The Oneida Daily Dispatch (Oneida, NY)
PERIOD OF REFLECTION
Area Catholics take part in Ash Wednesday, marking first day of Lent
WATERVILLE, N.Y. » St. Bernard’s Church in Waterville hosted an in-person Ash Wednesday service at 8 a.m., which was live-streamed on the Route 20 Catholic Facebook page.
The page is a collaboration of Catholic communities from St. Joan of Arc in Morrisville, St. Bernard’s in Waterville, St. Mary’s in Hamilton, and St. Joseph’s in Oriskany Falls.
Father Paul Carey, retired area pastor, celebrated the Mass. He was aided by Father Jason Hage, the pastor at St. Bernard’s.
Getting the word of God out to the public has been quite the challenge given COVID-19 restrictions. Much of a church’s service is about fellowship and togetherness—something COVID-19 has nearly eliminated, at least in a physical sense. Faith-based organizations have had to speedily make adjustments to serve their patrons in a safe and suitable manner.
At St. Bernard’s, two brothers have volunteered their time and their skills to provide remarkable quality virtual streaming service for the quaint village church, explained Therese Gallagher, business manager at St. Bernard’s.
The video quality is seamless and the audio is crisp, thanks to the brothers’ help. Gallagher said that the church has applied
At St. Bernard’s, two brothers have volunteered their time and their skills to provide remarkable quality virtual streaming service for the quaint village church.
— Explained by Therese Gallagher, business manager at St. Bernard’s
for a grant to upgrade its equipment and provide an even better virtual experience to the public.
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, an important day in the Christian faith.
Microphones captured Father Carey’s Ash Wednesday prayers, and off-screen, the mass’s music was relayed to the viewer in a way that sounded as if they were there. The view cut to different angles within the church to provide a thorough watching experience for those who chose to participate from home.
Father Carey spoke of prayer, fasting, and acts of charity/good work. “They should be part of our life all the time,” he said. He referred to the symbolism of Jonah going into the belly of the whale. Lent, he said, is like going into the whale’s body and preparing to be reborn in the Easter season.
After the blessing of the ashes, parishioners received them a bit differently than usual this year. To increase safety due to COVID-19, ashes were sprinkled over the head, rather than smeared directly onto the forehead. All in attendance were required to wear masks and practice social distancing.
During communion, parishioners remained at their seats as the host, communion bread, was presented to them for symbolic ingestion. Only the host was provided, not the wine, due to COVID restrictions.
Adding to the day’s celebration was Father Carey’s birthday, Gallagher shared. She believes he is turning 80 years old on Ash Wednesday.
St. Bernard’s 8 a.m. service can be viewed on the Route 20 Facebook page.