When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, most churches were caught off guard because many people became homebound, Fr. Tony Wroblewski, pastor of St. Mary Star of the Sea Church in Duluth, said.

"Back when I was living in Brainerd, and we were planning an addition onto St. Francis Church, we made the decision to permanently install an HD camera in the Church," Wroblewski said in the church's Sept. 27 bulletin. "The goal was two-fold: To be able to have a livestream that we could broadcast anywhere in our parish complex, should we have overflowing crowds such as at Easter and Christmas, and to be able to help all those who were homebound to be able to participate in Mass in their own parish. And so, we developed a high-quality livestream. Who knew that all of us would become the homebound."

Most parishes took to Facebook Live to stream Sunday Mass. But this was a limited approach, because the picture and south quality isn't the best. 

"And once people came back for Mass, the use of microphones made things even worse," Fr. Wroblewski continued. "Bishop Peter, when he was still here in Duluth, made the decision to go with an HD system in the Cathedral similar to the one we had in Brainerd. When I came, all we had to do was implement the plan! I can now tell you that now we have begun livestreaming a quality picture and sound at the Cathedral! "

St. Mary Star of the Sea Church will be livestreaming the 5 p.m. Saturday Mass and the 10:30 a.m. Sunday Mass each week, along with a daily Mass each weekday. Other events taking place at the church will also be livestreamed, such as First Communions and Confirmations.