Small parish, many connections, even the streaming kind

By Anna Weaver
Hawaii Catholic Herald

At the small parish community of St. Ann in Waihee on Maui, you’re likely to know every face in the pews. Although small, the parish is also active.

If you’re a preteen or teen that attends church there you most likely do something with youth ministry.

So when COVID-19 caused Hawaii churches to shutdown temporarily and then reopen at a reduced capacity due to socially distanced seating, St. Ann’s youth minister, Kiana Cornell, knew to turn to brother and sister teen duo Branson and Janessa Cajudoy.

Branson, a high school sophomore, and Janessa, a high school senior, and their mother, Brandy, were in charge of the parish’s outdoor movie night technology, so Cornell knew they’d be able to handle setting up livestreaming between the tiny church and the parish hall where more Massgoers could sit.

“Janessa and Branson have faithfully been streaming two Masses a week ever since then,” Cornell said.

Branson handles the camera setup and shooting, and Janessa is in the parish hall making sure the video stream is up and running. She texts Branson when anything is wrong or if a camera angle needs to be changed. Mom Brandy is there to assist as needed.

Starting the weekend of Aug. 29-30, the Cajudoys will livestream the parish’s Saturday and Sunday Masses via Facebook to allow even more people to join in the liturgy at St. Ann.

Streaming two Masses means attending those two Masses each weekend, and Janessa’s found it interesting to compare the slight differences between the two liturgies. For instance, parish administrator Father Oliver Ortega’s homily varies a bit and the choirs have different styles.

Brandy Cajudoy says Branson gets thanked by several church ladies each weekend for helping with the video project.

And Janessa is glad they’ve put their tech-savviness to work for the church.

“It’s rewarding to help your parish,” Janessa said. “To know that you’re doing something to help.”

This is the first in a series on how Hawaii youth and young adults are helping their parishes during the COVID-19 pandemic.