Viatorians have been offering livestreaming Masses since mid-March, when shelter at home

Fr. Dan Hall and Br. Peter Lamick prepare remotely with Jason Wilhite before Mass begins.

orders went into effect and church doors closed. However, the Mass offered on Good Shepherd Sunday was shared via Zoom, and drew young people to join with several Viatorians in celebrating the Eucharist.

“This idea came from five young adults who are working with Viatorian Vocation Ministry to engage this emerging generation,” said Br. John Eustice, CSV, Vocation Ministry Director. “They are telling us they want to be more fully engaged and able to participate in a liturgy.”

Participate is the key word.

Working with Dan Masterton, Assistant Vocation Minister, and Br. Peter Lamick, CSV, they lined up Fr. Dan Hall, CSV Provincial, to celebrate the liturgy, before enlisting young people to help remotely with different parts of the Mass.

Some of the Zoom Mass participants

They came from several states to participate, including Illinois, Nevada, Wisconsin, North Carolina, and California.

Specifically, Annie Nagle (Saint Viator HS) composed the words that called everyone to worship, while Natasha Romlas (Bishop Gorman HS), Michael Sorich (Maternity BVM Parish) and Allison Romero (St. Viator Catholic Community) proclaimed the readings. Jason Wilhite (Saint Viator HS) offered the prayers of the faithful and Tyler Harris (SVHS) organized the music and discussion after Mass.

The interactive Mass drew adult leaders to take notice, including Bishop George Leo Thomas of Las Vegas, who told Fr. Hall that the format was a good idea.

“The Body of Christ has ties much stronger than any measures of social distancing could separate,” Br. John says. “Christ is risen, the faith is being lived, and young people are being nourished.

“On this World Day of Prayer for Vocations,” he added, “may all young people know there is an invitation from God specifically for each person to be Christ for others in the world.  Perhaps that invitation may be to consider life as a Viatorian.”