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Digital outreach at St. Peter’s Church Bandra: during Covid Times

Digital outreach at St. Peter’s Church Bandra: during Covid Times

  • Post category:News
  1. St. Peter’s began live streaming the Eucharist from the 17th of March, anticipating the lockdown and closure of Churches and has been consistent in offering Parishioners and others, the Eucharist live streamed twice a day, every day of the week.
  2. In response to the Vatican Secretariat for the Liturgy’s recommendation, that the Easter Triduum Services be offered live streamed from each local Church or Parish, St. Peter’s was privileged to offer these Services, including a Special Programme by Parish Youth entitled: Reflections from Gethsemane, which was very well appreciated and was from a lay person’s perspective.
  3. For the spiritual nourishment of our people St. Peter’s has held several Premiered and Live Streamed programmes on themes like Ignatian Spirituality (5 sessions), a monthly Penitential Service (3 months), a session on Being Led by the Spiritin preparation for Pentecost and a session on Making the Home, the domestic Church – the last two with lay inputs.
  4. Monthly sessions on Searching the Scriptures by Fr. Gerard have also begun from June on St. Peter’s YouTube channel.
  5. For the Children of the Parish and of Holy Family Parish, St. Peter’s has begun a special Children’s Mass live streamed on Sundays, from late June, with an input session of 20 minutes following the Mass.
  6. St. Peter’s has had 2 digital issues of the Parish newsletter Keystone, the latest one in July being a fully coloured version. This is sent around through email and Whatsapp and is on the St. Peter’s Parish website.
  7. For the Feast of St. Peter’s, the St, Peter’s Youth – SPY organized digital games for the Parish: a Quiz on the Parish through Whatsapp and Ludo/Housie on Instagram. All three were much appreciated.
  8. The St. Peter’s Medical Cell started aTele medical consultation in June and more than 50 patients have taken advantage of this to date. About 20 doctors have volunteered for this service.
  9. The St. Peter’s Medical Cell, in partnership with the Bandra Gymkhana started a Covid Tele Help Desk, to guide people through the process of getting tested, admitted, treated at home etc.
  10. The St. Peter’s Legal Cell has started a digital legal consultation in June, through emails and tele-conference when needed.
  11. St. Peter’s has been sending out information and encouragement on Whatsapp messages to all the families of the Parish, through the Zonal Community Coordinators and the Cluster Animators, during these months of the pandemic.
  12. Meetings of the Parish Pastoral Council, Executive Committee, Core Groups of Communities, members of Associations and other groups have been held on Zoom, Google Meet and other platforms since June.
  13. Prayer meetings, sessions of the Rosary and even intra-community games and contests were held online from May by some Parish Groups like the Youth of the Parish Charismatic Group and by Zonal Communities.
  14. The St. Peter’s Parish Website has been redesigned in May and is being updated regularly with information on the Covid Response initiatives of the Parish and other topics. The Facebook Page of the Parish is also being updated similarly.
  15. St. Peter’s appealed for Digital Contributions to the Manna on Weels, the Migrant Camp and Parish Support and has received a very generous response from parishioners and beyond.
  16. Fr. Gerard Rodricks began his daily video message Crumbz on his blog during this time of pandemic. It is accessible on the Parish website.
  17. The Social Outreach Cell of St. Peter’s has been posting humorous and inspirational articles, quizzes and puzzles, organizing online Housie with mobile numbers, Bingo, Alphabet Housie with names of children and Scavenger Hunt for the differently abled children who, every Sunday morning, used to be hosted on campus. The Dance class was begun on Google Meet conducted by Bharat, the regular dance instructor, from 28th June 2020 and continues every Sunday morning.  Preparations are on for an online event to celebrate Parents Day with these kids.
  18.  Fr. Baptist Pinto has been sending quizzes and puzzles by Whatsapp to our Senior Citizens Group of the Parish, to keep in touch and to provide mental stimulation.
  19. The Singles Group of the Parish has begun online meetings of support and fellowship.
  20. St. Peter’s, while joining with the Archdiocese for the instruction to receive the Sacraments of First Holy Communion and of Confirmation, has also planned and is executing, complementary programmes online for the eligible children of the Parish.

Fr. Frazer Mascarenhas s.j.