Congregations get creative to keep the faith
With the provincial and federal government passing more measures to limit large gatherings in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, religious groups in Saskatchewan are moving quickly to help their congregations keep the faith.
The province announced a state of emergency on Wednesday in response to the spread of COVID -19. Among the new regulations were additional calls for social distancing and the prohibition of public gatherings larger than 50 people.
Pastor Leyton Erickson at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Saskatoon said his team decided to be proactive and cancel Sunday morning services before the state of emergency was announced. Instead, he and his staff have been working on creating a video webcast service they’re planning to put out on Sunday mornings.
“We know that isolation is dangerous,” Erickson said. “If people know they’re connected ... that goes a long way to calm the anxieties of a heart and mind.”
More religious institutions have been shutting their doors for the health and safety of the community. The Archdiocese of Regina sent out a news release on Wednesday suspending masses, as well as calling to postpone or cancel non-essential gatherings and offering live streaming of masses run by Archbishop Donald Bolen. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon sent a similar release on Thursday.
The United Church of Canada has created a website to list all congregations now streaming their Sunday morning services across the country. For Laura Fouhse, one of the ministers at Saskatoon’s Mcclure United Church, the issue is connecting with the vulnerable parts of her community.
“The biggest concern is for the folks who need to self-isolate ... that we’ll miss them,” she said. “There’s a number of elderly people who already have a sense of isolation in their lives, and church connection ... is a place where they feel like they have community. For that to suddenly be torn away feels really tragic.”
Fouhse said the church would organize a “phone tree” to keep in contact with as many members of the community as possible, and noted she’ll drive print-resource packages to be left on the doorsteps of people who need them.
The same issues have arisen in the Jewish and Muslim communities, which are also moving to limit public gatherings. Coming up in April are Passover and the start of Ramadan — both traditionally large-group celebrations for those religions, respectively.
Rabbi Raphael Kats said volunteers are working on creating “Seder kits” with the necessary food, drink, and religious texts required for families to observe the ritual feast to start Passover in isolation, even if they can’t come together physically.
“It’s kind of a paradox — we have to be separated, but we’re more together than ever,” he said. “We’re united in this ... for the good of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, the whole world.”
Islamic Association of Saskatchewan spokesman Daniel Kuhlen said on Tuesday that all special classes were cancelled and the number of people at prayers has been restricted at the Saskatoon Islamic Centre, which is exploring ways to supplement an “informational” live stream.
Kuhlen said the challenge will come in keeping everyone healthy and connected if the emergency regulations last more than a couple of weeks.
“It’s going to change the way things have been done,” Kuhlen said.
“People can still engage in Ramadan, but all the community events ... if the situation and trajectory continues, I expect those things will all be put on pause as a matter of necessity.”