L
ife in the 21
st
Century has
challenged us to new visions
of shared reality. Over the last
few weeks, Palmer Trinity School has
carefully, quickly, and thoughtfully
adapted to the new creation of
learning online.
Thus, the Chaplaincy has also joined
in the transition to provide Virtual
Chapels. The first Virtual Easter and
Passover Chapel included a message
from Chaplain Mary Ellen Cassini,
music from Mr. Micah Whitley, a
meaningful message from Head of
School Patrick Roberts and a final,
thoughtful message from Bishop
Peter Eaton.
The community response was
excellent. The variety of speakers
and musical additions created a
presentation that was well-received.
Continuing on with the Annual
celebration of Earth Week, which
includes our beloved Blessing of the
Animals in honor of Saint Francis of
Assissi and Saint Claire, Director of
Sustainability Dr. Leo Llinas joined
Chaplain Cassini and Alesia Lopez-
Pulido '20 to present a chapel focused
on loving Creation and each other.
Joining science and religion as two,
connecting aspects of the human
experience proved to provide harmony.
Finally, the Chaplaincy welcomed back
a former Palmer Trinity educator, Dr.
Zahra Jamal, now Associate Director
of the Bonuik Institute on Religious
Tolerance at Rice University, to explain
and share a story about the Holy
Month of Ramadan for Muslims.
Although we are not together as a
school physically, we continue to
celebrate God, support one another,
treasure Creation, and feed each
other's spirit through technology. The
Chaplaincy enthusiastically embraces
this new way of sharing ethics, virtues,
performances, and experiences as a
community of learning and growing.
Instead of worrying
about what you
cannot control, shift
your energy to what
you can create."
ROY T. BENNETT,
THE LIGHT IN THE HEART
Virtual
Chapels:
Spiritual
Life in Times
of Pandemic
By Mary Ellen Cassini, Chaplain
palmertrinity.org
14
PERSPECTIVES
