Use this search box to find articles that have run in our newspapers over the last several years.
Date: 4/8/2020
ENFIELD, CT – As Christians observe Holy Week and Easter, the various denominations in Enfield have adapted to being “physically distant, but spiritually close.” Several churches in town were invited to share how they were accomplishing this task, especially in light of the unique challenges facing them during this time of social distancing and health concerns.
United Methodist Church of Enfield; www.umce.org.
The United Methodist Church on Brainard Road has closed their physical building for all events. They now offer Sunday worship services online at 10 a.m. on their Facebook page, and they will be offering their Good Friday and Easter morning service, as well. They have increased their mailings to members in paper and electronic formats, and have been offering noontime and prayer and meditation Mondays through Saturdays, also via their Facebook page. On Palm Sunday (April 5) palms were distributed in a drive-by manner, where people drove into the church parking lot, popped their trunk, and Pastor Janet Deranian placed the palms inside. Perhaps the most visible way of offering members and passerby’s some hope, advice and even humor is the sign in their parking lot with changing messages, and even the invention of a new commandment: “Thou shalt not hoard toilet paper.”
Little Sisters of the Poor; www.littlesistersofthepoorconnecticut.org
The Little Sisters of the Poor, a Catholic congregation of religious women, runs St. Joseph’s Residence on Enfield Street, where they care for about 100 elderly men and women. Currently, residents are confined to theirs rooms, being “so wonderful and understanding,” according to Sister Frances, Director of Development for the home. Some of them are able to help out with the existing health crisis by sewing face masks in their rooms. The residents will be able to observe Holy Week and Easter services because they are being live streamed to their rooms. The sisters are able to attend daily Mass offered by their resident priest, Fr. Robert Rousseau, while maintaining social distancing among themselves in their chapel.
The residents will also receive an Easter basket prepared by one of the staff members. Since the Little Sisters are a “begging” order, they rely on donations to support their ministry. Donations are down since the coronavirus hit, and the home could use donations of Styrofoam (or cardboard) take-out containers for serving individual meals to residents in their rooms, and of course, hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes. The worldwide congregation has instituted a daily praying of the rosary for a cure for the coronavirus. Those interested may sign up at www.LittleSistersofthePoor.org to commit yourself and/or your family to “implore Our Lady to intercede on behalf of all humanity at this moment of crisis.”
New Day Church; www.newdaychurch.cc
The New Day Church on King Street has put several processes in place so they can continue to serve their congregation and community. These include online prayer rooms, video blasts, a weekly email, Zoom prayer meetings, and live-streamed services at 8:30, 10 and 11:30 a.m. at live.newdaychurch.cc. For those who are in mourning, the church offers verbal condolences and prayers via a phone call, and referrals to grief counselors and pertinent reference materials. For those in financial distress, they offer gift cards for groceries, information on applying for unemployment and food assistance programs and government supplemental programs. As Pastor of Community Outreach and Missions Tracey Jarvis said, “This has been a great opportunity for the gospel to go forth in a new way. We are married to the message but the method must change.”
St. Jeanne Jugan Parish; www.sjjenfield.org
At the Catholic parish of St. Jeanne Jugan, which consist of Holy Family and St. Bernard Churches, both church buildings remain open for individual prayer from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily, with social distancing in practice. Every day, Pastor John Golas and Parochial Vicar Father Matthew Kappalumakkel celebrate Mass without a congregation present. They pray for all parishioners and their intentions, for those ill from the virus and their families, for medical personnel, and for the deceased and their families. By diocesan policy, the priests may offer committal rites for the deceased at the cemetery, and schedule a funeral Mass for when the health crisis is over. During the Lenten season, Reconciliation is offered every Monday evening from 6 to 7 p.m., and on Holy Saturday (April 11) from 10 to 11 a.m. at each church. On Good Friday, the Stations of the Cross will be live streamed at 7:30 p.m., and Easter Sunday Mass will be streamed at 8 a.m. Palms will be available for several weeks for pick up at the various entrances to the church, and were delivered to the door of homebound parishioners who requested them. Parishioners continue to stay in touch via the church’s website, Facebook page and Twitter account. Gift cards are being collected and given out to the numerous families in the parish and in the larger community that are supported through the St. Vincent de Paul Societies at each church. Easter Sunday Mass will be broadcast from St. Joseph’s Cathedral in Hartford on WCCT-TV (CW20) and WCTX-TV (MyTV9) and will be streaming online at ortv.org/streaming.htm and on the Archdiocese of Hartford’s Facebook page.
Holy Trinity Episcopal Church; www.holytrinityenfield.org
At the Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, Sunday services, as well as Holy Week (including Good Friday) will take place via Zoom. This year, according to Pastor Steven Ling, “We will be celebrating Easter with our fellow Episcopalians around the state with an electronic service from Christ Church Cathedral in Hartford. But we will celebrate. We will remember. We will give thanks. We will say Alleluia. And in the midst of COVID-19, we will continue to remember the great gift that God has given us.”
Enfield Congregational, United Church of Christ; enfielducc.org
According to new Pastor Dr. Greg Gray, “During this season of social distancing the building of Enfield Congregational, United Church of Christ has been closed to members of the church, as well as outside groups. However, we have still been very active during this time. We have found a rhythm for our new normal, which includes Zoom worship for Morning Prayer twice a week on Tuesday and Thursday, and Bible Study each Wednesday Evening. Facebook Live is used for check-ins with the pastor, and our church’s Facebook group keeps the congregation in touch with one another, sharing our prayer requests, hopes, fears, and ideas every day.
“During these days of uncertainty and social distancing we are still the church and still serving our community. We are encouraging everyone through our Facebook event, ‘Don't give up: Gift Up’ at https://www.facebook.com/events/1020389718345140/ to support our town by purchasing gift cards for local businesses. We are aware that people wish to have minimal in-person interaction. Therefore, the businesses listed in the event page have been contacted and will provide ways to get a card to you. If you have contacted other local Enfield businesses, you are welcome to add their contact information and how the card will be delivered in the event comments.
Individuals may find ways to join in with our events on the church’s Facebook page: facebook.com/enfielducc.”
Pope Francis
Many people from around the world, of different denominations, tuned in to witness Pope Francis deliver his extraordinary blessing “Urbi et orbi,” which means “to the city and to the world” on March 27. During his message, livestreamed from an empty St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican, the Pope prayed for an end to the coronavirus. In part, he said, “The Lord asks us and, in the midst of our tempest, invites us to reawaken and put into practice that solidarity and hope capable of giving strength, support and meaning to these hours when everything seems to be floundering. The Lord awakens so as to reawaken and revive our Easter faith. We have an anchor: by his cross we have been saved. We have a rudder: by his cross we have been redeemed. We have a hope: by his cross we have been healed and embraced so that nothing and no one can separate us from his redeeming love. In the midst of isolation when we are suffering from a lack of tenderness and chances to meet up, and we experience the loss of so many things, let us once again listen to the proclamation that saves us: he is risen and is living by our side. The Lord asks us from his cross to rediscover the life that awaits us, to look towards those who look to us, to strengthen, recognize and foster the grace that lives within us. Let us not quench the wavering flame (Is 42:3) that never falters, and let us allow hope to be rekindled.”