#PrayWithMe: Connect online with your faith community

This week, millions of Canadians will celebrate Passover and Easter. And in the coming weeks, many more will observe Ramadan. This year, these important religious holidays will feel very different, as faith organizations all over the world look for new ways to celebrate safely in order to reduce the spread of COVID-19 within their communities.

During these difficult times, it’s important for us to continue to connect with each other and feel part of our wider communities, even from home.

While some faith organizations have used digital tools to connect with their congregations for many years, this year’s broadly mandated orders to stay home will make it essential for communities, families and individuals to find new ways of coming together, online.

The shift has already begun. Since the start of March, the combined subscribers of all Vatican News channels has more than doubled.

To assist faith organizations everywhere who are new to online services, YouTube has brought together helpful information to get started with live streaming. Please visit our Playlist and Help Centre for best practices, or check out instructions for hosting a live stream event either from a mobile device or desktop.

For those who are marking Passover this week, synagogues are offering many ways to share and celebrate online. Beth Torah Congregation, based in Toronto, is live streaming seders and festival services throughout the week, as is Shaarey Dezek Synagogue in Winnipeg and the City of David Messianic Synagogue, also in Toronto.

For those celebrating Good Friday and Easter, churches are hosting live streams for their local congregations, including The Archdiocese of Toronto from St. Michael’s Cathedral Basilica, The Anglican Church of Canada, St. George’s Anglican Church in St. Catharine’s, St. Mary’s Church in Brampton, St. Mary & St. Joseph Coptic Orthodox Church in Richmond Hill, Saint-Joseph Centre in Saint-Césaire, Quebec and more. The Vatican will live stream all of its Holy Week services from St. Peter’s Basilica, including Easter Sunday mass at 11AM CET.

Renowned opera singer Andrea Bocelli will perform live at 7PM CET on Sunday, April 12 from Milan’s historic Duomo Cathedral, available exclusively on YouTube. The concert entitled, “Music For Hope,” will represent a message of love, healing and hope to Italy and the world. The Duomo, currently closed, will open its doors exceptionally for Andrea Bocelli who will be accompanied only by the cathedral organist, Emanuele Vianelli, playing one of world’s largest pipe organs.

Wishing faith communities across Canada safe and healthy holidays.