While campus is mostly closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Rev. Lawrence Blake holds daily Mass in the basement of the Chapel of St. Thomas Aquinas, streamed live for the public to view online.
As construction continues on the outside of the chapel, Florence Chapel, located in the basement, has also been recently updated with computers and cameras. The St. Thomas ministry has done so to ensure that St. Thomas community members and the public can watch Mass from home.
“It was awkward at first but with time it has become more natural,” Blake said. “It is easier when there is someone here to help out with the calls and responses.”
Florence Chapel is a bright room where candles burn and empty chairs are set up in neat rows for afternoon Mass.
There is a space in the middle of the chapel for Blake to take his place behind the medium-sized altar, surrounded by lit candles and colorful flowers.
The production crew in the Florence Chapel is small, consisting of Blake and one or two assistants. Recent St. Thomas graduates Jordan Carew and Tony Preston have helped Blake with every Mass.
In addition to helping out with technology, the two also act as an audience. Blake can hold Mass as normal as possible as Carew and Preston help with the responses.
The feedback to holding online Mass has been positive, so the university has decided to keep it going throughout May.
“Our daily Masses have around 20-30 people tuning in, but on Easter Sunday, we had almost 300 people tune into Mass,” Blake said.
Blake said that they hope to open the Chapel of St. Thomas Aquinas as soon as it is safe.
“Other churches have set up a sign-up method where they have a limited number of seats to ensure that people can attend Mass while staying safe,” Blake said.
No final decisions have been made for St. Thomas’ chapel, and online Mass will be the alternative for right now.
The St. Thomas community is taking advantage of this online Mass opportunity to explore new aspects of faith.
“I like the ability to be able to focus more on the Mass in an environment of my choice,” St. Thomas junior and peer minister Matt Karel said. “I feel that I am missing the community aspect of the church like going to Mass with my friends, and more importantly being able to receive the Eucharist.”
Other students feel the online Mass is a chance to be back on campus through digital space.
“I really appreciate that St. Thomas is offering it, as it creates a nice break in my day,” St. Thomas junior Michael Sullivan said. “It helps with making me feel that I am on campus again.”
Mass is streamed on both Facebook and Instagram, Monday-Friday at 12:10 p.m. and on Sunday at 11:00 a.m.
Song Johansen can be reached at joha8733@stthomas.edu.