Nicaraguan officials stop church program to prevent COVID-19
By David Agren Catholic News Service MEXICO CITY (CNS) — Health officials in Nicaragua have stopped a church program to prevent COVID-19 in the Central American country, where the government has downplayed the pandemic’s potential impact and encouraged the...U.S. seminarians from Rome have parish placements during pandemic
By Cindy Wooden | Catholic News Service ROME (CNS) — The U.S. seminarians who were studying at Rome’s Pontifical North American College have or are about to complete their 14-day quarantine at home and will be getting very unusual pastoral experience in...On Palm Sunday during pandemic, faithful urged to ‘lift the veil by letting the love of the cross be seen in us’
Catholics began the holiest week of the Christian year today with shuttered churches as the coronavirus pandemic continues to ravage the world. Instead of parades and processions with palms symbolizing Jesus’ triumphant entrance into Jerusalem, Catholics marked Palm Sunday at home, praying alone or watching Mass on TV or online.
Archdiocese to livestream display Shroud of Turin on Holy Saturday
On Holy Saturday, April 11, as Christians contemplate Jesus lying in the tomb, Archbishop Cesare Nosiglia will lead a liturgy of prayer and contemplation before the shroud at 5 p.m. local time (11 a.m. EDT).
Pope on Palm Sunday: Life, measured by love, is meant to serve others
“Life is a gift we receive only when we give ourselves away, and our deepest joy comes from saying yes to love, without ifs and buts. As Jesus did for us,” Pope Francis said.
USCCB president calls for national moment of prayer on Good Friday
“This opportunity to pray together during the coronavirus pandemic offers a special moment of unity for the faithful during a time when communities throughout the United States and worldwide are physically unable to congregate for Holy Week and Easter because of COVID-19,” said a USCCB news release.
Maintain routine, stay connected and rely on prayer, counselor advises
By Michael Horne | Catholic News Service ARLINGTON, Va. (CNS) — With the rapid changes brought on by COVID-19, there is an incredible level of stress for everyone in the country. We have worries about our families, our work, finances and loved ones living in...It will be a palmless Sunday at most U.S. parishes
By Mark Pattison | Catholic News Service WASHINGTON (CNS) — Don’t expect any palms this Passion Sunday. And distribution of palms later in the year might not happen, either, according to Rita Thiron, executive director of the Federation of Diocesan...Seitz: ‘Let us ask our Savior to help us, to walk with us’ in these times
By Catholic News Service This is one of a series of pastoral and personal reflections on living in this time of pandemic. Bishop Mark J. Seitz of El Paso, Texas, writes this reflection titled “Who’s in charge here anyway?” for Catholic News Service....School nurses, crafters donate masks to medical professionals in need
By Zoey Maraist | Catholic News Service ARLINGTON, Va. (CNS) — Something extremely valuable was left behind in the nurses’ offices of shuttered Virginia schools: personal protective equipment such as masks, gloves, gowns and hand sanitizer. Bernadette...Pope moves Good Friday collection for Holy Land to September
By Junno Arocho Esteves | Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY (CNS) — With Holy Week celebrations closed to the public due to the coronavirus pandemic, Pope Francis postponed the traditional Good Friday collection for the Holy Land to September. The Vatican...Coronavirus draws prayers to saints who cared for plague victims
By Carol Zimmermann | Catholic News Service WASHINGTON (CNS) — Saints can get a bad rap because sometimes people assume they lived in deep piety removed from the burdens of everyday life. But a quick look at the saints known for their ministry to the poor and...Pope encourages Catholics to contemplate ‘seven sorrows’ of Mary
By Cindy Wooden | Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY (CNS) — On the Friday before Holy Week, Pope Francis asked people to keep a long tradition of Catholic piety by focusing on “the suffering and sorrows of Our Lady.” “Honor Our Lady and say,...Lenten Mission Day 3: Seeking the healing power of Jesus
Even in this time of silence, with self-isolation, Father Christopher Celentano advised the faithful to “invite the Lord to be there with you.”
Vatican approves special ‘Mass in the Time of Pandemic’
By Cindy Wooden | Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments has approved a special “Mass in the Time of Pandemic” to plead for God’s mercy and gift of strength in the midst of the...Vermont high school students create virtual Spirit Week to promote unity
By Cori Fugere Urban | Catholic News Service BURLINGTON, Vt. (CNS) — A Vermont Catholic high school student and two of her hometown friends are showing school spirit during mandatory school closings because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Sydney Adreon, 15, a freshman...Pandemic adds increasing burdens on immigrants without legal status
By Rhina Guidos | Catholic News Service WASHINGTON (CNS) — From a darkened room, the immigrant spoke in mid-March via Skype to a reporter from the TV station Guatevision, which focuses on issues pertaining to Guatemalans in and outside of the country. He told...Amid COVID-19 pandemic, pope prays for homeless, cites newspaper photo
By Junno Arocho Esteves | Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY (CNS) — During his livestreamed daily morning Mass, Pope Francis prayed that the coronavirus pandemic may awaken people’s consciences to the plight of homeless men and women suffering in the...Ghana archbishop: Africans in solidarity with cardinal who has COVID-19
By Damian Avevor | Catholic News Service ACCRA, Ghana (CNS) — Archbishop John Bonaventure Kwofie assured Burkina Faso Cardinal Philippe Ouedraogo of the continent’s solidarity after the cardinal tested positive for COVID-19. Cardinal Ouedraogo is president...Wave of cancellations hits Catholic conferences and conventions
By Mark Pattison Catholic News Service WASHINGTON (CNS) — Is this what they mean by “cancel culture”? “The Church Today” conference at Villanova University — canceled. The Archdiocese of Atlanta’s eucharistic congress —...Friar urges focus on gratitude, penance on Day 2 of Lenten mission
Reconciliation, Franciscan Friar Rick Riccioli said, “is our return to God’s loving arms. … God looks at you with great tenderness, and all is forgiven.”
Amid coronavirus sacrifices, some bishops allow Friday meat in Lent
By Carol Zimmermann | Catholic News Service WASHINGTON (CNS) — In the U.S., this Lent started out with some people discussing if it was acceptable to eat plant-based burgers on Fridays in Lent. But fast forward a few weeks and that discussion is very dated as...Stranded migrants, lack of food: in Indian lockdown, poor suffer
By Michael Sainsbury | Catholic News Service The three-week COVID-19 lockdown of India’s 1.37 billion people has stranded millions of domestic migrant workers and left people scrambling for food and other basics amid the ensuing harsh and often violent crackdown...Pope offers Mass for those living in fear of pandemic
By Junno Arocho Esteves | Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis offered his daily morning Mass for those who find themselves living in fear of the coronavirus pandemic sweeping the world. “Let us pray today for the many people who cannot...As COVID-19 cases increase, Kenyans flee cities, seeking safety
By Fredrick Nzwili | Catholic News Service NAIROBI, Kenya (CNS) — As the coronavirus cases rise in Kenya, many city residents are fleeing to their rural homes, despite a warning from clerics and government officials. Weeks after COVID-19 was first reported,...Dr. Fauci is dedicated to public service, formed at Jesuit high school
By Peter Feuerherd | Catholic News Service Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, has emerged for many as the voice of reason and integrity as the nation confronts the novel coronavirus pandemic. Much of that he...Pandemic fosters creativity as dioceses move toward Holy Week
By Marnie McAllister | Catholic News Service LOUISVILLE, Ky. (CNS) — As Catholics dutifully sit at home, doing their part to protect vulnerable people from COVID-19, the Holy Spirit has been busy inspiring creative ways to minister in the Archdiocese of...‘The Paschal Mystery in all its starkness and glory’: Holy Week celebrations curtailed to prevent disease spread
The coronavirus pandemic will require far-ranging sacrifices for the Church this Holy Week and Easter. Bishop Douglas J. Lucia is urging Catholics in the Syracuse Diocese to see the unusual circumstances as a way to deepen their faith.
How to stay mentally healthy during coronavirus crisis
The last three weeks have spurred a whirlwind of dramatic changes as the United States responds to the coronavirus pandemic. And that’s stressing out a lot of people.