By Florida Catholic staff - Florida Catholic
SOUTHWEST RANCHES | When Masses were canceled around the archdiocese because of the coronavirus pandemic, the priests at St. Mark the Evangelist thought they'd have to say the Easter Mass by themselves.
Instead, fathers Jaime Acevedo and Paul Karenga found everyone in place -- via photos taped to the pews. More than 500 parish families had sent their pictures to an online library, so they could attend virtually.
Photographer: Courtesy
Father Jaime Acevedo, left, and Father Paul Karenga show the photos taped by parishioners to the pews at St. Mark Church, to show their support even if they couldn't attend physically.
"I thought I was coming to celebrate Mass with an empty church," said Father Acevedo, who said the Easter Vigil Mass. "But when I came in and saw the photos, it reminded me we have a full church."
The surprise assembly -- a "thank you project" for the priests, according to Gail J. Coniglio, a lay leader at St. Mark -- was part of a contingency plan developed by parish leaders as the coronavirus spread into South Florida. The plan involved heavy use of social media to foster worship, keep parishioners connected and reach into the larger community.
Some examples:
- Using Facebook and Instagram to share daily Mass, Adoration, the rosary and the Divine Mercy Chaplet.
- Short catechesis videos, titled "Journey of Faith," featuring St. Mark's priests on YouTube.
- Youth and young adult meetings via Instagram.
- Continuing donations to the church, using WeShare in lieu of collection plates.
- Weekly studies among lay groups on Zoom.
- Communication among the 50 church ministries via WhatsApp, Facebook and Instagram.
Photographer: Courtesy
Parishioners had their photos taped to the pews at St. Mark Church, to show their support even if they couldn't attend physically.
Lay leaders at St. Mark's have voiced elation at the results. Caitlin De La Fe, director of parish life, said the online Mass underscored the "great thirst" for worship.
"Even though they were doing so virtually, it reminded me of how important the physical presence and dynamic the priest and parishioners have ... that unmeasurable thirst, especially in the physical presence of the Blessed Sacrament," said Caitlin, who with husband Gus has helped spearhead the church's move into technology.
She helped launch the gift for the priests in texts and e-mails, calling for the family photos. In response, the ministry leaders collected pictures and uploaded them to the PhotoCircle app, ready to print and tape to the pews for the surprised priests.
The sight of the pictures made him "very emotional," said Father Karenga, who celebrated the Easter morning Mass. "It's as if everyone is here in church."
Gail Coniglio, who coordinates the Women of Grace ministries at St. Mark, gave an example of the reach of the new technology. Her older daughter Courtney, 21, is a junior at the University of Central Florida, but she watches Mass at St. Mark.
"So our parish is feeding those parishioners who are away as well," Coniglio said.
St. Mark's also keeps its members connected with a comparatively low-tech newsletter in .pdf form.
Even amid the techno-ministries, though, the church is developing a plan to call any new parishioner who registers at the Welcome Table, Coniglio said. Although there is no Welcome Table without physical attendance, the lay leaders are still preparing "just in case, so we are ready whenever the parishes open up to public masses again."
