East Anglia: Family creates virtual chapel to attend Mass

The Scotts joining live streamed Mass at Cathedral of St John the Baptist, Norwich

Source: Diocese of East Anglia

A family from St Edmund, King and Martyr parish in Bungay, Suffolk, have created a virtual chapel in their home as they join Mass while self-isolating.

Cathy Scott, who is self-isolating with her husband Andrew, and their daughter and son-in-law, writes below about the virtual chapel at their home in Alburgh.

'Our 'virtual chapel' was all Andrew's idea. He is a great one for wanting to set a scene and create the right atmosphere, and it certainly helps to put one in the moment and make the experience feel a bit less removed from the reality.

It feels very alien to me not to be going to church every week, something I so rarely do even when away from home or abroad on holiday (something my children will attest to!), So anything that helps to make more of a ceremony of the live streaming is important to me. Sitting on the sofa watching the TV would not feel the same.

I use my missal as usual and we say all the words out loud as if we are in church. I also read the Spiritual Communion prayers that are in the missal as that helps with the sadness and slight emptiness I feel at not receiving communion.

These are such strange times, so getting used to the new normal on something that is so ingrained is very thought-provoking and a little challenging.

One other thing is that instead of singing happy birthday twice when I wash my hands, I've timed that an Our Father and a Hail Mary cover about 28 seconds - a great way to add some extra praying into one's day!'

Watch Masses at St John's Cathedral in Norwich on YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UC1L1vHKBeZgiaUf6hUxbT0A