Liturgy in Online Gatherings: Revisiting Perspectives from Sacramental Theology and Ecclesiology

Liturgy in Online Gatherings: Revisiting Perspectives from Sacramental Theology and Ecclesiology

IP Pui Shum

In response to the global pandemic of COVID-19, churches have employed information technology to conduct religious activities online, including prayer meetings, group fellowship, worship services, and even the administration of sacraments. Drawing from recent literature and insights from authors with diverse denominational backgrounds and from the Roman Catholic circle, this article revisits concepts and practices related to liturgy in online gatherings. While the transmission of worship services or Masses through radio and television broadcasts is not novel and has not caused significant controversy in the past, the unique characteristics of online gatherings gatherings have directly influenced the manner liturgy is performed and participated in. Given that liturgy encapsulates to some extent the essence of faith, the liturgical adjustments induced by online gatherings necessitate cautious consideration. The article explores various aspects, including the phenomenology of participation in the liturgy, the proper discharge of pastoral duties, the validity of “online sacraments,” the equivalence of “online sacraments” to their traditional counterparts, and the mutual shaping of liturgical practices and among participants.