfort during the pandemic.

Kim looks forward to the day when life is back to normal. She has been happy to see ministries resuming their activities, as the support and outreach are so needed. In turn, she feels blessed to have had the opportunity to reach out to those who were so isolated.

“It is important to have our faith family reach out to each other,” Kim says. “One of the side effects of the pandemic was isolation and loneliness. The gifts and calls gave everyone a little something to look forward to, to break the loneliness and isolation.”

Stan Brandt with the items he received in the mail during the church closures

Bene Reece, Steward for Pastoral Care