Candelight Mass at Saint Joseph's Chapel, Boston College
How do the faithful practice their faith in a time of pandemic and social distancing which, for Catholics, has meant the cancellation of public Masses and access to the sacraments?
For Vice President and University Secretary Casey Beaumier, S.J., it means resuming the 10 p.m. Candlelight Mass that is celebrated on Upper Campus Mondays through Thursdays during the academic year鈥攁 tradition for more than a decade. As was the case before the COVID-19 outbreak, Mass is offered at St. Joseph鈥檚 Chapel. The difference now is that attendance is via Zoom rather than in person.
Casey Beaumier, S.J. (Lee Pellegrini)
鈥淲e want to do whatever we can to support our students鈥攁nd really, anyone who wants to join in prayer,鈥� said Fr. Beaumier, who also is director of the Institute for Advanced Jesuit Studies. 鈥淚 want to do whatever I can to help the students stay connected.鈥�
The last in-person Mass was celebrated at St. Joseph鈥檚 on March 11 after it was announced that the University would transition to online classes and most resident students would be leaving campus. 鈥淚t was a sad and abrupt moment,鈥� said Fr. Beaumier, who added that at the conclusion of that Mass students took candles with them 鈥渢o carry the light of Christ as a beacon of hope during these coming weeks and months.鈥�
The Candlelight Mass resumed on March 19, the Solemnity of Saint Joseph, with Fr. Beaumier celebrating and IAJS staff Taiga Guterres and Matt Schweitzer providing technical support. There are some 300 registrants and those tuning in can offer petitions during the Prayers of the Faithful and the sign of peace via the chat feature.
Boston College priests Michael Magree, S.J., Matt Monning, S.J., and Cesar Muziotti, S.J., are other celebrants of the Candlelight Mass.
Registration can be accessed via . The registration will provide details on how to join the livestream, and reminders will be sent by email before each Mass begins.
Ryan Heffernan (Lee Pellegrini)
Elsewhere at 亚色影库,听St. Mary's Chapel is open for private prayer and reflection, and resident ministers, who live on campus, are meeting the needs of students who remain at the University.
Campus Ministry has launched a social media campaign called 鈥�,鈥� through which students and other members of the 亚色影库 community can share who or what makes them feel grounded and connected to God during this time.
In a reflection offered last week, Meghan Boyer 鈥�20 wrote: 鈥淚 have really felt the strength of our 亚色影库 community over these last few days, with professors and peers reaching out to offer emotional, moving, and financial support to 亚色影库 students in need. The love that exists within the 亚色影库 community is unlike anyt