The pope was addressing leaders of the young adult section of Italian Catholic Action, a parish-based programme of faith-building and social outreach.

The parish is "the normal environment where we learned to hear the Gospel, to know the Lord Jesus, to serve with gratuitousness, to pray in community, to share projects and initiatives, to feel part of God's holy people," Francis explained to the group.

Francis told the thousands of young people in attendance that he knows that in most cities and towns, the parish church is not the centre of religious and social life as it was when he was growing up. But "for our journey of faith and growth, the parish experience was and is important, irreplaceable."

The pope said, the parish is the place to experience how "in the church we are all brothers and sisters through baptism; that we are all protagonists and responsible; that we have different gifts that are all for the good of the community; that life is vocation, following Jesus; and that faith is a gift to be given, a gift to witness."

Pope Francis also invited those present to take an interest in social issues. He regrets that interest in changing the world has diminished in today's younger generations due to individualistic thinking.

The Pope also urged participants not to reduce faith to only religious meetings because faith must also include a personal encounter with God.

"There is no longer the desire to have meetings, debates, assemblies...In one way, it's a good thing, even for you. Catholic Action doesn't have to be a Catholic "Session", and the Church doesn't move forward with meetings!"

"Fraternity in the church is founded on Christ, on his presence in us and among us," the pope said. "Thanks to him we welcome each other, bear with each other — Christian love is built on bearing with each other — and forgive each other."

Sources

Crux Now

Rome Reports

For others, and for a possible range of reasons, the local parish is no longer spiritually nourishing.

One woman, Betty Ann Asaro, and has become a remote parishioner at Saint Cecilia Church in Boston, Massachusetts, probably now for about a year.

She admits being a remote parishioner is not the ideal, but by taking responsibility for her spiritual life, growth and development, she is in some way being spiritually nourished, unlike she was previously.

When COVID began, Asaro was not a registered parishioner in any Catholic church. She attended a church that was near where she happened to be.

It wasn't that she didn't want to register into a parish.

It was she could not find a parish where she felt there was community.

Asaro tells her story.

"So when I was introduced to the liturgy, which was live-streamed at St Cecilia, I can't tell you what it did to me.

"It's like my whole world opened up, and I knew that I wanted to continue to participate in this live-stream liturgy every Sunday.

"Last September, and October, St Cecilia's was looking for volunteers.

"They could be remote. And I'm like, Wow. And they wanted people to volunteer to assist them with the live-stream liturgy. Didn't know how, but I wrote an email. I want to be a part of that Sunday," said Asaro.

"So as soon as the Mass begins and the opening song occurs, the online chat starts.

"It's simultaneous with Mass!

"Once in a while, someone will say, Oh, so happy to see you, Annette, who says she was 'blown away' by the experience.

"I don't think they realize the depth of the little seeds of connection that people are feeling," she said.

Asaro says she's ok most of the times getting through the liturgy, but admits she has a problem when it comes to Holy Communion.

She says she wants to receive Holy Communion but relises she is not able to.

Asaro says that instead of receiving Communion she prays fervently, but admits it is not the same.

However, because she wants to receive Holy Communion and be nourished sacramentally Asaro, on occasions, attends a weekday Mass.

She says live-streaming Mass is something she's not totally comfortable with, but is something she has to live with.

"To be connected to Saint Cecilia (live-stream) means that I am able to go there and be supported in my faith. To live my day with hope."

Asaro knows that St Cecilia is not the only church in the United States or in the world that has this community, and while not physically present, it is a community that nourishes her and that people now have a choice.