Parishioners at Holy Angels Parish, 615 E. Oakwood Blvd., share the sign of peace during Mass on June 13, 2021, which brought the lifting of COVID-19 capacity limits in parishes. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
The archdiocese’s Office of Radio and Television is launching a video effort to welcome people back to in-person Mass and inform them of updated COVID-19 protocols. The effort will be shared through archdiocesan online channels. “We just felt that it was a good way to reach people, to put together a small little spot, to remind people that when they are ready to return to Mass in person that our doors are open,” said Vince Gerasole, director of the Office for Radio and Television. The short videos share messages from Cardinal Cupich and archdiocesan priests in Spanish, Polish and English and footage of in-person Masses from parishes throughout the archdiocese. Under updated protocols announced June 10, there are no capacity restrictions for Masses and “physical distancing up to 6 feet of separation is recommended by public health authorities for unvaccinated persons when possible,” according to archchicago.org/coronavirus/reopening. Each video will contain a link to the archdiocese’s COVID-19 information page and to the protocols. Gerasole said the office is using social media to share the “welcome back” messages because so many people are connected virtually who may not have received the information about reopening protocols through traditional media. “We know that if we use our social media platforms we can let people know the particulars,” he said. “The idea is to reach as many people as possible in ways that they are encountering information.” In his July 7 Chicago Catholic column, Cardinal Cupich wrote about the importance of religion in American society and encouraged people to continue to be involved in their parish communities. “As we turn the corner on the pandemic and our churches reopen, it might be worthwhile to have discussions with our families about the need to return to regular religious practice — yes, for our own spiritual well-being — but also for the good of our country. We need to encourage young people to become involved in democracy, but also in our faith communities that serve as schools for learning how to live together and appreciate our differences,” he wrote. To view the videos, visit youtube.com/user/CatholicChicago.
Virtual worshippers often satisfied, but more Americans choose in-person services In the height of the pandemic, many Americans who attended in-person worship services turned to their computers and their couches instead for virtual viewing.
Catholic groups push for greater vaccine equity domestically, worldwide COVID-19 cases are now so numerous it makes little sense to wait for a numerical milestone. In the United States, the death toll is bound to pass 1 million. Worldwide, COVID-19 deaths passed 6 million on March 7, before the second anniversary of the World Health Organization’s pandemic declaration March 11, 2020.
Parish launches Peace of Christ campaign to address violence When a parishioner was randomly shot in the middle of a weekday at a gas station, it rocked the members of St. Benedict the African Parish in Englewood.