Grace of prayer in cyberspace
With the challenges of the overstaying pandemic, priests have to be more creative in reaching out to those in need of prayers and blessing. The E-Pray DioNova, launched this week by the Social Communications and Media Ministry of the Diocese of Novaliches (SocComm Nova), is one such initiative that provides prayers and blessing from a priest for COVID 19 patients in this time of social distancing and restrictive protocols. This is an Electronic Prayer Request Access that uses Social Media platforms, including Facebook, where a page has been created for prayer requests. It likewise uses Google Form, a web-based app that allows people to send in their contact details -- be it a mobile phone or a Messenger account -- and will be matched with a priest who will get in touch with them. Luciano Felloni, SocComm Nova director, revealed the priests' dilemma of not having access to these patients as they are not allowed in hospitals and quarantine facilities. "We can't offer at this point in time the anointing of the sick and we can't offer confession," he said. "What we can offer is a priest to pray over them." More than 30 priests, not only from the Diocese, but from all over the country and one from New York, have volunteered for this project, including the Bishop of Novaliches, Most Rev. Roberto Gaa, who called it "a spiritual call center." "They are all willing to call, listen and pray with the COVID 19 patients," Fr. Members of the SocComm Nova comprise the core team of volunteers who man the social media platforms to collect prayer requests with corresponding contact details and relay them to the pool of volunteer priests who will then schedule the pray overs and blessing. E-Pray DioNova is a service open to everyone, not just for Novaliches. "This is for any one who needs prayers," he said. Luciano emphasized that not one single patient will go on without prayer or without being blessed by a priest. "Let's help in our little and very simple way with the grace of prayer," he concluded. Lulu Nario
Soccomm DIoNova