b'For Father Brandon, the day was a time of grace.PHOTO: ROBIN JERSTADIt focused my attention on what is essentialnot a bigMass or banquet, but ordination for service, especiallyat a time when Gods people are suffering. Father Mike recalls being drawn in by the liturgysintimacy. I remember how vivid everything was, hesays. Every ritual was magnified, and that made iteasy for me to get into the moment. Still more blessingsflowed afterward, he notes, because a livestream of theMass reached about a thousand viewersincludingmany of his non-Catholic friends. That provided awonderful opportunity for a lot of discussions after-ward, he says.Grace upon graceRecognizing that difficult times call for different methods,Father Brandon started a podcast series to help himconnect with people during the pandemic. (Most dailyepisodes run about five minutes; see website below.) Funerals account for a significant part of FatherBrandons ministry these days, including a Mass saidfor a parishioner his own age who succumbed to thevirus. Its been sobering to accompany people in theirgrief, he says, and yet a blessing to preach that Jesuslived, died, rose and draws us into an everlasting lifeFather Brandon Paluch, SM with Marianist Brothers from around the world, with him.hearing what life is like for them, how the Marianist For his part, Father Mike finds ministry to studentsFamily is involvedit was an amazing experience. to be particularly energizing. Kids share with me, andThen the global pandemic set in and everyday I appreciate their openness, he says. After class routines ground to a halt, not just for the seminary retreats, they tell me you make Confession not scary.community, but for virtually everyone in the Eternal Or when Im saying Mass, I make it a point to includeCity. I did not leave the house for 80 days, Father young people in a way that interests them. One Brandon recalls.unexpected revelation in his ministry: He finds agenuine hunger for catechesis, in young and old alike.Silver linings abound People want to engage in their faith, he says.It didnt take long for an unexpected spiritual gift to At times, tending to that hunger can be demanding.blossom in the house: Two distinct Marianist commu- But heres what resonates most profoundly for thenities started to function like one. Sure, you couldnt newly ordained priests: Its a joy and a blessing, go anywhere, but we had the Eucharist every day, Father Brandon says. As a Marianist, Im deeplyFather Brandon says. We were aware that others were grateful to experience Gods goodness and ourbeing deprived of the sacraments, so we became very Blessed Mothers goodnessand to learn and intentional about praying for them. It was also special be stretched in order to be a better servant for theto be able to celebrate Holy Week and Triduum as a brothers and the Church.community, rather than disperse to different parishes.Upon returning to the United States, Fathers Mike John Schroeder is a freelance writer from St. Louis.and Brandon found that COVID also sent ripplesthrough their ordination preparations. With safety akey consideration, they trimmed their guest lists, To listen to Father Brandonsand ultimately, about 50 people attended what podcast series, visit: https://might normally have attracted a capacity crowd at tinyurl.com/yvphuqo8.Our Lady of the Pillar Church. But this, too, theycame to see as a blessing.20 Call 1.800.348.4732'