Spreading the Faith: Evangelizing Through Electronics During Virus Crisis

Tags: Currents Catholic Church, Catholic Community, Coronavirus, Crux, Diocese of Brooklyn, Facebook, Faith, Queens, NY, Social Media, Technology

By Tim Harfmann

Father Christopher O’Connor and a group of nuns are evangelizing through electronics at Blessed Virgin Mary Help of Christians parish in Woodside, Queens.

“We’re working together to bring Jesus to the people,” said Father O’Connor.

The religious women are on a Lenten mission trip from Colombia and planned on returning home April 4, but Colombia closed its borders. Now, the six sisters are stranded.

“[I’m] maybe a little worried because we are human,” said Sister AnnaMaria of Holy Love.

They’re making the most of their situation by helping Father O’Connor live stream bilingual videos in English and Spanish, which are going viral.

“We can feel the power of Jesus,” said Sister AnnaMaria.

These sisters live streamed a concert from the Queens church March 21, which had over 100,000 hits.

They posted a procession March 16 as they walked four miles with the Blessed Sacrament through the streets of Woodside. The video has been seen 25,000 times.

They processed again March 24, capturing an emotional parishioner as Father O’Connor stopped by her house.

“I blessed her and she said, ‘I really miss church,’ and started crying. I said, ‘I know. that’s why I’m here,” explained Father O’Connor.

They continue to post daily on the parish’s social media pages, live streaming Masses, holy prayer hours and evening reflections.

It’s all to spread the faith and plead for an end of the virus crisis.