Parents, teachers and students have shown perseverance

I’m sure it’s more difficult to teach virtually than it is to teach in the classroom. I’ve heard some teachers say that. And, it’s certainly difficult for parents to homeschool their kids when that is something they’re not accustomed to. The coronavirus crisis has caused all of us to expand our usual routines and responsibilities.

 

I am deeply grateful to school administrators, teachers and all those who have made education possible, even though our physical schools are closed. Parents continue in their role as parents but now are taking on an unaccustomed teaching role and the challenging role of finding something for their kids to do all day and all night. It is in these moments that we are reminded of our vocation and our dependence upon the Holy Family of Mary, Joseph and Jesus, who can help us to have patience and to do the tasks that lie before us.
    

There’s been more “togetherness” at home, but can that also cause some stresses on families?
    

Yes. We know that in a positive way, families being home together for this long helps them to reunite and spend quality time together. At the same time, natural tensions can occur, and those have to be dealt with. No doubt this is a time of sacrifice for all of us. And it’s not just the sacrifice but the uncertainty of the future. No one knows right now what education will look like, throughout our country, from the university level to elementary school in the coming months. We anticipate that, at the very least, it will be somewhat different. We ask God for the strength to adapt.
    

How creative have schools been during this period?
    

I know that technology has certainly helped, and I thank each school for being as creative as possible in keeping our children energized and engaged. I also know that some parishes have livestreamed their children’s Masses, which is a way of keeping in touch with the children at their school.
    

You have to feel badly about the graduating seniors this year.
    

My heart goes out in a special way to high school seniors and the seventh graders in our elementary schools who would have graduated this month. Their day of joy – a day to really look forward to – all of sudden has been taken from them. Parents have an important responsibility in helping their children cope with this by acknowledging their children’s disappointment and helping them learn how to live with this kind of sad news.

 

It’s a teachable moment because similar situations will happen throughout life, and it will teach us how we deal with disappointment. I’m also very conscious of the children in second grade who would have received their first Communion, as well as the high school juniors who would have celebrated confirmation. These are important milestones in a person’s spiritual life, and for them not to be able to celebrate that on time is disappointing. The delays brought on by the virus also are disappointing for those who are waiting to enter the church through baptism or through a profession of faith.
    

Louisiana has experienced nearly 32,000 confirmed coronavirus cases and more than 2,200 deaths.

We can look at those statistics and ponder them. Each “number” is not just a statistic. Each number represents a person, a family and a group of close friends. We also remember at this time families who are not able to visit their loved ones in the hospital because of the visitation restrictions. We know that people have died without family members being present, but, as we know, they don’t die alone because the Lord Jesus is there to grasp their hand and to call them to his love.
    

What are the plans for confirmations and first Communions?
    

We intend to provide regional confirmations whenever we are cleared to have a larger number of people in church. For those parishes that have very large confirmation classes, we will do those individually. As far as first Communions, I know there are several pastors who are doing first Communions right now by asking two or three children and their families to attend either a daily or Sunday Mass and celebrate Communion. I’m grateful to the priests who have been very creative. 
    

Questions for Archbishop Aymond may be sent to [email protected].