Is There a "Back to Normal"

People often ask me "When will we get back the normal again"? They look forward to a regular Mass schedule on Sundays and weekdays, with no restrictions on numbers and no reservations needed. They want the parish office open to the public when they drop in or call. And they long for parish activities to resume without masks or social distancing.

Over and over again people ask "When will we get back the normal again"? I'd like to give them a positive response. But you know what? I'm beginning to doubt that things in the Church will every really be the same again.

Ask yourself. Will those who came to Mass, more out of habit than out of faith, pick up that habit again once the pandemic has ended? Will people who spent more than a year watching Mass privately, at home, be ready to return to a more public, communal celebration in their parish church? Will the parents of children who missed out on sacramental preparation classes bother to follow up their religious education when things open up again? Will some people discover that being without the Church made no real difference in their lives? And sever any loose connections they might once have had?

As Catholics I think we need to reconcile ourselves to the fact things are not going to return to the way they were before. There will be fewer people at Mass and less money to spend on buildings and programmes. We will have to reconsider many of the church activities we thought were indispensible, and cut down on Mass schedules. Parishioners will be called to take over responsibilities we used to pay others to look after. And in the long run, parishes may need to be closed and amalgamated.

Does the scenario described above frighten you? It scares the hell out of me! It suggests a major change in the way we think of ourselves as Church, and challenges us to step outside our comfort zone. No more religion as a spectator sport. If we are going to flourish in the future, every baptized Catholic needs to be involved. We need new ideas and the courage to put them into practice. We need to unleash the power of the Holy Spirit in the life of the Church!

The Corona Pandemic has ground the world down over the past year. But, as we read in scripture ... God turns all things to the good for those who love him (Romans 8:28). Perhaps the changes and challenges facing the Church are one of those blessings? Could this be the work of Jesus? Setting us free to continue his Gospel mission in a new way?

We can see some of the positives already at work. For example, and this is a big one, most parishes have been forced to become more tech savvy. Live streamed Masses and conferences. Online catechism classes. Zoom meetings for RCIA and other parish groups. Email blasts and enhanced websites. Would we have come so far, so quickly, without the isolating restrictions imposed by the Corona Virus? I seriously doubt it. And all this is just the tip of the iceberg.

Once the Corona Pandemic has come to an end, I think we will see some real changes in the Church. There will be no going back to the status quo. We can resist, and try to hold on to the past, or move forward under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. The train has already left the station. Are you on board?

Msgr. Paul Zimmer
Pastor, St Clement Catholic Church, Etobicoke