The COVID-19 coronavirus has forced many groups to adapt and change the way they normally operate, including churches.

One behind the other, cars lined up in the parking lot of St. Ann香蕉视频直播檚 Catholic Parish in Penticton, waiting for their turn to confess.

Friday, April 10, served as the second time the Catholic Parishes of Penticton have offered drive-thru confessions, a new practice popping up in other areas of the province allowing individuals to practice their religion while social distancing.

Father Nick Meisl, of St. Patrick香蕉视频直播檚 Parish in Vancouver, also hosted physically-distant confessions in a parking lot on April 8.

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With the garage door open, priest in place behind a screen, each drove in, parked, and confessed. Some did so from behind a screen in private, some chose to sit so they could see the priest.

香蕉视频直播淭he reason why we are doing it this way, is because we still want to connect with our people, and bring God香蕉视频直播檚 message; Jesus still wants to bless the world with love and forgiveness and mercy, in spite of whatever is happening in the world,香蕉视频直播� said Father Obi, who serves both Catholic parishes in Penticton.

香蕉视频直播淧eople are afraid and they want peace.香蕉视频直播�

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With Easter weekend here, many churches are offering different ways for their congregations to participate in service. The Catholic Parishes of Penticton have been live-streaming services with sometimes up to a thousand viewers joining them from their homes.

香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檝e been able to do everything we香蕉视频直播檝e always done, but are doing it now online,香蕉视频直播� he said.

For Father Obi, Sunday will mark the first time he has conducted an Easter service without hundreds in the rows in front of him.

Parishioners in both St. Ann香蕉视频直播檚 Parish and St. John Vianney Parish are finding it hard not to celebrate the holiday with their community.

In the Catholic religion, Easter weekend consists of Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday, which commemorates the resurrection of Jesus.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 been hard for people, for me too,香蕉视频直播� Obi said. 香蕉视频直播淭his is the first time as a priest I won香蕉视频直播檛 be able to celebrate Easter - this is the greatest time in our Catholic tradition香蕉视频直播� it is tough.香蕉视频直播�

Despite this, Obi is optimistic.

香蕉视频直播淲hat it has done, it has, in a very deep way, has bonded us together. Because sometimes there are things we take for granted. We see each other every day. But right now because of the difficulty of the day, and the isolation, we香蕉视频直播檝e been even more spiritually bonded. So as difficult as COVID-19 is, it香蕉视频直播檚 bearing some fruit, (there is) a silver lining.

香蕉视频直播淚n this time of crisis, somehow, it香蕉视频直播檚 bringing about something new. It香蕉视频直播檚 bringing before us new opportunities. It香蕉视频直播檚 bringing before us some kind of internal renewal, in our hearts, and in the family, and in the church as a whole.香蕉视频直播�

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editor@pentictonwesternnews.com
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