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St. Leo’s Website Offers Faith Formation Resources To Help Guide Us Through Uncertain Times
If social isolation and being in quarantine, along with the other safety measures needed during this pandemic, are causing stress for ourselves and our faith, there is help at the click of a keyboard or mouse.
St. Leo’s website, at www.saintleos.org, is full of resources that we can access to let us know that we are not walking this walk alone.
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“We compiled a bunch of different resources,” says Jodi Stauffer, Director of Children and Family Ministries. “The website is a treasure trove that really has been underutilized at this point. If people explore it, they will find they are spending more time with it than they anticipated. There is so much there they can use, or even use as a springboard where to go next.”
Adults will find faith formation materials at hand. Studies by Jeff Cavins are available through Ascension Press. Adults and young adults may also find a wide variety of podcasts.
“People can safely and securely delve into their faith a little more,” Jodi says, noting that often the Internet can serve as a “rabbit hole” of misleading information.
“We have young adult material,” she says. “They tend to want to learn about their faith in a different way. So we have podcasts. They are not traditional, but they are a great way to evangelize and find commonalities with other Catholics.”
There also is material for middle school, high school, and elementary parishioners, as well as material that parents can call up and share with their children.
When the pandemic restrictions were put into place, St. Leo’s stepped up to offer these online programs.
“We wanted to meet people where they are,” Jodi says. “We want them to be aware of where they need to be and we want to meet them. We want to ask, ‘How can we walk this walk with you?’ No one wants to be on this journey alone. We try to do what we can to be where they are.”
St. Leo’s livestreams daily and Sunday Masses that also can be accessed any time after the Mass times through the parish Facebook page and YouTube channel.
“If streaming Masses is what is needed — it’s doing what we can to send a positive message that we’re still here and what can we do to be there for you,” Jodi says.
A feature added to the website is the “Just Breathe” option. It addresses the need to deal with the feelings of anxiety caused by the pandemic.
“It has lots of what you can do to calm yourself,” Jodi says. “You can maybe delve into simple silence, a song, or the Bible. There are links to help you find a sense of calm in this pandemic, and find a center. We all know we need Jesus. This helps you to center yourself so you can ask the right questions.”
Jodi suggests that one way to calm oneself is to watch daily Mass before bedtime.
“It’s usually only 30 minutes,” she says, “It’s a great way to calm your mind, body, and soul, and get a really restful sleep. You’re hearing God’s Word right before bed.”
She also suggests watching Mass with one’s children before their bedtime in place of a traditional bedtime story.
For everyone to be aware of the online resources available, Jodi asks that everyone update their contact information with the parish, including email addresses, cell phone numbers, and landline phone numbers.
“We want to stay connected with our parishioners,” she says. “Our website is one of the ways we do that.”
St. Leo’s website, at www.saintleos.org, is full of resources that we can access to let us know that we are not taking this journey alone.
Our website’s “Just Breathe” option offers a number of helpful ways to deal with the feelings of anxiety caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
A wide variety of faith formation materials are at hand on our parish website, including video presentations.
