Local Catholics Reflect on Coming Home Again to Jesus in the Eucharist, Faith Community

Story by Shelley Wolf

When the churches of the Archdiocese of Hartford were all closed during the early days of the pandemic, the Turenne family spent their Sunday mornings watching Mass on CatholicTV Network, broadcast from Watertown, Massachusetts.

“It was easier to get the kids involved, but I found it hard to concentrate,” recalls Andrew Turenne, who says his three young children simply could not keep quiet watching Mass on television at home.

Now he’s glad to be back at Mass in person, attending at St. John Fisher Church in Marlborough, where he says he relishes “the unity vibe.”

“And receiving the host is a huge deal,” Andrew adds.

His wife, Renee, agrees. “Before, we said that spiritual communion prayer. But it’s so different to actually receive the Eucharist. I just feel more fulfilled – like God is with you more.”

Renee also believes the in-person Mass experience will benefit her family in the long run. “Just being here for the kids is more valuable. We’re trying to keep the faith,” the mom says. “They’ve had their baptisms and first Communions, so it’s more helpful in our Catholic journey.”

In the New Year, the Turenne family and many other local Catholics are counting their blessings, grateful to be back at Mass, physically present at their local Catholic church. Parishioners throughout the archdiocese are reconnecting once again with their priests, reuniting with their peers, and receiving Jesus in the Eucharist.

From March 2020 to June 2020, churches across the archdiocese temporarily closed, upending the lives of people of faith. Practicing Catholics were prevented from attending daily or weekly Mass, were separated from their priests and peers, and from receiving Communion.

While churches reopened for daily Mass at 25 percent capacity in June 2020, it was not until May 2021 that churches were open at full capacity, the dispensation from the obligation to attend Mass was ended, and all Catholics were called back to public worship unless they were sick or had medical issues.

While some parishes continue to offer recorded or live streamed Masses for those who cannot attend, there’s just something about the in-person experience that those who returned say they missed.

Doug Meyer, another parishioner at St. John Fisher, was attending Mass daily in March 2020, when the churches closed. He spent the next few months watching his parish’s recorded Mass each Sunday on his home computer.

“The virtual Mass was okay, and you didn’t have to get dressed up,” he recalls with a laugh. “But I missed receiving the Eucharist and the closeness of the community. You couldn’t help but feel that separation.”

Meyer and his wife Barbara returned to Mass as soon as they were able. “It was wonderful getting people back together again. Of course, there are some restrictions, like no shaking hands,” he says, referring to the sign of peace, “but it’s nice to see people we hadn’t seen.

“Just praying with them and singing with them, and going through the routines of the Mass. And just to be able to sing,” Meyer says, pausing, realizing all he has to be grateful for. “The music is an important part.”

Scott and Marilyn Rowland, parishioners of St. George Parish in Guilford, watched their parish’s Mass on computer during the shutdown but say they found it a bit lacking. Now they’re happy to be back at Mass in person, accompanied by their son Brendon, 11, and daughter Grace, 12.

“It was really hard to connect,” Marilyn says, of the live streamed Mass.

“The virtual Mass wasn’t the same,” Scott adds, “and we were missing the Eucharist.”

“My daughter is an altar server, so we appreciate being back. Those are opportunities you don’t get at home,” Marilyn points out.

“The parish is like an extended family,” Scott adds. “It’s sad to see that some of the families who were here have not come back.”

“Families are the future of the Church,” Marilyn notes, resolving to bring her family to Mass in the years ahead.

Despite the lockdown, Bob and Helen Keiser, parishioners of St. George Parish, were pleased with the virtual Mass experience. “We never left,” Helen says. “We watched Mass on EWTN. St. George Parish also live streamed the Mass, and they still do.”

The Keisers were thrilled, however, to return to the in-person liturgical experience. Bob serves as a Eucharistic minister and is on the parish council. “We came back right away,” he says. But it’s the faith leaders and faith community that have kept them close.

“Our son, Captain Andrew Pederson-Keel, was killed in Afghanistan in 2013. So this parish saved our lives and has stuck with us for almost ten years,” says Bob, who converted to Catholicism shortly before his son’s death. “Monsignor James Shanley, our former pastor, spiritually took care of us.” Subsequent pastors, Father Stephen Sledesky and now Father Kevin Dillon, have also been a great comfort, he says.

“This parish is unique – people still know us and ask us how we are doing. I can’t tell you how important that is,” Bob stresses.

Helen feels the same way, saying a parishioner, Noreen Wolleben, showed great kindness by inviting her to join St. George’s Women’s Prayer Group, which meets every Tuesday at 4:15 p.m. “That saved me,” says Helen.