Immaculate Conception Parish in Clarion is dedicated to providing opportunities to carry out their mission of “Inviting People to Christ, Uniting People with Christ, Igniting People for Christ”. Knowing that many of their parishioners could not attend Mass in person for a variety of reasons, they seized the opportunity to apply for a Catholic Foundation Education grant. The parish technology committee determined that the timing was right to explore making live-streamed Masses available to nursing home residents, those physically unable to attend Mass regularly and out-of-town family members and friends who might wish to be part of a first communion or funeral Mass. An added benefit of offering live-streamed Masses was the ability to keep parishioners engaged during recent COVID-19 surges when some chose not to attend Mass in person.
With a $3,500 grant from the Catholic Foundation and additional funding from their own parish, the committee purchased a laptop and the camera equipment needed to live-stream the Masses. After overcoming a slight learning curve, the committee has tweaked a few elements and now streams the Sunday morning Mass which is then archived on the parish website. A future goal is to begin recording funeral Masses and weddings so that they can be given as a keepsake to family members.
Kim Kroh, business manager for Immaculate Conception Parish shares a story of a family that is stationed overseas and recently attended Mass while in the Clarion area for a visit. “After Mass, the family approached Father Monty (Sayers) and the children were so excited to meet him because ‘he is the priest from TV’. The family had been viewing our streamed/recorded Mass from Europe prior to coming back to the States.” On the impact of receiving the grant she adds, “On behalf of Immaculate Conception Parish, thank you for making this important project come to fruition. By providing a live-streamed and/or recorded Mass, we can share the Gospel with those who cannot attend in person.”
Be the Spark!
Education grants are made possible through the Education Endowment of the Catholic Foundation. Donations in any amount designated for the Education Endowment increase our capacity to award grants for impactful Catholic education needs throughout northwest Pennsylvania today and for future generations.
“On behalf of Immaculate Conception Parish, thank you for making this important project come to fruition.”