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April 27, 2020When faced with stay-at-home orders and closed Church buildings, one needs to get creative to keep ministering to people. Fr. Tim Ferguson, pastor of St. Joseph and St. Patrick Parish in Escanaba, has excelled in that department.
"I’ve been livestreaming Mass daily on our Facebook page since the beginning of the situation. We’ve had an average of 100 live viewers for daily Mass, and upwards of 200 for the Sunday Mass, plus many people watching later in the day and lots of positive comments."
Jillena Rose, the Facebook coordinator for the Parish, took over that volunteer role a couple months ago. Little did she know it would soon be so important as a means of keeping people connected during this time.
"She's done an awesome job promoting it," says Fr. Tim. "We’ve used our Facebook page to direct people to online Bible studies and other devotions. Our prayer chain leader has been calling those without internet access and keeping them connected. And I’ve spent a fair amount of time on the phone with parishioners trying to let them know that Jesus hasn’t abandoned them."
Even before the pandemic hit, the Sunday Parish Mass was being broadcast on 106.3 FM. Several parishioners provide the financial support for this effort. "This is a ministry that predates the pandemic, and it's is a way provide a link to Mass for those who are unable to come. We regularly get calls thanking us for it," says Fr. Tim.
Parking lot ministry has also featured high on the list of outreach for Fr. Tim. Beginning on Easter Sunday, Fr. Tim has provided Eucharistic Adoration and Benediction in the parking lot from 2:00pm until 3:00pm. The parking lot has been full and people are parking on the street now.
Says Fr. Tim, "This has been very rewarding both emotionally and spiritually. I found myself conversing with Jesus, telling Him that His Church is empty and His people need to be here. As I walked through the parking lot and saw the people crying, I had to fight back tears myself and said to the Lord, 'See how much they love You? You have to end this now! They need You.'"
Since Bishop John permitted it Fr. Tim and Fr. Robb Jurkovich, chaplain at St. Francis Hospital, have been hearing confessions outside. "I hear them through my fence in the back patio. Fr. Robb hears confessions at a station behind the Church. We’ve heard a couple hundred confessions over the last few weeks," says Fr. Tim.
When asked about wanting a stipend for the Confessions, Fr. Robb replied, "No need! It feels good to be doing priestly things again.”
This coming Friday, May 1st is the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker, and the Parish is putting together a list of parishioners who would like their homes blessed. "Since people were not able to come for the feasts of St. Joseph and St. Patrick this year, I have a relic of the belt of St. Joseph and a relic of St. Patrick. I'll be taking them around and, from the street, blessing their homes," says Fr. Tim.
For more information, click here to visit the St. Joseph and St. Patrick Parish Facebook page.
