Necessary COVID-19 restrictions are finally cutting off the last remaining social bastion for many seniors: religious gatherings.

CIVL spoke with Allan Doerksen, an Anglican missioner at two parishes in the Fraser Valley. In the first part of a two-part interview, the discussion concentrates on how people are experiencing and grieving the loss of normalcy during the pandemic.

Doerksen explains the challenges encountered while using video conferencing platforms, such as Zoom, for worshipping and praying. He talks at length about the difficulties encountered by the church in offering consolation and support virtually to grieving family members during the bereavement process. Doerksen discusses the technological challenges many seniors face, given their limited experience with live streaming services. The importance of intact cognition and sound mental health, as prerequisites for a successful virtual connection, are also discussed in detail.

Here is CIVL's interview with Allan Doerksen: