Many OLL parishioners have offered recommendations for coping with the sheltering situation. Here are some ideas and responses. If you'd like to add something please send an email to bob.bowerman@gmail.com.
(Above) Thursday Theologians continue to meet at their regular time through a technology called GoToMeeting. (ScreenShot of a virtual meeting is above.)
"Thursday Theologians, was started 8 years ago by Sr.Renee when a group of parish women who had completed the Women of Grace Foundational study found that they cherished the time spent on Thursday mornings and didn’t want it to end. Once all Church activities were recently cancelled, the group members swiftly realized that in stressful times they would normally turn to each other for support so they planned “Virtual Thursday Theologians”. Now on Thursday morning 14 members of the group sign into the meeting to share some social time before getting to the Sunday readings. The women support each other, cry together and laugh together. The group is not stopping at their virtual meeting. They have also started a group chat to keep in touch. From this chat it was obvious that several of members love to cook so a second group chat, titled Heaven’s Kitchen, evolved to share recipes. One member summed it up well “We are doing exactly what a Church family should be doing – praying together, supporting each other and looking forward to the time when we can all be together again”. by Janine Sedora
For more info contact either Janine Sedore at jmshides2@aol.com or Monique Mohr at ncmohr@bellsouth.net
"We have been sheltered-in-place since March 12. We've updated our wills, healthcare power-of-attorneys and instructions for healthcare providers. We've put together detailed instructions (including funeral plans) for our executors. Sounds morose but it's been really liberating to get it done and now we're enjoying candlelight dinners and communicating constantly with our far-flung family.
We've watched Bishop Barron's daily Mass each day and done a lot of Lenten reading. We've both set aside one piece of clothing per day to donate when Lent is over. We've avoided TV except for movies and only the basic news. Now we're trying to arrange for grocery deliveries. Not easy. And, we pray for everyone in our family, our friends and the parish every day.
If we didn't have our faith we would probably be scared ...but we do, so we are fine. But we do miss all of you and the Eucharist. Be safe."
My 7 year old and I are following along in the book while listening to the story on Audible from Jessica Garten
"I play UNO online with my granddaughter who is a teacher in another state where the schools are also closed.I am going through vacation pictures and deleting the ones I wished I did not take. I joined a million Hail Mary chain to stop the coronavirus and passed that request to others. I pick a small job around the house which I have put off doing for months and I do it. (Sometimes I do half in a day).I visit neighbors with a street in between us. I play outside in the driveway with my dog. I call long distance friends to check on them. I pray for another granddaughter and her fiance who have been tested for the coronavirus. Have not heard the results yet. I pray for those who still work, that they stay safe.I pray for those who have lost their jobs."
Send a card to your priest, deacon and sisters at your church!
from Laura McSoley
Picture is from Debbie Locke.