Drive-in Adoration and drive-thru confessions
The unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic may have shut down most public Masses and activities at churches in the
Diocese of Charlotte since March 14, but the Church in western North Carolina isn’t calling it quits.
Priests and their people are finding new ways to connect in the digital sphere, even as they cannot gather in person in groups of more than 10, in compliance with ever-tightening public health restrictions.
Masses streamed live on Facebook or posted to YouTube. Daily email newsletters instead of weekly paper bulletins.
Drive-through Eucharistic Adoration, rosaries and outdoor confessions. Even Masses offered in church parking lots, with car lines for Holy Communion.
Parishes are doing everything they can to keep people connected to their Catholic faith and the sacraments during a disease outbreak that has forced us to retreat into our homes and avoid public contact which could spread this new virus.
MASSES: online and livestreamed
At least six churches or pastors launched YouTube channels within a week after Bishop Peter Jugis canceled nearly all public Masses in light of U.S. Centers for Disease Control guidelines that limit public gatherings to fewer than 10 people.
Pastors from Holy Cross Church in Kernersville, Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in High Point, St. Vincent de Paul Church in Charlotte, Immaculate Conception Church in Hendersonville, and Our Lady of Grace Church in Greensboro are among those who have jumped onto YouTube after their Masses were canceled, joining larger parishes like St. Matthew and St. Mark that have been videotaping Masses for a while.
They are offering online Masses streamed from mobile phones, giving Gospel reflections, even doing Scripture studies and Catholic book talks.
Holy Cross’s pastor Father Noah Carter is recording his private daily Masses, as well as Gospel reflec-tions and messages in Spanish and Lenten music from the Office of Sacred Music. A parishioner gave him a webcam and a microphone to improve the quality of his recordings, and his YouTube channel gained 248 subscribers within just a few days after he launched it March 16.
It “is not the same as being able to be there as Our Lord comes among us and enters into the human race and the whole world,” he acknowledged in one video, “but what is very important is that in this Mass, the whole parish is being remembered each and every day at the altar of the Lord… I am lifting up the Lord for you and interceding for you so that you might be comforted by these graces.”
On their new YouTube channel, St. Vincent de Paul’s Father Joshua Voitus and Father Cory Catron have been offering livestreamed and taped Masses, Eucharistic Adoration, Vespers, Gospel reflections and educational talks – including one for the Solemnity of St. Joseph March 19 in which Father Voitus shared some of his extensive icon collection.
It is difficult for priests to have to say Mass behind locked church doors, Father Voitus said. “We don’t want to not be ministering to the people out there.”
Father Christian Cook in Hendersonville and Father Paul Buchanan in Greensboro have also taken to YouTube to connect virtually with parishioners.
The personal contact is important, Father Cook said. “Hearing from me, and seeing me speaking on the YouTube channel is at least a bit more personal than the barrage of emails, website announcements, and Facebook posts that I’ve had to engage in during the early days of this fluid situation.”
Father Buchanan is posting what he can to reach Our Lady of Grace parishioners.
“Obviously, I am not a YouTube personality, and it’s a very plain setup – just me and my phone. Nevertheless, I hope it will bring some consolation to people, especially my parishioners, in this period of trial. If people find it helpful, I’ll continue to upload more,” he said.
A growing number of priests are also using Facebook to livestream or post their private Masses for parishioners to follow along. Sacred Heart Church in Salisbury, Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Monroe, St. Mary Mother of God Church in Sylva, St. Leo Church in Winston-Salem, and Charlotte’s St. Matthew, St. John Neumann and St. Thomas Aquinas churches are among the parishes offering Masses on their Facebook pages – either live or recorded.
Within days of the coronavirus pandemic coming to North Carolina, more than 30 parishes have launched some type of video Mass option for their parishioners.
Even the Benedictine monks of Belmont Abbey have gotten in on the action – sharing their 11 a.m. daily Masses streamed live from Mary Help of Christians Basilica on their Facebook page.
NOTE: A list of parishes offering Mass online, either live or recorded, is listed here. The list is constantly changing as churches adapt to the evolving coronavirus situation, so please check directly with your parish for updates.
DRIVE-UP AND SIGN-UP MASSES
St. Aloysius Church in Hickory and St. Joseph Church in Kannapolis experimented last weekend with “drive-up” Holy Communion at Mass, via car lines in their parking lots.
At St. Joseph and St. Aloysius churches, people lined up and received Communion in their cars at the side of the church during each Sunday Mass.
At St. Ann Church in Charlotte March 21-22, Father Timothy Reid offered Mass at a second-floor win-dow of the Allen Center, visible from the church parking lot. Mass-goers, who remained inside their cars, tuned in to watch the Mass on the parish’s Facebook page using their smartphone or tablet. At Communion time, people were escorted from their cars, one by one, to receive Communion outdoors.
In addition to livestreaming and taping its Masses, St. John Neumann Church in Charlotte for a time offered very limited public Masses in the church using a SignUp Genius form on its website.
However, St. Ann’s and St. John Neumann’s plans to keep offering these limited public Masses have had to be canceled, in compliance with Charlotte-Mecklenburg authorities’ order earlier this week for people to remain at home whenever necessary until April 16.
ADORATION FROM THE WINDOW
In addition to Mass, priests are also getting creative with Eucharistic Adoration. People are not able to gather inside church to adore Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, so priests are bringing Jesus out to the people.
On March 19, St. Gabriel’s pastor Father Richard Sutter placed a monstrance with the Blessed Sacra-ment in a third-floor window of the parish ministry building overlooking the church’s parking 
lot. Peo-ple stayed in their cars or remained a safe distance from each other as he came out to the parking lot carrying the monstrance and blessed everyone who had gathered. He led Benediction again in the parking lot after a recorded Mass March 22.
Father Matthew Codd has also been placing the Blessed Sacrament in a window facing the parking lot of St. Thomas Aquinas Church, while he offers confessions at the church. People may sit in their cars adoring the Lord while waiting to have their confessions heard.
Going digital, Father Larry LoMonaco at St. Aloysius Church began offering a videotaped Holy Hour each Thursday at 7 p.m. on the parish’s Vimeo channel and Facebook page. “The best time you will spend on earth,” the parish’s Facebook page quotes from St. Teresa of Calcutta.
A few parishes are maintaining Eucharistic Adoration schedules inside the church, although very care-fully. St. Leo Church in Winston-Salem is keeping Eucharistic Adoration going inside the church each Wednesday, but adorers must maintain a safe distance from each other and the church is being disinfected regularly as a precaution.
In Salisbury, Father John Eckert is keeping Sacred Heart Church open longer and expanding the time for Eucharistic Adoration, starting after the daily 9 a.m. Mass (which he is posting online) and continu-ing until 9 p.m. each night. Adorers also must follow the CDC’s crowd-restriction and distancing guidelines.
Like most churches across the diocese, the doors of the diocese’s mother church, St. Patrick Cathedral, are remaining open daily for people to come in and pray, even if the Blessed Sacrament is not exposed on the altar. Father Christopher Roux, rector, has placed near the altar a reliquary containing the relics of Sts. Jacinta and Francisco Marto, two of the three shepherd children who experienced the apparitions of Our Lady of Fatima. They both died young due to illnesses brought on by the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918.
“During this present pandemic, we pray for their intercession that we will be protected from this dan-gerous virus,” Father Roux noted in an email to parishioners.
CREATIVE CONFESSIONS
Priests across the diocese are also taking confessions outdoors, mindful of public health restrictions. Doorways, gardens, parking lots, porches – anywhere there is enough space for people to spread out a safe distance from each other and maintain the privacy of the confessional.
At Our Lady of Lourdes, Father Benjamin Roberts has been hearing confessions at the new Marian Grotto behind the church, with people waiting in line in their cars a safe distance away.
At St. Gabriel, Father Sutter and Father Gabriel Carvajal-Salazar are also offering “drive-thru confes-sions” by the Marian Grotto located between the Parish Center and the school. Penitents drive up while the priests remain a safe distance from their vehicles.
St. Vincent de Paul’s clergy, Father Voitus and Father Catron, began hearing confessions out by the parish’s columbarium on weeknights.
And over at the cathedral, Father Roux began offering confessions from the back porch of his rectory every day.
Priests continue to experiment with how best to offer the sacrament of confession without violating public health guidelines. Please check your parish’s website and social media for details, as schedules and plans are subject to change.
EMAIL IS KEY
Father Paul McNulty of St. John the Evangelist Church in Waynesville is among the many pastors who have begun relying on more frequent email communication with their parishioners, using FlockNote, Constant Contact or MailChimp.
“This has allowed me to keep parishioners up to date on the rapidly changing requirements from the CDC which have been informing the directives and guidelines from the bishop,” he explained.
St. Matthew Parish is using FlockNote groups to build community: its “Bringing Church Home” group sends “a little bit of St. Matthew community life” to people’s inbox each day.
St. Mary Help of Christians Parish in Shelby has a Spanish group that meets over WhatsApp.
Going a step further, St. Pius X Parish in Greensboro is using REALM, an app in which parishioners can update their parish profile information, join ministry groups, register for programs, even track their giving history.
“The situation in our community is constantly changing and therefore so are our responses and our resources. Now is the time to stay informed,” the parish noted in an “emergency” Echoes newsletter emailed to parishioners last week.
PODCASTING AND MORE
Monroe’s Father Roberts is among the clergy who use podcasts to share their homilies and messages. He has used PodBean for years to air his English and Spanish homilies.
“This Lent, we must fast from praying together physically, but we are united spiritually and virtually,” he noted on a recent Facebook post.
Father Carter at Holy Cross Parish is podcasting the daily Gospel and his homily on “Homilies from Holy Cross,” and St. Dorothy’s pastor Father David Miller has stepped up the weekly “Padre Casts” he posts on the parish’s website and on PodBean. Also, Father Jason Barone uses SoundCloud to post regular homilies and reflections on the website for St. Jude Mission in Sapphire and Our Lady of the Moun-tains Mission in Highlands.
Father Sutter converted his three-day Lenten mission, “Let Us Climb Together,” to a podcast that was posted to St. Gabriel Church’s website.
And St. Matthew Church has kept up its “40 Day Lenten Challenge” with daily reflections accessible on the parish’s website and social media.
Parishes already familiar with social media are now trying to use it in more creative ways as they seek to connect with people.
St. Mark Church – which has a robust website, YouTube channel, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram presence – videotaped the church’s votive candle stand and posted a “virtual candle” video on Facebook March 19 for the feast of St. Joseph. People were asked to comment by typing a candle emoji, telling others where they were from, and joining in prayer. The post got more than 60 comments.
Our Lady of the Annunciation Church in Albemarle has also been posting more frequent inspirational messages on its Facebook page.
Good Shepherd Mission in King livestreamed its Spanish-language Stations of the Cross March 20, set-ting up a “watch party” on its Facebook page.
Parish ministries are also exploring technologies such as Zoom video conferencing for Bible studies, youth and teen group discussions, women’s group meetings and more.
PHYSICAL CONTACT STILL COUNTS
Yet with all the digital offerings, the need for physical connection remains.
Parishes including St. Pius X, St. Matthew, St. Mark and St. Luke are reaching out to their older and homebound members, calling to check in with them and bringing them groceries if needed.
Churches across the diocese are also intentionally remaining wide open – some for extended hours – for people to come in and pray, especially for anyone who is ill.
Our churches remain places of pilgrimage, and this unprecedented fast from Mass and physical gath-erings this Lent will bring spiritual opportunities, clergy agree.
Noted Monsignor Anthony Marcaccio at St. Pius X Church, “With a renewed and a heightened sense of gratitude for the amazing action of God among us, it may be possible that this fast could lead to even greater dedication and devotion of our celebrations of Eucharist.
“With this perspective, we can also see that our sacrifice from the Blessed Sacrament pales in compar-ison as a mere inconvenience to those whose very gifts of life and health are at risk. We will meet the devastating effect of this pandemic with courage and perseverance.”
Father Eckert at Sacred Heart Church in Salisbury urged his parishioners, “Come with your family to our beautiful grounds to walk and pray a rosary. Stop in for a visit to Our Lord and ask for increased trust and love of Him right now, not just for yourself, but for all of us. Strive to make this sudden slow-down more like a retreat than a time for increased panic and anxiety.
“I know things are different, and will continue to be so,” he said. “I also know that the same Jesus Christ that slept on a cushion at the front of the boat as the disciples were tossed about at sea is the same Jesus Christ exposed in the Eucharist on our altar as I write this. He will see us through this; do not let yourself be parted from Him.”
— SueAnn Howell, Kimberly Bender and Patricia L. Guilfoyle, Catholic News Herald
Spiritual Communion
As more Catholics around the world find themselves unable to receive the Eucharist because of the coronavirus pandemic, Pope Francis provides an example of an act of spiritual communion that can be prayed at home. The prayer by St. Alphonsus Liguori is:
“My Jesus, I believe that You are present in the Most Holy Sacrament. I love You above all things, and I desire to receive You into my soul. Since I cannot at this moment receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You were already there and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen.”
Additionally, Bishop Peter Jugis suggests the following spiritual communion prayer by St. Josemaria Escriva:
“I wish my Lord to receive You, with the purity, humility and devotion with which Your Most Holy Mother received You, with the spirit and fervor of the saints.”
A spiritual communion is a uniting of oneself to the Sacrifice of the Mass through prayer.
Prayers for a Pandemic
May we who are merely inconvenienced
Remember those whose lives are at stake.
May we who have no risk factors
Remember those most vulnerable.
May we who have the luxury of working from home
Remember those who must choose between preserving their health or making their rent.
May we who have the flexibility to care for our children when their schools close
Remember those who have no options.
May we who have to cancel our trips
Remember those who have no safe place to go.
May we who are losing our margin money in the tumult of the economic market
Remember those who have no margin at all.
May we who settle in for a quarantine at home
Remember those who have no home.
As fear grips our country, let us choose love.
During this time when we cannot physically
Wrap our arms around each other,
Let us yet find ways to be the loving embrace of God to our neighbors. Amen.
— Author unknown. From St. Pius X Church’s Echoes newsletter
During this period we should:
Fast from fear; Feast on faith. Fast from despair; Feed on hope. Fast from depressing news; Feed on prayer. Fast from discontent; Feast on gratitude. Fast from anger and worry; Feed on patience. Fast from negative thinking; Feast on positive thinking. Fast from bitterness; Feed on love and forgiveness. Fast from words that wound; Feast on words that heal. Fast from gravity; Feast on joy and humor.
— Adapted from “A Lenten Prayer” by William Arthur Ward, as published in St. Benedict the Moor Church’s bulletin
Related:
Laetare Sunday in a time of pandemic: A new kind of Sunday, with a different kind of joy
Bishop Jugis: ‘May the gift of the Holy Spirit be with us’ through these difficult times
Bishop Jugis asks for intercessory prayer to end coronavirus
In coronavirus response, all Masses and Church activities limited to less than 10 people
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In coronavirus response, all Masses and Church activities limited to less than 10 people
CHARLOTTE — Effective March 17, Masses and parish activities for all parishes in the Diocese of Charlotte are limited to fewer than 10 people, based on the latest guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in its ongoing effort to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus.
The previous limit for most public gatherings was 100 people, set by North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper in an executive order March 14.
Churches across the diocese have already cancelled most Masses and postponed or cancelled non-essential parish activities, but some of the smaller parishes had continued offering daily Masses, parish faith formation classes, and other activities that typically draw fewer than 100 people. Those activities and liturgies are now not possible given the updated guidance from the CDC. Clergy are trying to offer the sacraments of confession and anointing of the sick via appointment or at specific limited times.
Related: Priests, parishes explore new ways to minister during Covid-19 pandemic
Bishop Peter J. Jugis has asked the priests of the diocese to offer private Masses for their spiritual benefit and that of their parishioners.
The obligation to attend Sunday Mass has been waived until further notice, but all churches of the diocese are remaining open as much as possible so that the faithful may come in and pray, Bishop Jugis emphasized.
“This is the time in which we do not run from our churches, but we go to God and entrust our communities to His good and perfect will,” Bishop Jugis noted in his guidance to clergy on how to respond to the coronavirus outbreak.
“In times of turmoil, sickness, wars, and natural disasters, the Church throughout the ages has led the way,” Bishop Jugis declared. “As Christians, our hope lies in God alone. Especially during this Lenten period of the Church’s year, we recall that the things of this world in one way or another will pass away.”
The CDC guidelines limiting people from gathering in groups of more than 10 should be maintained even inside the churches by individuals coming in to pray privately: If you enter and see 10 people already inside, please wait outside until it is advisable to enter. Once inside, please practice “social distancing” by remaining 6 feet apart from one another.
The faithful of the diocese are encouraged to watch Mass online or on TV, and make a spiritual communion.
Bishop Jugis offered a special videotaped Mass from St. Patrick Cathedral in Charlotte on Sunday, March 15, to provide spiritual comfort to those who are home-bound and enable the people of the diocese to pray together through a virtual platform. Read about the Mass and watch it on the Diocese of Charlotte's YouTube channel.
The CDC’s revised crowd restriction of 10 or fewer will also apply to the celebration of the other sacraments – baptisms, confessions, weddings, funerals and anointing of the sick. Couples with weddings scheduled in the near future should communicate with their parish about a postponement.
Priests are continuing every effort to provide viaticum and anointing of the sick to those in extreme illness.
Most Eucharistic Adoration chapels are closed. Adorers should check with their ministry leader or parish office for schedule changes or other updates.
RCIA classes at parishes across the diocese are also being cancelled or moved to an online meeting format where possible. RCIA candidates and their sponsors should connect with their ministry leader or parish offices about changes to their class schedules.
The Bishop's Youth Pilgrimage, scheduled for April 4 at Belmont Abbey College, has also been cancelled. The event typically draws more than 1,000 youth from across the diocese, but with the CDC guidelines and the governor's executive order, organizers had no choice but to cancel. Registration payments will be refunded.
All churches and schools have increased their cleaning regimens and taken other measures in line with CDC recommendations to prevent the spread of the coronavirus – including deep cleaning classrooms and high-traffic areas, frequently wiping down “high-touch” surfaces, removing missals and hymnals from the pews, and emptying holy water fonts.
Bishop Jugis previously suspended exchanging the Sign of Peace and distributing Holy Communion from the chalice at Mass, precautions that remain in effect.
COLLECTIONS
Parishes are also encouraging the faithful to consider, when possible, giving online or mailing in their offertory gifts to help continue meeting the financial obligations of their parish. Please contact your parish office or check out the parish's website for details on setting up online giving if you have not already done so.
SCHOOLS AND CENTERS
All 19 Diocese of Charlotte schools suspended classes effective Monday, March 16, until Friday, March 27, in accordance with the governor’s executive order, and all schools are transitioning to remote learning wherever possible. Students and parents are receiving guidance from their school administrators. School buildings may remain open for faculty and staff, but all extra-curricular activities and events are cancelled or postponed.
Because all colleges and universities in the state are closed or in the process of closing, Campus Ministry students are in the process of departing their campuses. The diocese’s Campus Ministry chaplains and staff are providing spiritual support to students during this period of upheaval.
All Diocese of Charlotte Lay Ministry classes have also been postponed through April 9.
Retreat centers such as the Catholic Conference Center in Hickory and Living Waters Catholic Reflection Center in Maggie Valley are continuing to host events, using their prudential judgment, as long as the number of people does not exceed the CDC guidelines. Events that do not comply with the CDC crowd limit are being postponed, rescheduled or refunded where possible.
EMPLOYEES
Church employees and volunteers are being encouraged to work from home when possible and if their work allows. If they continue to work in their office location, employees are being asked to practice “social distancing” by remaining at least 6 feet apart from one other. Diocesan leaders have also relaxed sick leave policies for employees who contract the coronavirus or have to remain self-quarantined, and waived health insurance deductibles and co-pays for coronavirus testing, so that no employee is financially burdened as a result.
“The well-being of all our dedicated staff during this difficult time is a top priority as a responsible employer and, most importantly, as faithful followers of the gospel. In addition to our goal to help keep people safe and healthy, we are also committed to minimizing the financial impact on them,” noted Father Patrick Winslow, the diocese’s vicar general and chancellor, in guidance issued to pastors and administrators.
BISHOP’S MESSAGE TO THE FAITHFUL
In recognition of the serious public health risk posed by the COVID-19 coronavirus, Bishop Jugis urged the people of the diocese to consider the health and well-being of everyone by following the guidance of the CDC and public health authorities.
“The Church must provide for the spiritual and pastoral needs of the faithful,” he wrote in a letter to the faithful March 16, but “as members of the community we are committed to participate in the larger community response. These concerns have guided my decision to dispense from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass as well as canceling or curtailing all other liturgical events and gatherings according to CDC and state government guidelines while allowing local priests to provide for the needs of their parishioners within these parameters.”
“Because these temporary spiritual sacrifices are for the health and well-being of the physically weak and vulnerable, it is also a response to our Lord’s command to love our neighbor. Without a community response our vulnerable family, friends and neighbors would be severely impacted. Therefore, as a diocese we will continue to follow the CDC guidelines.”
Read the bishop's complete letter:
To the faithful of the Diocese of CharlotteIt is important that the people of the diocese do not lose sight of the spiritual opportunities during this unprecedented crisis, even as they deal with these temporary sacrifices and disruptions in the life of their parish and the Church in western North Carolina, the bishop said.
“I recommend we take this opportunity to greater sympathize with those throughout the world who do not have regular access to the full sacramental life of the Church. We can create more space at home and in our daily lives for prayer and family devotion. We can reflect upon the things that truly matter and gain a greater sense of perspective and the true meaning of life. We can look beyond ourselves and ask how we can help others. We can reflect upon the interrelatedness of our lives with the larger community. We can focus our gaze on Christ, the One who brings true healing.”
— Catholic News Herald
