When Martha Garcia gets online alongside her second-grade son Alex, it’s a cherished moment as they hear the Gospel and pause to discuss what it means. The parent-child moment is a blessing, thanks in many ways to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The Gospel discussions work in conjunction with the catechism classes, and it’s a beautiful way to supplement the lessons and messages of the Gospel each week,” said Garcia, who also has two other children ages 13 and 11. “It’s certainly a silver lining of the pandemic.”
St. Theresa Parish in Austin is working hard to help parishioners of all ages stay connected as many Catholics are spending more time at home because of the pandemic.
Father Larry Covington, the pastor of St. Theresa Parish, said the parish was already looking at ways to improve its online presence before the pandemic hit. Then, as COVID-19 cases spread nationwide and hit home in Austin last spring, the parish staff shifted into high gear to offer virtual opportunities to stay connected as a community.
“It’s opened avenues we didn’t know existed,” Father Covington said. “It helps people who can’t physically be with us, especially the shut-ins.” St. Theresa still offers live opportunities to worship, with social distancing and mask wearing and other safety protocols in place; however, the digital offerings give everyone the opportunity to participate.
Behind the parish’s video ministry that reaches every age group and ministry, the parish school and even weekly e-bulletins and video messages from the pastor, is Chase Crouse, the director of youth ministry. He is suddenly wearing many hats including being behind the camera, editing and hosting presentations found on the parish’s YouTube channel. Parishioners easily find links on www.sttaustin.org.
His efforts reach the Garcias whose Sunday routine starts with livestreaming Mass, then watching the Sunday Gospel Reflection specifically for children developed by St. Theresa volunteers.
“It’s said in a child-friendly way, through a message or a story,” Garcia said. “For example, if the message is about forgiveness, the volunteer asks, in what way have you shown forgiveness.”
At that moment Garcia then pauses the video and asks her son how he has shown someone forgiveness.
“I can’t do that if we are attending Mass in person. It creates a sweet discussion with my son,” she said. Alex also attends religious education classes online in preparation for his first Holy Communion this spring.
Parishioner Janet Teal’s teenaged children benefit greatly by viewing The Ark, a series of videos that are a part of St. Theresa’s youth ministry program.
“The video facilitators do it in a way to encourage us to speak openly about faith. It gives everyone in the room a little nudge. As the weeks go on, our children are opening up to us,” she said.
While Crouse is the driving force behind the parish’s video ministry, it has taken a team effort to keep it going. It started with a staff brainstorming session last March attended by Father Covington and Chad Nusbaum, the parish’s chief operating offcer.
“We asked can we livestream, use YouTube? Soon, we hit the ground running,” Crouse said.
The ideas flowed but funding was a challenge until generous parishioners donated to buy a video camera, a new computer for video editing and other equipment to produce high quality content. Then Crouse was off and running.
“It was a matter of setting up the camera and jumping in front of it,” said Crouse who is originally from Friendswood and earned his theology degree from John Paul the Great University in San Diego where he also met his wife, Viva.
The couple appear together at home in one video offering tips on what to do while staying at home: pray, clean, organize, pray the rosary with friends, call a friend or relative, play board games, read a book and give up television or give up the cell phone for a day.
“It all gets kind of crazy to integrate work and family life. It’s a good time,” Crouse said.
The feedback has been phenomenal, which is a great motivator, he said.
“We’ve gotten tons of emails from parents about The Arc because it’s empowering families to talk about faith. They have never had these conversations as a family,” Crouse said.
Visitors to St. Theresa’s YouTube channel (found through the parish website) can find content on a variety of topics. One is called the Roundtable, which discusses Catholic social teaching and faithful citizenship. Father Covington’s messages receive hundreds of views. Parishioners give their testimonies and others reflect on the Gospel. Parents whose children attend the parish school benefit from presentations on navigating school during the pandemic.
The new venture has allowed Crouse to grow in his faith as well.
“It’s forcing me to be creative with the Gospel message. Thus, I grow in my studies,” he said.
He also hosts his own podcast called Catholics with Bibles, which is accessible through the parish website.
The video ministry is also popular with older Catholics, Jim Einhaus, 68, is a member of the men’s catalyst group and an acolyte who helps set up Mass and work with altar servers.
“Chase has such a natural way of talking about Jesus and our faith. He has a gift for communicating and delivering messages with passion,” Einhaus said.
Father Covington is pleased by how his staff and parishioners have embraced these efforts.
“What excites me is how we’ve stayed connected to parishioners and parishioners with each other,” he said. He said the parish’s next project is a documentary this spring called “Coming to Faith,” which is being directed by Ben Foster, an Austin filmmaker.
For more information about St. Theresa Parish in Austin, visit
www.sttaustin.org.