Faces fill pews of St. Patrick’s, even when nearly empty
Bambi Williams, wife of deacon Frank Williams, prays alone at St. Patrick Catholic Church May 3, 2020 while surrounded by the photos of her fellow parishioners. The photos were hung as a way to make the church seem not as empty during its virtual services held during the COVID-19 pandemic. (Patrick Lantrip/Daily Memphian)
Monsignor Val Handwerker delivers a virtual sermon to the parishioners watching safely from home at St. Patrick Catholic Church May 3, 2020. (Patrick Lantrip/Daily Memphian)
Monsignor Val Handwerker gets ready before a virtual mass at St. Patrick Catholic Church May 3, 2020. (Patrick Lantrip/Daily Memphian)
Monsignor Val Handwerker talks to Lauren Ready, who has been handling the virtual mass at St. Patrick Catholic Church May 3, 2020. (Patrick Lantrip/Daily Memphian)
Brody Kuhar films Monsignor Val Handwerker during a virtual mass at St. Patrick Catholic Church May 3, 2020. (Patrick Lantrip/Daily Memphian)
Monsignor Val Handwerker blesses the Eucharist during a virtual mass at St. Patrick Catholic Church May 3, 2020. (Patrick Lantrip/Daily Memphian)
St. Patrick Catholic Church has been streaming its services on Sundays due to the suspension of public mass. But parishioners' pictures are taped to the pews while they gather apart for worship. Public Mass has been suspended until May 16 by a decree of Memphis Bishop David Talley.