"Are there any Winners in the Church because of Covid-19?"

A very rhetorical question that should be on the minds of each one.  You can walk or drive by most Catholic Churches and notice signs informing that this building is closed.  The devastation of an unseen, and for the most part a confusing entity, has held all of us hostage.  This event has affected the world’s population and no one appears to be safe.  

My concern in this writing regards the status of the congregants who are not able to receive the Sacraments of the Church, and are left in Limbo wondering what is next.  However, as our concern leans toward those (most of us) about the future of our Church, we must also consider a number of people whom the outcome may not create any anxiety.

How often we’ve seen some reading the bulletin before Mass begins.  That in itself is ok, until the Liturgy starts and they still have the paper in front of them.  What is worse, a number of participants do not mentally or spiritually participate in the Mass and for the most part spend their time texting or doing something else with cell phones.  This is not only annoying to others around them it also can be seen by those in the sanctuary which at times is disturbing.

It is sad that a lot of these half-hearted congregants attend Mass because of the obligation the Church has imposed or they attend to appease their spouse and/or set an example for their children.  Given the opportunity of being dispensed from an obligation to attend under sin the excuse to stay away suddenly presents itself and the longer the Church remains closed the easier to use this as a reason to stay away from church.  

Remember when Saturday night came around and endless lines of people gathered at the confessionals.  Sometimes we would wonder why this person or another were taking so long in the confessional.  We have to chuckle now as it is so easy to get to confession and the wait is a few minutes.  Sunday Mass was a great time away and if the liturgy went over an hour no one seemed to complain.  Many families used time after Mass to go out for breakfast; not like today when too many obligations give us little opportunity to share as a family anymore.

I’m afraid that there will be many who will not return and allow this Covid-19 to be the convenient reason to forget the Church and not regain their faith, if indeed there was any.

There may be some who will say this is a time of cleansing the church for the few who want to stay and share the Liturgies of the Word and Eucharist.  These could be the “Winners in the Church”  

Do we, as brothers and sisters of Jesus, forget he died and rose for all of us.  Let us remember that Almighty God sent His Son to redeem each sinner; which entails all of us.  The church is not a sanctuary for saints; it is a haven for sinners.  So when we see a cell phone during Mass, even though it is selfish on the users part, keep in mind that each one has weaknesses that will offend others.  

Let’s change the heading from “Are there any winners in the Church” to “Are there any Losers” who because of the social epidemic need the love and concern from the rest of us.

Ralph B. Hathaway, Summer 2020