Practicing Catholics: how are you all doing during lockdown?

[Wishingstarr]

This thread is not for those who hate the church, lapsed and happy to remain so and those that want a debate about all the reasons they disagree with the CC.

This is a support thread for Catholics who find their faith gives their life meaning, hope and joy. How are you all doing? What struggles are you encountering during lock-down? Have you been able to go to Mass at all? Pray or connect with like minded fellow Catholics? Have you been able to continue ministries to those in need? It's been a very strange time for us all

Am not a Catholic but C of E, so feel free to ignore me if you wish.
I work p/t for a church, in an admin role and lockdown has been so hard for many of our congregation, particularly the elderly. We have started holding services again, after a period when the Priest had to perform the service alone and it was live streamed on Facebook and the internet. We live in a small town and the community spirit has been amazing. Personally I have found that my faith has grown stronger in this time. One of the hymns we should be having this week (no singing allowed yet) is Great is Thy Faithfulness. Those words are very comforting to me, even if they make me emotional.

Thanks for your comment. Yes I was wondering about the spiritual life, the internal life with God.

I’m lucky because I have been able to access our church for most of the lockdown. For a while, just the priest and myself were able to go in to stream services. It is an amazing building (Grade 1listed) and just ‘feels’ special. It’s been wonderful to just go in and sit and talk to God. A few weeks ago we were able to hold our first service (socially distanced) and it moved me to tears to hear the bells and see the church busy again. I have a group of ‘church’ friends and my own family shares my beliefs so we have all been able to keep God in our lives during the pandemic.

C of E and it has been very weird. We've been open for private prayer for a few weeks now and it has been very popular. The first service will be in a couple of weeks and although the congregation have been very keen to go back I'm not sure they are going to like no singing and facemasks.

The absence of communion has been a big thing. I've not felt comfortable celebrating online. I am a priest and could celebrate with my children but as I can't be with my church family it felt right to,abstain as well. I think I will probably cry when we are all back together again.

Prayer has been different. More in the everyday than in silence which has been hard. More Brother Lawrence with a side ordering of St Ignatious!

Our church community were able to "go" to church throughout lockdown, thanks to live streaming. It was lovely as helped us all to stay connected to God and to each other.
For past 2 weeks, a limited number have been able to go in person, and it was so good to see everyone again. The mass is still streamed to those who can't come. We had an amusing moment last week when one of those watching online hadn't muted, and was clearly washing up whilst listening to the service !

Hi @Wishingstarr surely putting a "this thread is not for" on mumsnet is like a red rag to a bull

Im always like to talk to other Catholics, and people of faith generally, Christianity in particular. Thanks for starting this thread.

Lockdown was a good time to dedicate to prayer. I liked being able to watch mass daily on Facebook after my work day finished. Usually I wouldn't be able to go. Every day my tram went past church on the way to work and I'd feel sad. Since going back to mass in church for the last few weeks I have not felt like watching daily mass. I engage up to bidding prayers but my mind wanders more during communion especially as it takes longer now there is a congregation!

I am finding actual church stressful. It's so odd with the no standing or kneeling, so few people, no singing, new rules to remember. Plus no one can hear you when you have a mask on. I end up speaking loudly just to make pleasantries. It feels wrong in church!

How have you found practising your faith in lockdown and since?

I’m also CofE but fairly high church Anglo-Catholic. I have found like many positives and negatives faith wise to this.
I feel it has enriched by personal faith and brought me closer to God. But I’m missing the community of church. I’m a hospital doctor and I was so scared when this all started to kick off. Not about myself catching it but whether I could cope with the work and everything with it. So one Sunday when I was at work I had a very good chat and prayer with the chaplain. He asked if I wanted to take communion and this time i really felt it took on a deeper significance - like it actually felt like like an act of ‘communion’, coming together. So since then I have really missed not being able to take the sacrament. I have often found myself popping down to the chapel when I have 5min at work, it’s become my little safe haven. I just light a candle and read through the daily prayer or service for the day - all available online. That just makes me feel closer to God and his presence without my academic brain being too overwhelmed.
Does the Catholic Church have it’s liturgy for the day online for you to read?

I do miss as well going to church and joining a service. I’m afraid I’ve not really done any online services because I feel a bit ‘zoomed’ out with work and I find it hard to connect spiritually. When I have the chance listening to the radio services is good.

Our church will he opening up soon, including communion (bread only except the priest) and no singing and I’m very much looking forward to that

Thanks for all your lovely comments.ZenBuddist it's just that at this time I was looking for all the positives about our faith and what it gives us. Bickering about theology can be enjoyable for some but this is not what I wanted this thread to be about, instead reaching out to those whose Catholic faith sincerely enriches their life or gives your life meaning in the middle of such a stressful time.

It's the strangest thing that anything would literally prevent Catholics from going to church, receive the Sacraments and be together in person as well as serve the community. Noone could have imagined anything that would have that effect. The rhythm of daily Mass, the eternity of it, no matter what is going on in our lives is definitely something l miss very much. Even being able to pop into a church, or close by we have a 24/7 adoration chapel which has been closed. Its all those quiet ways we live our faith in a hectic, distracted world that I am definitely missing.

Since a change of parish Priest a couple of years ago, my parish . (Cathedral) has been going down hill. It's not the vibrant buzzing parish it was, so to be honest I've not missed it, or the people at all. I've missed the sacraments though. And I really missed Holy Week as it's my favourite week of the year. I have watched live streaming from
Another diocese but it's just not the same. So I'm not bothered about it particularly.
Visiting my church has been quite stressful as the stewards were very intrusive, and I got told off for doing something wrong every time I went it, which really upset me.
However when on holiday I went to a couple of other churches and they couldn't have been more different and I felt very welcome.
I've been to Lourdes every year since 2003, but since it was cancelled I went to Cornwall instead and it was fabulous, so time for a rethink about going every year!

It's the strangest thing that anything would literally prevent Catholics from going to church, receive the Sacraments and be together in person as well as serve the community. Noone could have imagined anything that would have that effect. The rhythm of daily Mass, the eternity of it, no matter what is going on in our lives is definitely something l miss very much.

If anyone had told me 6 months ago that churches would be closed and no public masses, I'd have laughed and said that there was no reason on earth that that would happen!

I work as a nurse and, although not exactly on the 'covid frontline', some experiences have made me question my faith. Not being able to access mass (family would not give me the time and space), not knowing any other Catholics to discuss with hasn't helped. I am wondering about how to find my way back. I haven't been able to get to mass since it restarted (I wasn't sure it had for a while, there was no communication from the church) due to work and DH not being around to look after DC. I imagine it's very different now with no singing, masks etc. Is there communion if everyone is wearing masks? DC would not tolerate masks for so long. I had considered starting a thread here myself about some of these issues.

I don’t think masks are compulsory until tomorrow, although our priest has been encouraging people to wear them since they reopened. There is communion (not from the chalice), although I have no idea how it works with a mask.

Numbers are limited and they are trying to keep services as short as possible, which will minimise the length of time masks are worn for. If it’s the same as shops, the children might not have to wear them anyway.

@happypotamus, nurse here too. The live streaming just hasn't cut it for me at all. Must admit that as my parish church is so stressful to attend, that I've lost any enthusiasm. I always went a couple of times a week, but it does feel like a chore. I love choral music, so the lack of music and organ is really hard. I'm very tempted to try a different parish for a bit. I'm sad that my loyalty to the parish I've loved is being tested. Though I suspect it's very much to do with the clergy dynamic in the parish as well.

It's got me very very worried that they've closed down the churches. They were places of refuge last time. Very anxious and concerned the Aryanization crowd are at it again..

I'm a catechist, my parish has only opened for private prayer which doesn't inspire me. Very disengaged PP who says he misses his congregation but shows no leadership or a desire to gather and reunite his flock. Recently I returned to my 'midweek' parish bringing the kids randomly. This morning I brought all three and they were fab. I miss participating in my own parish and the hymns. No idea if we will have Confirmation this year.

Thanks for the thread @Wishingstarr, it's good to hear from fellow Catholics (and others!). I've found it hard, missing my parish community and our lovely priest. One of the other local churches has been live streaming services so we've been following that, it is good but not the same. I would like to start going back to Mass but we have vulnerable people in our close family so are being super cautious at the moment.

Holy Week was sad especially as last year we were in Rome for Easter after a week's pilgrimage on the Via Francigena. Seeing the Pope virtually on his own in the rain this year really brought it home to us how much things have changed.

My husband is a Catenian and the support of fellow Catenians and wives, and Zoom catch-ups has helped us both

Oh can someone help me out, please!!! PP is a convert Anglican vicar a Personal Ordinariate. I have always not minded, as frankly I think our parish should be grateful we have a priest at all! Pre Covid there was a beautiful 6.30pm Mass (said) which fitted perfectly with my shifts/kid’s sport, etc. He introduced the ordinariate liturgy once a month at 6.30pm. It really isn’t for me (putting it mildly) but am willing to share. However, since church has reopened it is now every single 6.30pm. I’m so cross! I have worked throughout lockdown in quite a stressful job and sometimes scary job and my solace has just vanished. How on earth do I deal with this? OP - I’m sorry for the derail!

Every day is a school day. I've just googled the Ordinariate Mass and it looks like a weird pick and mix affair of the bits that very traditional Anglicans love including the BCP. I'm about to preside at a Book of Common Prayer service and what is forgotten in C of E circles is how Protestant it's theology is. It was written in the 16th century so it is a Reformation text. Your PP may love the language and poetry and familiarity of the text but he has forgotten where it comes from and that it is familiar to him and not to you. I don't know how the governance works through the RC church so how you raise this as an issue is something for others to advise. In the C of E you would talk to the parish priest and the churchnwardens.

I guess it’s a result of the strange oddities if the CofE (there are many...) that it has ended up with a catholic liturgy but a protestant prayer book. The most ‘traditional’ form of service is the BCP which is the most protestant. The Oxford Movement of Anglo-catholic’s is much more recent!
I find it strange and sad that I can take communion in any Anglican or protestant church but my Roman Catholic friends and I can’t take mass together in either of our church’s

Sorry for the derail!
Returning to the original OP I hope services and mass are restarting for you and you have the chance for fellowship. I have found it comforting to remember that ‘when two or three are gathered in my name there I am with you’.
I like to think that when I am praying in the hospital chapel alone that there are many others around the world doing the same and through the miracle of faith we are all together.

@mostlydrinkstea

Every day is a school day. I've just googled the Ordinariate Mass and it looks like a weird pick and mix affair of the bits that very traditional Anglicans love including the BCP. I'm about to preside at a Book of Common Prayer service and what is forgotten in C of E circles is how Protestant it's theology is. It was written in the 16th century so it is a Reformation text. Your PP may love the language and poetry and familiarity of the text but he has forgotten where it comes from and that it is familiar to him and not to you. I don't know how the governance works through the RC church so how you raise this as an issue is something for others to advise. In the C of E you would talk to the parish priest and the churchnwardens.

Actually in the CofE you’d sit at the back, tut quietly and say nothing!!

@GrannyBags

Snap! Me too. We thankfully have recordings of our choir and are playing them during communion. It's been tough, we've lost 6 congregation to Covid and 4 others to (known before) ill health and I'm ready to organise memorials as soon as the numbers cap is lifted. We are putting services on YouTube rather than live streaming, adding in choir items recorded from their homes, getting over 1000 hits per service which is amazing.

I am really struggling.

Really miss the sacraments. We've been back with mass for a few weeks, but I've only been able to take the family to one Sunday Mass so far. I've stewarded 1 weekday and one Sunday.
With social distancing the church can only hold a quarter of the usual congregation.

I also miss all the things which make Mass 'fun' and 'enjoyable'. I know they are not important in the scheme of things, but I miss the music, as I pray best through music, I miss my fellow choir members, I miss socialising after Mass, I miss running youth group.

It's bloody tough. I hate it, my mental health has plummeted and I can't see an end to it all.

I’m Church of Scotland, and our minister put her excellent services on Youtube throughout the lockdown, complete with wonderful international choir performances of hymns, and organ music from famous cathedrals.
Our church has now reopened for services, but it was sad and horrible - all the “communal” aspects of worship were missing. No singing, just the organist playing the hymn tunes with no words displayed, no handshakes, no coffee afterwards, pews roped off for social distancing, and only two people allowed in each open pew, everyone in face masks.
And as so many of our congregation are elderly with health conditions that require shielding, they could not attend, so the turnout was pitiful.
I rather wish we could continue online worship until a vaccine allows us to meet normally for a proper service.

Thanks for responding and very perceptive, Mostly, that it’s the familiarity aspect which is probably what’s upsetting me - I can pitch up in any Catholic Church and join in without the words - can’t with this one. It’s like Vat II never happened he has his back to us and then whirls round to show the host like it’s the FA cup. It’s all -very- a bit theatrical. Luckily what with Covid we don’t “have” to receive on the tongue. First time we had it I was sitting next to a nun who always attended. Turned to her during the peace and her expression was and she never came back. Oh, and what finally did it for me was women are referred to as hand maids. I’ll stay away until obligation is back and then shop around. In the meantime for Catholics missing Mass due to restrictions the Rosary never fails!! Thank you for letting me vent.

And very should be strikethrough