Religious ceremonies and gatherings in the metro go online
by Owen Godberson
(OMAHA, Neb.)-Many churches have been forced to close their doors across the world as the COVID-19 pandemic continues. Multiple Omaha Catholic Churches, such as Saint Vincent De Paul and Saint Patrick’s, offer live-streams of their masses on either YouTube or Facebook.
Easter is Sunday, Father Jason Catania of Saint Barnabas wanted to make sure his parishioners could still attend Eucharistic Adoration while remaining safe and compliant with local restrictions. His idea was simple, a drive-up adoration.
“I had seen on Facebook that some church had set up some kind of chapel outdoors with the monstrance secured, and I thought that we might be able to do something like that.” Catania said of the idea. “It works out really well with our sacristy windows being directly looking out onto the parking lot.
Barnabas also offers drive-thru confessions, and also records Sunday masses with the hopes of live streaming them in the coming weeks.
Parishioners have flocked to the idea, with dozens of cars having already come through from parishes all over the city. Given the cancellation of public masses, this much traffic does not surprise Saint Barnabas parishioner Patrick Loveless.
“Well, without mass to go to, what else are people going to do? We believe in the Sacraments as Catholics of course, and we believe our Lord is very powerful when he’s put out for display.” Loveless said. “So, we figured, what better thing could we do since we can’t go to mass.”
Drive up adoration is available perpetually until Easter Weekend and will resume after the holy days.
