By Kevin J. Sabo For the Independent
Easter is going to be different in Stettler this year.
Instead of church bells ringing across the community and people descending on the churches to celebrate, congregants are going to be remaining apart to celebrate on their own, thanks to the Covid-19 pandemic and the directives put in place by government.
Current restrictions in place are groups must be limited to under 15 people, and non-essential businesses have been closed. Unfortunately for many believers, that restriction is not exempted for places of worship, and churches remain closed through these times as well.
However, thanks to technology, church members are able to remain connected with their communities.
Stettler’s Freedom Christian Fellowship will be posting a live, online message, prayer and giving via their Facebook group entitled ‘Freedom Live in Stettler’.
St. Peter Lutheran Church plans to share some video and links for Easter at their web site www.stpeterstettler.ca, and the Stettler United Church has had discussion about putting up video on their website to celebrate Easter, however that has not been confirmed as of press time.
The Catholic Church has plans for getting through Easter as well.
“This year is one of an unprecedented nature,” noted Fr. Roger Niedzielski of the Christ King Catholic Church in Stettler.
“The directives that both the Vatican and the archdiocese of Edmonton have forwarded to the parishes have been to celebrate…Holy Week in a private matter.
“What I am asking my parishioners to do is join me in an act of spiritual communion during the hours I will celebrate these liturgies.”
Additionally, Edmonton’s Archbishop Smith at St. Joseph’s Basilica in Edmonton will be conducting liturgies for all the Catholic churches in the Archdiocese of Edmonton that will be accessible for online viewing at www.grandinmedia.ca/livestream.