The Role of Online Mass in Catholic Worship: Digital Media as a Temporary Liturgical Adaptation During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

This study aims to explore the role of Online Mass, broadcast through the YouTube channel @KomisiKomsosKeuskupanBandung, in sustaining Catholic spiritual life during the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, the research examines how Catholics engage with Online Mass and how digital media serves as a temporary adaptation to the disruption of in-person worship. The study uses a qualitative approach, employing content analysis of selected Online Mass videos and audience engagement metrics such as views and likes. Additionally, the research analyses the themes presented in the homilies and audience interactions in the comment sections to understand the spiritual experience of the faithful during the pandemic. The findings reveal that Online Mass was widely accepted as a legitimate and meaningful form of worship, despite the absence of physical sacramental participation. While the faithful embraced Online Mass as a temporary solution, they recognised its limitations, especially regarding the Eucharist. The study also highlights how YouTube serves as a new public religious space, enabling communal participation in worship despite physical absence, and offering an innovative way to maintain liturgical engagement in a crisis context. This research contributes to the field of digital religion by exploring how digital media mediates religious practice and community, specifically in the context of Catholic liturgy. It offers insights into how digital platforms facilitate spiritual participation and reveals the tension between digital mediation and traditional sacramental theology. The study's originality lies in its focus on digital audience engagement and the hybrid nature of religious participation in the digital age, offering new perspectives on how the Church can adapt to technological changes while maintaining theological integrity.