BROADCAST MINISTRY Brings All into the Celebration of Mass
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our Mass offerings, beyond the elevision Masses have pandemic. been commonplace for “We wanted our parishioners many Catholic dioceses, to feel that they were still a across our country, for part of our parish and to have many years. Until the onset a connection with us, even of COVID-19, most of us though they were not able to probably hadn’t watched celebrate the Eucharist together them much at all, if just on as a community,” Monica says. an occasional Sunday. For the initial setup of But when the COVID-19 the production equipment, pandemic left church doors a company called Music shuttered, a dedicated Makers was hired. The group at St. Peter jumped three-camera system, video in to be sure all of us could switcher, and audio mixing watch the weekend Mass systems were recommended celebrated in our parish. and, ultimately, purchased Beginning in March 2020, Bill Mays assists with the Broadcast Ministry. because they can all be a group of parishioners started recording daily and weekend Masses and operated by parishioners. Masses and events uploading them to the parish website, cospq.org. can be livestreamed or recorded to download Music Director Monica Scholz says that by July later. Even after the threat of the pandemic has 2020, the team realized people enjoyed watching passed, the plan is to record one or two weekend Mass and they had a dedicated following. “Fr. Leo proposed investing in a professional Masses, some school Masses, and some church broadcast system, enabling us to offer Mass events. One unexpected result of the new Broadcast online not only during the pandemic but moving Ministry was the impact on new volunteers forward into the future,” Monica says. — some who had never found a good fit to give The inability to attend Mass was particularly hard on some parishioners. Those who had been of their talents at St. Peter have volunteered attending daily Mass missed the connection with for this ministry. This ministry requires some others and, of course, the Eucharist. Seeing the training, and it can be very rewarding for those inside of St. Peter with Mass being offered was who are involved. “It gives everyone a sense of pride to be able one way to help. And since some people remain to post something that is so meaningful to our cautious about gathering at Mass, this ministry is still important. This will continue to be a part of parish,” Monica says.
All are welcome in this ministry, and more volunteers are needed to make the broadcast Mass even more meaningful to parishioners. New volunteers go through training and learn alongside current ministry members. Those interested in finding out more about the St. Peter Broadcast Ministry may contact Monica Scholz at m.scholz@cospq.org or 217-214-0131. 7
