What kind of presence? The issue of presence of the people in a Live Streaming Eucharist in the Diocese Bandung, Indonesia

ABSTRACT

A survey-based quantitative research project in the Catholic Diocese of Bandung, Indonesia during the Covid-19 pandemic and its subsequent lockdown is presented in this article. The Diocese instigated a temporary online Live Streaming Eucharist and researchers surveyed 771 respondents about their participation and experience. The data collected raises a specific and particular question about what it means for Catholic Christians to be present at a Eucharist – both online, virtually and offline, in person. This article elaborates not only on the question of real or virtual participation but also on the presence of the people as a communion: how they are present. The importance of active participation, how people dress, how people give money and how they choose which online worship all need to be accounted for when developing a nuanced understanding of presence at the Eucharist.

KEYWORDS:

• Covid-19
• Indonesia
• Eucharist
• presence
• community

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1 In response to the statement of UNO, that the Coronavirus Disease is a global pandemic, the Indonesian government closed all the Airports in Indonesia on 16th of March 2020, affirmed by the government’s Decision, dated 13th of April 2020, Keputusan Presiden Republik Indonesia Nomor 12 tahun 2020 tentang Penetapan Bencana Nonalam Penyebaran Corona Virus Disease 2019 (Covid-19) sebagai Bencana Nasional.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Leonardus Samosir

Leonardus Samosir is a Lecturer in the Catholic University Parahyangan, Bandung, Indonesia; now the Dean of the Faculty of Philosophy at the same university; a priest and member of the Order of the Holy Cross (OSC).