There is a new reality that is hitting many Catholic leaders - it is that this crisis may extend far into the future. Some have said we could have waves of quarantine happening well into 2021, if not into 2022, depending on when we get a vaccine and are able to administer it widely. This is something that parish and diocesan leaders need to be planning for now, not months from now.

In thinking about what the future might look like and some of the implications it could have on Catholic ministry, I hope to offer both some challenges and hope. While I don't want many of my predictions to come to pass, it is better to plan for the worst and then not have to implement your plans, rather than to have failed to have planned at all. 

SACRAMENTS
It could very well happen that our Sacramental “return to normal” (e.g. Mass, Confession, Baptisms, etc - as we have done for many centuries) may not return for many months, if not years. So, we have to plan for a “new normal” which may happen. This new normal may include:

• Masses where everyone has to wear a mask & gloves, social distance from one another, no sign of peace, no greeting at the door, hand sanitizer used upon entering the sanctuary (and maybe before Communion), disinfecting the pews regularly, no hymnals, no passing of a collection basket, etc. Parishes should plan on having more Masses with fewer people allowed in. Maybe folks would have to pre-register or draw a ticket to go to a particular Mass. Of course, this would probably also mean the obligation to attend Mass would still be dispensed during such times. At my own parish, we have a building that seats about 850 people (when shoulder-to-shoulder). There are around 4,000 people that go to 6 English Masses on a weekend (plus 1 in Spanish and 1 in Korean). If those same people were to practice social distancing, we could (at best) fit about 200 people into any Mass. This would mean around 20 weekend Masses, which isn’t viable. Thus, the need to continue to dispense with the obligation.

• Baptisms and Confirmations may have to be limited to a few people (parents + godparents / sponsors). In addition to other safety protocols, the priest may need to wear masks and gloves or sanitize his hands before touching others.

• Confessions have already seen the biggest changes and these would need to continue. There are drive-in Confessions as well as social distancing. At my parish, they are currently being done in a large room, by appointment. The priest is behind a screen and over 6 feet away from the penitent. The line is outside, under a canopy, with marks on how to stay apart from one another.

• Weddings may have to be with the immediate family and bridal party alone, if not just the couple, priest, and 2 witnesses. 

• Anointing of the Sick may be the deepest impacted Sacrament of all. There are too many issues to deal with in this space, but suffice it to say that the health of both the minister of the Sacrament and the recipient needs to be taken into consideration, while still making it widely available. 

• Other issues may arise and this will take creative responses that keep in mind that every effort should be made to care for both the body AND the soul of those that are in need, especially the vulnerable.

LARGE GROUPS
Outside of the Sacraments, there are many other gatherings of large groups that need to be thought through (think 10+ people). These include many parish organizations, such as - RCIA, youth groups, religious education classes, Knights of Columbus gatherings, dinners, fundraisers, etc. Many groups and events are currently on hiatus. Many questions are raised that have to be answered by parish leadership:

• What is essential to continue and what is not?

• Could we do this online?

• Can we do it at another time when it is safer to do so?

• Is this event or group vital to the mission of our parish? In other words, if this ended today and never returned, would our mission of making disciples be deeply impacted or not? If not, then should we allow this to fade away?

SMALL GROUPS
Small groups (less than 10 people) are more likely to be able to return sooner than large groups. With this in mind, we might need to also be creative in how we do these things. I am still running my men’s group, but in an online format. Can we transition to online and still maintain them or do they need to be in person? While being in-person is certainly optimal, this may not be the time to try and rush back into meeting in a room at our parish, just because we can do so.

FUNDRAISING
Most parishes have had a significant drop in their finances. Due to the deep impact that the economy will suffer, we should not expect our budgets to rebound anytime soon. This may mean some tough decisions are on the horizon. Because many dioceses and parishes already had financial issues before the crisis, the crisis may mean more parish consolidations and closings, more bankruptcies, more layoffs, more debt accumulation, etc. The good news is that it looks like parishes qualify for help for payroll and loans from the federal government, as nonprofits. The bad news is that these things won’t solve our ongoing financial issues. Pastors will have to make tough decisions and the lay staff are probably the ones that are going to be hit hardest. Pray. Donate. Help.

Fundraising also has to get creative. The traditional large fundraisers that many parishes rely on will not be able to happen (festivals, galas, dinners, etc). This is in addition to the drop in weekly collections. Pastors will need to make a plea to parishioners to step up and help. But, since many are struggling themselves, the plea will only go so far. The question will become, what is a non-essential that can be cut?

GOOD NEWS
While these are dire circumstances we are in and we have many open questions, I don’t want to leave you in despair. While we must plan for a future that is unsure, amidst a crisis we don’t like, it may yet be good for us. Good because God is still God. God is still in control. God still cares for you and I.

The good news is that God can bring good out of this crisis. The good God wants to achieve is this - making us saints and getting us (and others) to Heaven. Sometimes it takes a crisis to get our attention back on what is truly important. Sometimes God uses a crisis to wake up the Church from her slumber.

I believe this is what God is doing. He wants you to be holy. He wants the Church to make disciples. If it takes allowing a crisis to accomplish these things, God will do it...if we allow him to.