MG Leaders – Don’t Let COVID Break You!
As we enter another COVID school year, we are bracing ourselves for a different vibe on how teaching and learning will be delivered. Some families have opted to home school, some have opted for online, and some have decided that getting kids back in the classroom is the way to go. Whatever the decision, I am sure there is a lot of angst and concern for how the year will play out.
And what about face-to-face meetings for Mother’s Groups across the parishes? To date (mid-August 2021) most churches have not set out specific guidelines regarding in-person gatherings for groups. I would dare say that while we all yearn to “get back to normal” we may still be a way off on that. So, what is one to do?
A quick answer would be to throw in the towel and wave the white flag of surrender. Who could blame you? For almost two years we have worked, socialized, and lived out of our homes. I know we are tired, and we feel like we are at the end of our rope, but we must not forget the mission – to revive the vocation of motherhood, to develop a closer relationship with our Blessed Mother, and to deepen our faith.
Many times, over this pandemic, I too have been tested and thought of walking away. And then I remembered how our forebearers shared the faith. The apostles walked from city to city, crossing into different countries to preach the Good News. These teachings were retold by those who witnessed them. Some wrote letters and these became part of the Bible.
I also think about the Daughters of Saint Paul–the media apostles, who use technology to spread the joy and the light of faith to everyone. It is astounding to think that for almost 2000 years, print was the means of evangelization, and now we carry in our hands small devices that can connect us to information from anywhere in the world with a few clicks on a keyboard.
If I have learned anything from this pandemic, it is that we must continue to adapt. Technology is just a tool we can use to reach people and to connect with them. It is so important that we continue to make meaningful connections with mothers. We are all in this together.
Rema Celio an award-winning professional editor. She has worked in educational publishing for over 20 years, for both Pearson Education Canada, and recently at the Insurance Institute of Canada. Rema is active in her parish of St. Benedict where she sings in the choir and leads the Catholic Moms Group. She is happily married and the mother of two teen-aged boys. Rema loves to read, cook and bake with her husband, and knit. With her family, she enjoys playing cards, watching movies, and going for walks. Rema recently graduated with her certificate in Theological Studies from St. Augustine's Seminary/UofT.
