Individuals and families in parishes across the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis are springing into action in new ways to respond to people’s needs in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.

“We’re always looking for new ways to do something we’ve done all along,” said MaryCarol Wolf, pastoral ministry associate at New Prague Area Catholic Community, which includes St. Wenceslaus church in New Prague, St. John the Evangelist in Union Hill and St. Scholastica in Heidelberg.

Volunteers from the parish pick up and deliver groceries and medicine by request to the elderly, homebound and disabled. They also deliver to residents of three senior living facilities in New Prague.

Now, to avoid physical contact at people’s homes, the volunteers leave supplies outside each door, ring the doorbell and leave. And they leave deliveries inside the door of each facility entrance and call to notify staff that a delivery has been made.

Scott County Human Services also asked last month for church volunteers to deliver food from a food shelf in New Prague to the needy who ask for help.

New Prague also is among parishes in the archdiocese that are calling seniors and others to help maintain communication and check on any needs as public Masses are temporarily suspended and other gatherings are discouraged. The outbound calling is taking place in such parishes as Nativity of Our Lord and St. Mark in St. Paul, St. John Neumann in Eagan, St. Edward in Bloomington and Pax Christi in Eden Prairie, St. Timothy in Blaine and St. William in Fridley.

“We loved the idea,” Wolf said of seeing outbound calling to parishioners on a Facebook site, “because it broadened what we were already trying to achieve.”

New Prague parish leaders from all church ministries were asked to become part of an outreach team that calls every home to learn how families are doing during the coronavirus outbreak.

“They learned if families had a need we could help them with, and if there is anything or anyone they would like us to pray for,” Wolf said. “We also let them know about the livestreaming of our Masses preceded by the rosary, and when the church would be open for adoration and confession.”

Parishioners are so appreciative that we are thinking of them and praying with them, Wolf said. “Some were crying on the phone as they prayed together.”

The callers plan to keep in touch with those on their list throughout the pandemic, Wolf said. “It is really bringing the church family together.”

At St. William in Fridley, parish council members, staff and volunteers ask parishioners how they are doing, if anyone in the household is sick or needs resources, if they receive parish emails and know how to stream Mass or find it on TV, said Linda Mauch-Morff, director of faith formation. “And then we pray with them,” she said.

Not all families can use Zoom or FaceTime to connect with family and friends, Mauch-Morff said. “Especially with no Masses and needing to be at home, it can be lonely and scary for some people,” she said. “It’s good just to have someone to talk to.”

A team at St. Mark in St. Paul makes calls to older parishioners to check on them and ask about any needs. Staff and other parishioners are ready and willing to help, said Joe Hermerding, parish business administrator.

Staff at St. Edward in Bloomington use technology to stay connected with parishioners, but volunteers also make phone calls to older parishioners to touch base, give information about the parish, offer to pray with them. “We also want to know which parishioners do not have access to email,” said Donna Rubio, director of community life.

“That’s what’s important to us in this time,” Rubio said. “We want to let these parishioners know they can always call the parish office, and also check on their well-being.”

Rubio encourages every baby boomer, millennial and member of generation Z to get grandparents online. “Show them how to use an iPad,” she said. “Teach them how to take FaceTime calls. Spend time with them. It is so important to connect with older people.”