Easter celebrations are very different this year as a result of the restrictions imposed by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. It has been weeks since churches were open to allow the public celebration of Mass.
But in the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland – and around the globe – the faithful continued to pray, observe Lent, participate in the solemn Holy Week liturgies and to celebrate the joy of Christ’s resurrection on Easter in new ways, thanks to technology. Livestreamed prayer, Mass, the rosary, Stations of the Cross and other devotions could be viewed on the diocesan website – and watched again on demand, as well as a daily livestreamed Mass. Many parishes in the diocese and beyond also offer virtual ways to stay connected spiritually.
An estimated 2,500 devices were used to watch the 9:30 a.m. livestream of the privately celebrated April 12 Easter Mass from the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in downtown Cleveland. The Mass also was broadcast live on radio station WTAM 1100 AM.
Unlike other Easters when the cathedral was packed with people, this year it was empty except for about 10 people: the priests, musicians and diocesan communications staff members operating the equipment needed to broadcast the Mass. But the emptiness didn’t detract from the beauty of the liturgy. Dozens of flowers filled the sanctuary and familiar Easter hymns echoed through the empty church as the Mass began.
Father Don Oleksiak, diocesan administrator, was the celebrant and homilist. Concelebrants were Father Dan Schlegel, vicar for clergy and religious; Father Sean Ralph, cathedral rector; Father John Manning, delegate for senior priests; and Father Arnel Lagman, cathedral parochial vicar.
In his homily, Father Oleksiak recalled how much he enjoys holiday traditions, reflecting on the Easter meals he shared with family and friends over the years.
“I can’t help but think of all the things I loved,” he said. “After Easter Mass, I looked forward to the things we’d share at the Easter meal – all those things my doctor says I shouldn’t eat,” he quipped, mentioning babka bread, kielbasa, homemade horseradish, butter molded into a lamb, lamb cake with jellybeans for the eyes and nose, poppy seed roll, potica and more.
Because of all the trappings of the holiday, we may forget what we’re really celebrating, he said.
Although empty churches, social distancing and stay-at-home orders are keeping us apart, we join together spiritually once again on Easter to focus on the real purpose of the day: “to end the fast and to celebrate the resurrection; to end the sacred fast and to rejoice in the fulfillment of God’s promise of love revealed to us through the suffering, death and glorious resurrection of our Lord, Jesus Christ,” he said.
Father Oleksiak reflected on the story of the resurrection, recalling how Mary of Magdala was the first arrive at the tomb and found it empty. She thought Jesus’ body had been stolen and told the disciples. The first apostle to arrive – John – saw the empty tomb and evidence of the resurrection, but was reluctant to disturb the scene. Peter arrived next.
“Peter is my favorite apostle,” he said, noting he is very human and “always messes up, doing the wrong thing and pushing at the limits. Just a few days ago, he denied he knew Jesus. Yet today, we see the revelation of the deep faith and love he has in the Lord,” he added.
“When John symbolically crosses the threshold of the tomb, something happens within him. Even without seeing the risen Jesus, it suddenly makes sense for him; he sees and he believes,” Father said.
However, things are different for Peter and Mary. It takes more time and experience before Peter can come to full faith, but he remains open to the possibility, he said. Mary believes when she encounters the risen Christ.
When Mary sees that Jesus’ body is missing, she is like us when our hopes and dreams are dashed, when we feel the loss of a loved one, the loss of hope and faith, when the Lord seems to have been taken away from us, Father Oleksiak said. “That can be felt today as we’re being restricted from physically being present at Mass and social distancing keeps us from being with those we love the most,” he said, adding that our patience is wearing thin and our stamina may be worn down from being in close quarters with the same people for so long.
He compared this to life at the cathedral rectory and how each of the five priests in residence is coping with the current situation.
“Father Dan is the chief cook. He surprises us every evening with a delicious meal,” he said. “And Father Sean is like the drill sergeant keen on making us aware of the need for health and exercise. He pushes Father Arnel and even has me avoiding the elevator and walking the three flights of steps to my room several times each day,” Father Oleksiak said.
But as they get to know each other better, they become aware of the gifts each has and their imperfections. “We’re learning to be kind and forgiving of each other’s imperfections,” he said.
“As we come today and celebrate the reality of this Eucharist, we reflect on the stories of the resurrection and recognize that they speak to use of the dynamics of our faith.”
Much like Mary, John and Peter, each of us has our own response to the pandemic, Father Oleksiak said. “The restrictions placed upon us reveal our need for faith. God never abandons us. He sustains us, even in the most difficult of times. He rose from the dead and leads us to the Father,” he added.
“It’s not in the tomb that we find the proof we seek. Our encounter with the risen Lord can only happen in the hidden chamber of our hearts. That’s where we meet him today -- in our searching, in our pain and in our persevering love,” Father Oleksiak said.
“May we have the courage to sing the Easter alleluia by the manner in which we live our daily lives. He is risen. He has truly been raised from the dead. Alleluia,” he said.
The Easter Mass, like the other Holy Week liturgies, can be viewed on demand on the diocesan website.
Daily Mass is livestreamed on the website at 9:30 a.m. Monday through Friday from Mater Ecclesiae Chapel in the diocesan office building. Father Oleksiak is scheduled to celebrate the April 13 Mass.