The photo, was stunning. You’ve probably seen it. A couple of versions of it appeared in various media and multiple social media channels: Pope Francis making a lonely pilgrimage through the deserted streets of Rome.
On March 15, Francis prayed before the Marian icon “Salus Populi Romani” at the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome, and a crucifix at the Church of St. Marcellus. (The crucifix was carried through Rome in 1522 during the “Great Plague.”) Francis was, seemingly, alone.
Yet he did not walk alone. Francis was walking with the entire Catholic community, the community of all believers, and of all people of good will.
It is a symbol of our times.
Because of the COVID-19 emergency, our community activities have been severely limited. The challenge we face at Precious Blood Renewal Center is how to invite people into a sacred place when so many of us are under orders to stay home, to shelter in place, and to do social distancing.
More than ever, we feel compelled to offer programs of healing and hope. Technology can help us in our mission.
The week that Kansas City, Missouri, declared a state of emergency and a couple of days before the counties that make up the Kansas City Metro region issued stay at home orders, we began work on projects that we hope will invite people to a place of hope.
“Tapping the Wine Cellar” is an experiment with Facebook Live. Fr. Keith Branson, C.PP.S., Companion Director Vicky Otto, and Volunteer Director Tim Deveney will go live on Thursdays at 2 p.m. to break open the Gospel readings for the following Sunday. Viewers will have the ability to comment and share their reflections in the comment section for each video on the province’s Facebook page.
Kathy Keary, a Precious Blood Companion and a spiritual director at the Renewal Center, has begun a series of articles called “An Invitation to Something New: The Contemplative Life.” On Tuesdays and Thursdays for the next couple of months, new articles from Kathy will explore ways to foster the contemplative life in our everyday world.
“We find ourselves living in a new reality. We are invited to be open to the possibilities born during a break from our usual activities,” she writes, and then challenges us: “Embrace the silence. Embrace the solitude. Embrace the stirrings found in the stillness of your soul.”
All the articles will be on the Renewal Center website.
Another Renewal Center venture is an experiment in video mediations, which began with a six-part series focused on Lent offered by Fr. Ron Will, C.PP.S., director of spirituality at the Renewal Center. The first video was posted on the Tuesday in the Fourth Week of Lent. The last is to be posted on Holy Thursday.
The first episode begins with the song “Turn to Me” by John Foley. Fr. Ron says of this song, “It sets the tone of this reflection and the reflections to come. It also speaks to the anxiety some of us are experiencing because of the corona virus epidemic.” The videos are available on the Renewal Center website.
A couple of parishes where Precious Blood members serve are live streaming Mass on Sundays. If your parish is not able to share the Mass online, please consider visiting one of the following options:
St. James Parish, Liberty Missouri.
St. Mary’s Church, Centerville, Iowa.
At the time of this writing, we’re not sure what our next steps will be. We invite you to share your ideas with us.
The goal of all these ventures is help our Precious Blood community and visitors who might have come physically to the Renewal Center to have a prayerful experience in the confinement of their own homes. In this small way, we can be together.
And like Francis, we can make this lonely pilgrimage in the spiritual company of our community, the community of all believers, and of all people of good will.
A version of this article also appeared on the website of the Precious Blood Kansas City Province. Margaret Haik, KC province communications director contributed to this article.
Dennis Coday 