Filipino Chaplains’ Shift to Online Ministry: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study on Evolving Church Communication

Abstract

Using a transcendental phenomenology approach, six Filipino chaplains in Italy were interviewed as to their lived experiences in: (1) their shift to online ministry, (2) the response of the faithful to this shift, and (3) their sense of fulfilment during this shift. The shift to online ministry was viewed as part of the evolution of Church communication. Church ministry has always involved close contact with the people. The shift to online ministry has, to some extent, brought such contact even closer. This reflects the ongoing evolution in Church communication, from the limited oral and written means at the beginning, to systematic manual copying of Bibles and other early manuscripts, to printing, stage presentations, radio, TV, cinema and to the current use of Information and Communications Technology (ICT). This evolution was accelerated by lockdown measures brought about by Covid-19. ICT use is seen not as a replacement but rather a complement to face to face communication. Results of this study also suggest that as the migrants, chaplains, Government and Church engage in dialogue with each other, the virus itself as the object of the experience, creates the reality of the phenomenon. Communication does not only convey reality, but creates it. The virus communicated fear to everyone, creating a pandemic reality. The people responded to the virus through the lockdown, stringent policies, safety protocols, constant communication with each other and the shift to online ministry. The study revealed that in response to the shift the migrants, in coordination with their chaplains, spontaneously created online groups for prayers, formation, updating, and reaching out to those in need, whether they were Catholics or not. Chaplains suffered the same stress as others but needed to keep strong to continue to accompany and serve the migrants in line with their ministry. Part of their fulfillment as chaplains was being able to reach more people despite the pandemic using ICT, a practice that continued even after the lockdown. Understanding these chaplains’ experiences would help other chaplains in their own shift to online ministry. Standard operating procedures could be designed to encourage and facilitate such shift among other chaplains as needed. Data can eventually be organized into information and new lived knowledge to enhance chaplains’ ministry. This study also recommends further exploration into the transcendental phenomenological method as applied in the field of Church communications, specifically in the ministry of the clergy.