Anne-Marie D. Minnis and her nine brothers and sisters live
in seven different states, but they’re able to gather each night for prayer.
In a time of uncertainty over the coronavirus pandemic, Minnis
and her family use Zoom, a video conference software, to chat and pray together
at night.
Anne-Marie Minnis (top row, center) and her family pray and chat during a Zoom call March 20. SCREEN GRAB | COURTESY
“It's been
an amazing means of support especially for the moms who are at home with the
kids all day; some of them have dads there but one dad is in a medical
fellowship, so they are facing the probability that he could get quarantined at
the hospital. It's also very hard for my parents who aren't allowed to see
their grandkids right now,” Minnis, coordinator of events and communications
for the diocesan Vocations Office, wrote in an email. “It's just been a great
way to support each other and stay in touch.”
Minnis is
not alone in seeking out new ways to preserve a close connection with her
family while keeping her physical distance. Families everywhere are embracing
new technology to pray and bond.
Erin
Thielman, a parishioner of the Basilica of St. Mary in Alexandria, said on top
of daily phone calls, she’s been praying a rosary with her parents in Colorado
once a week using Google Duo, the video call app.
“The Rosary call
brings so much joy to my parents who are in self isolation due to their age and
underlying medical conditions,” Thielman wrote in an email. “My parents
always tell me how much they love hearing the little voices praying the prayers
that they learned at school and home. My children always love seeing their
grandparents via video chat and praying the Rosary together has brought about
more unity that defies state lines and isolations.”
A former teacher,
Thielman has also reached out over social media to help her friends whose
schedules have been upended with new responsibilities. She created
a detailed homeschool schedule to help friends balance work while taking care
of their children’s needs; it has been shared at least 100 times that she knows
of.
Other
families are having educational moments together as well.
“We have
five grandchildren living in Connecticut,” Elizabeth Foss, a Catholic Herald
columnist, wrote in a direct message sent via Twitter. “One is an emerging
reader who just left kindergarten early. The others are preschoolers, toddlers
and a baby. Besides their dad, I have eight children. All of the aunts and
uncles have volunteered to do FaceTime read alouds of their favorite childhood
picture books. I’ve sent some to uncles who don’t live here. So far, it’s fun
to take a turn every day, pop in, see their faces and read a story. And those
kids are getting lots of read aloud time!”
In addition
to the nightly prayer, Minnis said her brother, a priest, has been
livestreaming Masses and many of the family have been attending, virtually,
together.
“Talk about
a silver lining,” she said.
Five ways to connect with your family and friends
- Say a rosary with your family via a Zoom video
conference or Skype group call.
- Host a virtual “read-along” using Zoom. Each
person takes a turn reading a chapter of a book.
- Turn on the speakerphone and play “cards” or
board games together through an app. Try Euchre 3D, Canasta Free or Scrabble
Go.
- Keep FaceTime, Facebook Messenger or another
video chat on as you perform routine tasks throughout the day. This allows
conversation to be spontaneous and a feeling of closeness.
- Turn on Messenger and work out together with
videos on YouTube. Think outside the box and don’t be afraid to try new things,
such as hoop dance or ballet
This article was updated 3/23.