Through Technology and Innovation Pastors and Parishioners Stay Connected

As of March 20, the bishops of all seven Florida dioceses made the difficult decision to suspend publicly attended Masses for the health and safety of priests and parishioners and to help stop the spread of COVID-19. Since then, a stay-at-home order issued by Governor Ron DeSantis went into effect for the entire state of Florida.

In response, pastors and parishes have relied heavily on technology to stay connected with the faithful in creative ways.
 
Most parishes across the state live-stream daily and/or Sunday Masses, and some even live-stream exposition of the Blessed Sacrament on their Facebook pages. Several pastors also share live or recorded quick daily reflections. A few parishes have created online sign-up sheets for people to call and check in with elderly and homebound parishioners. Youth ministries are asking children to write letters to vulnerable parishioners as well. In addition, music ministers are providing song lists to accompany streamed Masses and prayer services as parishioners worship from home.
 
In the Diocese of St. Augustine are two especially innovative solutions to the quarantine obstacle.
 
The National Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche at Mission Nombre de Dios in St. Augustine has a  virtual "light a candle" program. Visitors to the website fill out an online form with their information, donation and prayer intention and the shrine staff light a candle in the Historic Chapel to keep the faithful's intentions burning brightly.           
 
Father Richard Pagano, pastor of St. John Paul II Parish in Nocatee, and Robert Hardwick, chief of the St. Augustine Beach Police Department, flew over St. Johns County with the Blessed Sacrament in a helicopter on March 27, to offer benediction and prayer for all residents, workers, health professionals and first responders during these challenging times. They took off at 3 p.m., the Hour of Divine Mercy, and asked the faithful below to pray devotions such as the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, the Rosary, the Stations of the Cross or any other devotion asking God for his blessing of protection.