MVI will help area churches video-stream Masses
By TAYLOR BROWN
tbrown@yourmvi.com
Although Masses have been canceled throughout the area, Mon Valley Catholics will still be able to gather together in prayer this weekend.
The Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh canceled all weekday and Sunday Masses starting Monday to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
On Wednesday, the Diocese of Greensburg, which includes all Roman Catholic churches in Westmoreland and Fayette counties, suspended all public weekday and weekend Masses until further notice due to growing concerns about the spread of the coronavirus.
To meet the spiritual needs of those affected, the Mon Valley Independent has partnered with local parishes to video-stream Masses this weekend.
St. Andrew the Apostle, which was formed in January following the merger of St. Damien of Molokai (Monongahela), Mary, Mother of the Church (Charleroi) and Our Lady of the Valley (Donora) will video Mass this weekend, as will Epiphany of our Lord in Monessen and St. Sebastian Roman Catholic Church in North Belle Vernon.
Both Masses will be pre-recorded by our MVI Live team and uploaded on our website, www.monvalleyindependent.com. St. Andrew the Apostle will be available at 4 p.m. Saturday. Epiphany’s Mass will be uploaded at 10:30 a.m. Sunday.
The Masses are also expected to be shown on the individual parish websites. St. Andrew the Apostle’s website is www.saintandrewmidmon.org.
Joe Caruso, business manager for St. Andrew the Apostle, said the cancellation of many church events has left parishioners asking how they can remain involved.
“During these trying times, Catholics all over are wondering how they can still be involved and meet spiritual needs,” Caruso said. “With the Diocese of Pittsburgh suspending all Masses and gatherings of people and the CDC’s recommendation to stay at home for the foreseeable future, that’s certainly been a challenge.”
They will also be able to participate in a new online giving program to resume regular offertory in addition to mailing in envelopes to the parish office.
The Rev. Kevin Dominick, pastor of St. Andrew the Apostle, said being able to offer the service will help parishioners feel united.
“Our faith is important,” Dominick said. “We are one big family and during this crisis, though we are not able to join in prayer face to face, we will still be able to be together during this trying time.”
He said his message this weekend will be fitting.
“It is important to remember that our faith will get us through this together,” he said. “God has not forgotten us; we are not being punished. We are being asked to lean on our faith now more than ever.”
The Rev. Mike Crookston, pastor of Epiphany of Our Lord and St. Sebastian, said the cancellation “will affect all of us in ways that we can’t even imagine yet.”
“The Eucharist is the very soul of what we are as baptized Catholics and the loss will certainly be felt by all of us,” Crookston said. “However, we believe that we become what we receive and we all make up the body of Christ and it is our mission to continue in his service.
“During this time without the celebration of public Mass, we still can offer our prayers and support of one another in different ways.”
Crookston said it is important to think of the bigger picture.
“It seems as though we always focus of how we are personally affected by everything that goes on in life, and this can become problematic in many ways,” he said. “We become angry when there is no toilet paper or the liquor store is closed and we tend to forget what lies behind all of these important decisions.
“It is the prevention of spreading this disease that we all need to focus on, it is the health of all those already infected that we need to pray for.”
COVID-19, he said, is “much greater than simply our own wants and needs.”
“It is the suffering of all God’s children around the world that need our concern and support through our prayer,” Crookston said. “Until God in His love and mercy brings us back together as a whole and healthy family, know I will keep you in my prayers and ask that you do the same for me, Fr. Joel and all the Church.”
The churches are currently only open for private prayer. Parishioners can call to make an appointment for confession.
All parish activities in the Diocese of Pittsburgh, including St. Andrew the Apostle, have been canceled or postponed.
This includes the weekly church fish fries, which will extend two weeks beyond Lent beginning April 3; WOW, Man Up, Knights of Columbus, and all special planning committees; Faith Formation/CCD classes and activities; and the production of “Living Stations.”
The Diocese of Greensburg has also suspended fish fries, bake sales, all faith formation programs and the public celebration of Stations of the Cross, Chaplet of Divine Mercy, Morning/Evening Prayer and Rosary.
