Insightful articles and videos have been emerging on the effects of COVID-19 pandemic on the life of people and institutions as well as the long-term effects on the world for long. This article reflects on those insights from the perspective of our congregation and the church in general.
Altering Meetings
When the Chinese Province began its three day Provincial Convocation on May 6, 2020, determining the number of participants became a debatable issue. The traditional concept of “attendance” would view only those who are physically present as participants. Yet, for the first time in the history of provincial meetings, a number of confreres participated in “a virtual manner”. A post-pandemic situation may see more and more virtual participation in meetings (we cannot afford to allow our life to be disrupted by diseases that might possibly develop in the future). Our congregation has many local and international meetings and formation sessions that still require physical participation. But a new normal may force us to alter our concept and model of participation. We see that many business companies and institutions are now adapting to new forms of governance and work in order to survive … We may be forced to do the same in not too distant.
Our gathering was scheduled to take place at the scenic beach of Suva, Fiji on April 21-23, 2020. Instead the Provincial Visitors of APVC met on April 30, 2020 in the convenience of their own rooms and in a virtual manner. The meeting was brief, to the point, stripped of personal exchanges, as usually happens during ordinary gatherings of the provincial visitors. This scenario may become normal in post-pandemic era- forced to come together virtually and from a distance gather. Therefore, constant learning and updating on internet and computer-based technology is a necessity for everybody. Confreres need to be technologically-savvy in order to cope with changing situations. Online platforms and tools for new means of meetings, conferences and gatherings are bountiful and ever-improving — Zoom, Google Hangouts, Skype, Meet Now are just few of presently available applications. Twenty years ago we never imagined such means of communication … much less thought they would be free. It is up to us to utilize these new means of communication. Furthermore, equipping ourselves with such telecommunications infrastructure that could bring about this new kind of participation in a more efficient way is no longer a luxury but a necessity. Redesigning and optimizing conference rooms, community houses and activity centers to accommodate the demands of this new kind of participation may become a good investment in the future and may also help shape new forms of community living.
Reshaping Community Living
Lockdown prevents two communities that are three kilometers apart from physically coming together for a regular house gathering because of the fear of transmitting the virus. Government quarantine policy forces a confrere who come from abroad to isolate himself in his room for a specific time period. Celebrations for fiftieth anniversary of priestly ordination have to be canceled due to government restrictions on public gatherings. These scenarios may become normal in the future and may also reshape the way we live together as a community. Coronavirus and its more fatal strains in the future may place restrictions on community gatherings, cancel celebrations, disrupt regular community schedules and may hinder some confreres from being physically present to other members of the community. But these restrictions should not prevent us from seeking to create in an on-going manner a fraternal environment in which a spirit of concern and unity is made manifest. We need to find ways to reach out to confreres who are forced into isolation and quarantine, to hold community gatherings, and to sustain a community spirit during times of physical distancing. Physical presence is one of traditional measurements for community living — praying together, eating meals together, having recreation together, celebrating together. For now, togetherness means physically together. However, with constant interruptions, we may have to reshape and reformulate our concept of community living. A confrere may celebrate his milestone with other confreres and friends in the comfort of their own rooms — a sort of virtual celebration. The time may come that virtual presence and togetherness may become more acceptable. This may lead us then to reflect on how to personalize social distancing.
Personalizing Social Distancing
According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, social distancing is the practice of maintaining a greater than usual physical distance from other people or of avoiding direct contact with people or objects in public places during the outbreak of contagious disease in order to minimize exposure and reduce transmission of infection. In times of the outbreak of a contagious disease (like the coronavirus) physical distancing may not be a negative act but may become an act of care and social responsibility, and even an act of sacrifice. Thus, we need to find ways in which this social distancing may become an opportunity rather than a hindrance to our life together as a community.
Our life and ministries call for approaches that are not simply mechanical. We know that when administering the sacraments, personal approaches impact people. Caring words and loving gestures however small can touch the heart. We are called more than ever before to be creative in personalizing the social distancing that is being imposed on our life and ministry. The virus may oblige us to keep physical distance but should not keep us from giving some simple but important personal touches of warmth, of a positive spirit, of creativity in our interactions and services — personally or virtually.
Digitalizing Giving
It took only seven days for an Italian-based religious congregation in Taiwan to raise funds of more than 100 million NTD (3,280,000 USD) for Italy during the height of pandemic. Moreover, Chinese confreres and seminarians based in USA and Philippines raised 720,128 RMB (102,875 USD) in three weeks for Vincent Helps program in the Philippines. These two fundraising activities have a common feature – the use of social media platforms. Quick, free, open network, up-to-date and transparent. Finally, the church has discovered the power of digital platforms to help the poor and afflicted. Use of these platforms may wear some of us down because they change quickly. What is popular today may suddenly be obsolete tomorrow. Thus, constant and rapid updating of what is latest in the digital world is important because these platforms may become lifelines in our service to the poor. Knowing how some provinces are struggling in strategies and resources in raising funds, the congregation as a whole has to move into a more systematized and digitalized sharing of resources. At the same time, the Congregation has to explore ways to hurdle government restrictions and bureaucratic systems and to equip people with the know-how and the infrastructures in order to cope with rising demands that appear on the new faces of suffering and poverty.
Responding to new faces of suffering
The virus has exacted a heavy toll on the poor families in a slum area of Metro Manila. Only two young children survived (and these children are now poorer than before: they are now orphans). A father of five is now out of work because the factory he where he was working is permanently closed. The pandemic left the poor poorer and created more poor people. As other forms of such a virus become more prevalent in the future, the economy will also suffer new periods of recession/depression and new forms of poverty will be created as the number of poor people grows exponentially. Thus, we need more resources, enormous strength and sustainable strategies to respond effectively to these new faces of suffering. We can only do this together with others — with greater collaboration, strategic cooperation and efficient coordination. It is good to see that executive of the Vincentian Family understand this reality and synchronize their activity by sharing resources and launching a website to support poor communities that are suffering during pandemic. Provinces and local houses need to open up and be forward looking if they want to respond effectively to these new faces of suffering, that is, they need to link up with other local organizations and institutions for long-term responses. Only with others that we can respond effectively.
As we face and travel toward a strange and uncertain future, opportunities abound for allowing the spirit of St. Vincent de Paul to become enflamed among us and among the poor. It is our determination, creativity, love for the poor that will keep our hope and faith alive as St. Vincent de Paul reminded the confreres on June 28, 1658 “Faith is exercised marvelously in illness; hope shines resplendently; resignation, the love of God and all the virtues find ample matter for their exercise in illness.”
Ferdinand Labitag, CM
Provincial Visitor
Chinese Province
May 22, 2020
