These last few months certainly have been challenging and difficult times. We all have had our work- and home-lives changed, our social lives too have been turned upside-down to say the least. We’ve learned to grocery shop differently, to greet and say goodbye in new ways, Zoom or GoToMeetings have become new ways of communicating; and what can we say about distance learning and the workload added to being a mom and dad.

To quote Passionist Father Terry Kristofak, C.P., “Change is inevitable, growth is an option!” Words of wisdom, for sure. Our parish has had to change too in the ways we communicate—from a live Mass with a congregation to livestreamed and recorded Masses with no responses. The Parish Office was open daily, answering calls, scheduling Masses, blessings and burials, keeping the lines of communication open; and our church remained cleaned and sanitized during the entire pandemic so you would feel comfortable about stopping in and saying a prayer.

Our Youth Ministry (YM) went to socially distancing and virtual meetings and activities, to small group, socially distanced or outdoor events. Cleverly, YM expanded its interaction with their groups and other parishioners with new programs, added ministries to feed the hungry and serve people in need. Manny’s Meals, Street Sandwich Ministry and Plimpton House were all added to our parish’s activity list.

Faith Formation also transformed itself in promoting the faith—online programs, new forms of spiritual prayer, reaching out to First Holy Communion families through YouTube videos, Zoom Confirmation Interviews, and four separate First Holy Communion Masses combined into one video remembrance, and an expansion of the St. Catherine Food Pantry with a “Be a Blessing, Give a Blessing” food drive.

Music Ministry has also been impacted by Covid-19: no congregational signing is particularly hard, video songs celebrating the Virgin Mary during May, and now more research into new ways to celebrate the Mass with instrumentals, while the heart wants to sing will all be new for us. With all these changes there remained an unchanging certainty: God is present among us. To illustrate that our parish never closed—all employees continued to work and found new ways to keep Christ present in our words, works and thoughts. As noted above, our
parish activity actually increased—to serve those in need—and “we kept the light on” for all in these uncertain times. This, I believe, was important to show that God is present always and everywhere. His Love did not “work from home” but remained here and everywhere for all of us—parishioners and non-parishioners alike, those who are well off and comfortable at home and most especially for the homeless or the hungry suffering from a job loss.

And credit must be given where credit is due: our parishioners—who stepped up to the challenge and helped out. From the hundreds of people who came to our “Receive a Blessing, Be a Blessing” food drive, and the people stopping in each day at church to pray, to those who gathered for our parade and celebration of our YM high school senior (great parade by parishioners, fire, police and ambulance volunteers in town), and to those who continued to support the parish and her efforts by mailing in their church envelopes or joining our new Faith Direct online giving—you continued generosity and support helped to pay our parish staff and fund our ministries in these difficult times. THANK YOU!

St. Catherine of Siena is the wonderful parish because of parishioners like you. Thank you, and may God continue to bless you and those you love!