ACTA Leeds Network Feedback: July 2020 - Pippa Bonner/Vince Borg  July 2020

Below is a summary of the wide-ranging discussion we had at our last Zoom meeting on 16 July. There were twelve of us, giving a wide representation of parishes from across the diocese, a wonderful opportunity to find out how parishes in Leeds were coping with the restrictions in place because of the Coronavirus.

We started by reviewing what was happening in each of our parishes during lockdown. Eleven diverse parishes were represented from Leeds, Bradford, Wakefield, Ripon, Harrogate and Mytholmroyd. We spoke frankly. This feedback has been clustered into certain themes to help identify key elements of parish good practice and the challenges encountered and to share them with you.

A review of parish practice and experience within the Diocese of Leeds during Coronavirus Lockdown

Role of Lay People

Good Practice: In some instances lay people worked with their Parish Priests, in others lay people worked alone as a group independently from the Parish Priest. One Parish identified that the Deacon and his wife became the focus for SVP and other parishioners to reach out to each other.

Some parishes got going quickly. An active St Vincent de Paul Society was identified several times in parishes as the focus for working with those in need: checking how people were, delivering food, newsletters and communications from parishes. In another parish the CAFOD list was used to reach out to people.  In another a group of lay people got together independently to check on parishioners. This group developed in strength and confidence and would not want that energy to dissipate. In one large parish, there were plenty of volunteers to ensure that a full complement of Masses could be offered in July (when restrictions were eased). Deliberate policies of inclusion (by technical wizardry) were made in some of the streamed Masses visited by those present, for example including women readers and in the singing of pre-recorded hymns (in what would otherwise have been male dominated liturgy).

Challenges: In one group of parishes the Parish Priest, Parish Sister and the Administrator took charge of communicating with parishioners. They had an updated database. A comment was made that the lay people felt disenfranchised from this process. In at least one other Parish the Parish Priest worked alone and lay people were not involved.

Several people mentioned that the databases in their parishes were out of date or incomplete. This potentially hindered and delayed reaching out to people. There was little mention of Parish Pastoral Councils to help determine appropriate action during the period of lockdown and no mention of diocesan strategy (as opposed to application of Covid restrictions) to help guide Parish Priests and parish communities at this time.

Experiences of Mass

Mass in churches has not been available for parishioners physically to attend since lockdown began in March. Since 5^th July Covid restrictions have been eased, permitting small numbers of people to attend Masses, if special arrangements facilitated by parish volunteers, and social distancing were in place (e.g. provision of sanitisers, cleaning facilities, stewarding etc.). No singing of hymns is permitted, together with other restrictions on movement, entry and exit from church.

Good Practice:  People mentioned “attending” Masses streamed on the internet from their own and other parishes within the Diocese (and indeed from much further afield). A list of Masses available on-line could be found on the Diocesan website. Most diocesan parishes did not offer this facility. Some streamed Masses had been operating from before lockdown for those who are housebound, carers and shift workers. Some had been set up recently in response to lockdown, either ‘live’ or some pre-recorded and available for viewing on YouTube. Will these continue now that Mass is available (for limited numbers) in Parishes? We hoped so for those unable to get to Mass. Numbers permitted to attend Masses in person are limited currently, but these are early days.

Those watching streamed Masses have been able to choose where they attended (e.g. Vatican, other countries, other dioceses or nearby parishes. Mention was made of how some priests were welcoming, pastoral, creative and inclusive despite the difficulties and limitations of on-line presentation. We heard how in one local parish where there was streaming, the ten-strong music group had pre-recorded hymns and lay readers had recorded the Mass Readings. In another parish the priest did not stream Mass but recorded his Sunday sermon.

Streamed Masses at St. Joseph’s, Pudsey, Leeds, Diocese of Leeds and St. James the Great, Petts Wood, Archdiocese of Southwark had been attended and found to be welcoming and inclusive for parishioners and ‘visitors’ during this period. These parishes will continue to offer streamed Masses for their parishioners and for ‘visitors’.

Mass is being streamed in Leeds by the Eritrean Priest to the Eritrean Community. One priest was taking Holy Communion to parishioners in their gardens. A comment was made that with the good weather during lockdown perhaps Mass could have been celebrated outside.

In a Parish where Mass was not streamed but Mass readings were sent out, there was a weekly prayer gathering (in which the Parish Priest had no input). One lay group had grown in confidence and strength despite lack of support by the parish priest. A positive consequence?

Challenges: Many present missed their Parish communities, though with varied views about feeling deprived of being physically present at Mass. It was remarked that live streaming and Facebook Live is more participative than Mass recorded on you tube. In one instance where the Parish Priest had not been communicating widely, people were not prepared for the changes when Mass started up again and some were shocked by the changes they witnessed. That Parish Priest had also not warmly welcomed people back at the first Sunday Mass. Another parishioner had commented that her Church looked like a crime scene!

Not being able to attend Mass and the Eucharist has made people really reflect. For some not receiving Communion it has not been considered a great loss, as for them Eucharist has been defined more widely. How will this impact us in the future? Is this an opportunity for change which some have described as the Emerging Church? At the moment we have no idea what proportion of pre-Covid Mass attenders were able to/chose to attend Masses on-line during lockdown.  

Other Liturgy: Mention was made of Evening Prayer being Zoomed in at least two Parishes. Taize were live streaming daily and up to 4,000 people were "attending at one point." One attended a local Church of England church where the old inclusive translation was being used.

Use of technology (other than the streaming of Masses)

Good practice: Newsletters and Mass Readings were emailed to parishioners on the databases in many instances. Mention was made a number of times of parish newsletters also being delivered by hand, so that those without the technology were not excluded from receiving these communications. In some Parishes parishioners were connecting with each other on Parish Facebook pages. In one Parish someone was linking about 100 people using WhatsApp. Zoom has been mentioned for Evening Prayer and meetings by several Parishes. One parish has a weekly parish coffee Zoom to try to maintain parish community through the period of lockdown. A trawl of Leeds diocesan parish websites revealed that some provide links to streamed Masses and are easy for ‘visitors’ to negotiate. Some of the websites might be useful as exemplars of good practice as they reflect the active involvement of lay people with their clergy in their liturgy and other key aspects of parish life.     

Challenges: It was evident that a number of parishes were not prepared for parishioner communication which would be needed during lockdown. Databases were incomplete, presumably because they had not been used regularly. Some parish websites were not fit for purpose or out of date. An ageing demographic of clergy may militate against increased use of technology in our parishes without technical support and the sharing of good practice. Will there be an impact on the numbers of parishioners returning to weekly Mass when things get ‘back to normal’ because of this? [Maybe this will be on the agenda at the next meeting of the Leeds Diocesan Pastoral Council] 

What Next? Some food for thought

At our Zoom meeting we discussed a number of wider points. David Jackson asked if things are going to be" normal" in our Church again. Are lay people finding new energy and confidence? David encouraged us to read about the movement of church reform sometimes described as Emerging Church, and also the wider dimension of the Eucharist that has become especially relevant during lockdown. Pippa had mentioned Covid 19 restrictions really widening her understanding of Eucharist and that she was surprised she was not missing Holy Communion, a view shared by others. 

David mentioned an Austrian Theologian (Paul Zulehner) who now features on Leeds ACTA Facebook page. David talked of a clericalised church infantilising the lay people and how the gateway to the sacraments has been confined to the Parish Priest. Are lay people now turning outwards to those who are marginalised, working, for example, with food banks and asylum seekers and making links with the work of the Citizens movement (mentioned by Pat)?

In discussing Emerging Church ideas David asked ‘what does being the Body of Christ really mean?’ Are we witnesses showing the love of God by what we do? Are we worried that post-Covid we will slip back to a situation where the Parish Priest might (or expect to) do everything? Is there a new appreciation of the sacramentality of ourselves that is present from birth? Do we need a new catechesis, a new appreciation of the presence of God? This view is not to be assumed to be anti-priest but anti-clericalism.

Dennis Loughran, who had send apologies, said “Even in the situation we find ourselves in now, some effort needs to be made to make contact with parishioners by phone or email to maintain a limited form of community. As things get back to normal parishes which have not really started the evangelisation process could make a start by using the catechesis process for baptism and first communion to reach out to families (especially the lost sheep) with both general meetings and informal talks. This will still need much preparation and a group of willing and competent accompanists”. Denise Mason can supply more on this issue. (See Bill Huebsch “Promise and Hope”.)”

The Covid restrictions have had an impact on personal faith and the way those present had been able to express it. It has caused some deep thinking and may have a significant impact on the way individuals and parish communities will emerge from lockdown in the months (and years?) ahead. What will be the role of clergy and lay people in all this? How will we need to change in order to accommodate our parish and faith experiences successfully in the future? Business as usual?

Vince recommended reading ‘Mass Exodus – Catholic Disaffiliation in Britain and America since Vatican II’, by Stephen Bullivant (Professor of Theology and Sociology of Religion) who had evidenced the impact of societal changes on Church affiliation over several decades. Bullivant had also suggested (Tablet 16/5/20 After the Storm) that there may be a significant impact on church-going post-Covid because of age profile of clergy and parishioners and breaks in habit, like going to Mass, amongst other factors.

Other News

Tony and Sheelagh Pickles gave us an update on WYDAN (West Yorkshire Destitute Asylum Network). Parish Halls were no longer available once Covid 19 came. Some Guests were accommodated in a Salvation Army building in Otley and Leeds City Council has offered help with care packages in a Leeds hostel. A new organisation LEDAS (Leeds Destitute Asylum Seeker Support) has been set up in Leeds by some of the original WYDAN Steering Group, including Tony. Its purpose is to provide accommodation and support for destitute asylum seekers.  It was set up in response to the Covid-19 pandemic when night shelters providing emergency and longer term overnight accommodation to asylum seekers had to close owing to safety concerns. LEDAS aims to provide accommodation in four or five-bedroom houses. They are looking for support in Leeds postcode areas 2,3,4,6 and 7. Email or reply to this email to get in touch with Tony.

Pippa spoke about the revamped National ACTA google groups which provides a forum for email discussion. It is monitored and administered by Alex Walker. Recent discussions : “Being Church during Covid -19”; “Communion under both kinds” and “Resumption of Public Liturgies.” Pippa has found the discussion varied and much of it informative, provocative and enlightening.
Group name
To join email 

ACTA Leeds networks  -  Pat encouraged us to look at and comment and contribute to the Leeds ACTA Facebook page and Twitter.  As network lunches were not practical (or desirable) at this time, we agreed that regular Zoom meetings should replace the Harrogate network lunches. After some discussion (daytime or evening?) we agreed to continue with 2.00pm meetings for the time being, and more frequently (every two months). The next one is on Thursday 17^th Sept. We hoped that those who can’t make that time but who wish to contribute to the discussions will continue to send their thoughts to Pat so that they can be shared at the meeting. We also agreed to have a Gospel/Reading reflection at the beginning of each gathering, before launching into the ‘business’ of identifying and sharing good practice in following Vatican II in our diocese.   

Thanks  were expressed to Nick Shields, for generously hosting the Zoom meeting for us, and to Pat Brown for all her work finalising and sending out the newsletters and reminders to the wider ACTA Leeds membership. We are all very grateful.

We finished with The Grace.