Bright Spots: Helping hands
Le Moyne College’s chemistry department donated several boxes of unopened nitrile gloves to St. Joseph’s Hospital. The department also hopes to donate goggles. Because the college has transitioned to online instruction for the rest of the semester, the chemistry...
Bright Spots: Father goes bald for a cause
Father Chris Ballard, pastor of Our Lady of Hope Church in Syracuse, shaved his head live on Facebook and Instagram March 29, making good on a fundraiser promise. Father Ballard “braved the shave” after raising more than $4,000 in donations for the St. Baldrick’s...
Bright Spots: A message to all people
St. Patrick-St. Anthony Parish in Chadwicks has adorned its front doors with a word of encouragement. (Photo courtesy Kathy Poupart) In the midst of this time of darkness, there have been many spots of bright light. Here are just a few. Share yours with the...
Virtual Masses a balm for viewers near and far
By Tom Maguire | Associate editor In a time of pandemic, virtual Masses are enjoying an unbounded viewership. “We’ve had people … who have reached out to us from California, Minnesota, Boston, Florida, New York City, Kansas, Texas,” said Father John D. Manno, pastor...
Sewing machines keep sisters’ ministry humming
Congregation making masks, communicating with outside world Submitted by Sister Mary Rose Noonan, CSJ In light of the serious and escalating nature of the COVID-19 pandemic and to keep their most vulnerable sisters as healthy as possible, St. Joseph’s Provincial...
Hundreds view Day 1 of bishop’s Lenten mission
The hour-long program featured comments by the bishop, Eucharistic Adoration, singing by musician Jeremy Bobak, and a reflection by national Catholic speaker Chris Padgett.
Investors urge corporations to act prudently as financial crisis looms
By Catholic News Service NEW YORK (CNS) — Dozens of institutional investors, including Catholic religious congregations, labor unions, public pensions and faith-based asset management firms, called on companies to support workers through policies to prevent...
Guest voice: Saying goodbye in the time of COVID-19
Helen L. Picciano did not die of the coronavirus, but the protocols put in place because of the disease did have an impact on her final days on earth.
Pope calls for heartfelt compassion for those impacted by COVID-19
By Carol Glatz | Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY (CNS) — With so much suffering associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, Pope Francis asked people to reflect on whether they were feeling real compassion and sorrow for what was happening. It is one thing to be...
Pope joins U.N. call for immediate global cease-fire
By Carol Glatz | Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Saying conflicts can never be resolved with war, Pope Francis added his support to a U.N. appeal for a global cease-fire amid the worldwide threat of the COVID-19 pandemic. “May our joint effort...
Italian government clarifies lockdown rules for churches
By Cindy Wooden | Catholic News Service ROME (CNS) — While many churches in Italy remain open, visiting a church to pray is not a valid excuse for leaving one’s home during Italy’s COVID-19 lockdown, said a note from the Ministry for Internal...
Across Europe, churches offer empty facilities to help fight COVID-19
By Catholic News Service ROME (CNS) — In addition to expanding shelters for the homeless during Italy’s COVID-19 lockdown, Catholic dioceses and parishes are offering rooms to medical personnel exhausted by long hours at work or who will not go home to...
Priority on economy over people may lead to ‘viral genocide,’ pope warns
By Junno Arocho Esteves | Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Countries fighting the coronavirus pandemic could face deadly consequences if they focus on protecting their economies more than their own people, Pope Francis said. In a handwritten letter...
Archbishop Coakley, CRS welcome $2.2 trillion in federal COVID-19 relief
Citing provisions of the $2.2 trillion federal relief package that will aid poor and vulnerable people as well as workers, Archbishop Paul S. Coakley of Oklahoma City thanked Congress and President Donald Trump for putting the law in place.
Papal academy says solidarity among ethical responses needed in pandemic
By Carol Glatz | Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The COVID-19 pandemic has caught entire communities and nations off guard, and the best way to tackle this global crisis is together as a global family, the Pontifical Academy for Life said. “An...
Diocese to offer livestreamed Lenten mission
Bishop Douglas J. Lucia and the Diocese of Syracuse will present a three-day Lenten mission March 31-April 2, livestreaming from the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception at 3 p.m. each day.
Vatican confirms pope does not have COVID-19
Neither Pope Francis nor any of his closest collaborators have the COVID-19 virus, said Matteo Bruni, director of the Vatican press office.
COVID-19 is not God’s judgment, but a call to live differently, pope says
Pope Francis offered his meditation on the meaning of the COVID-19 pandemic and its implications for humanity March 27 before raising a monstrance with the Blessed Sacrament and giving an extraordinary blessing “urbi et orbi” (to the city and the world).
Guest voice: Being Catholic in a time of trouble
Our present moment is not the first time that God’s people have suffered through a difficult and dangerous era, and it won’t be the last.
Vatican releases pope’s pandemic-influenced plan for Holy Week, Easter
By Junno Arocho Esteves | Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY (CNS) — With public gatherings, including Masses, banned in Italy to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, the Vatican published an updated version of Pope Francis’ schedule for Holy Week and...
Pope thanks those who help, pray for vulnerable during pandemic
By Junno Arocho Esteves | Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis expressed his gratitude to the many men and women who have been inspired to help the poor and accompany the sick and the elderly during the coronavirus pandemic. “These days,...
Catholic entities expect to receive aid under emergency relief bill
By Dennis Sadowski | Catholic News Service CLEVELAND (CNS) — Catholic hospitals, parish schools and charitable agencies are among the entities hoping to receive partial relief under a massive $2.2 trillion emergency aid package unanimously approved by the Senate...
Tennessee priest brings Mass to homebound students from school parking lot
By Andy Telli | Catholic News Service HENDERSONVILLE, Tenn. (CNS) — Under blue skies and a canopy of blossoming cherry trees in the parking lot of Pope John Paul II High School in Hendersonville, Father Andrew Forsythe set up his portable altar and cameras to...
During pandemic, priests work to bridge distance between deceased, family
By Carol Glatz | Catholic News Service ROME (CNS) — When Father Mario Carminati went to bless the remains of one of his parishioners, he called the deceased man’s daughter on WhatsApp so they could pray together. “One of his daughters is in Turin and...
Coronavirus may produce misery beyond disease to migrants, home countries
By Rhina Guidos | Catholic News Service WASHINGTON (CNS) — Lack of jobs and economic disparity in Central America were already driving large numbers of migrants north before the coronavirus became a household word. And now those who long have worked with...
Older Catholics reflect on pandemic’s effect on faith life, how they cope
By Ed Langlois Catholic News Service PORTLAND, Ore. (CNS) — Early in the coronavirus pandemic, even before Archbishop Alexander K. Sample of Portland canceled public Masses, the advice came that Catholics 60 and older should stay away from liturgies. Their age...
Guam archbishop urges perseverance amid pandemic
By Catholic News Service HAGATNA, Guam (CNS) — Archbishop Michael J. Byrnes of Agana urged people in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic to persevere in kindness. In a video message posted March 26 on the Facebook page of the archdiocesan newspaper, Umatuna Si...
On Annunciation, dozens of bishops dedicate their nations to Mary
By Catholic News Service Church leaders around the world used the feast of the Annunciation March 25 to entrust their nations to Mary and Jesus. Catholic leaders from 24 states sought divine help in ending the COVID-19 pandemic by consecrating their countries to Jesus...
Zubik: Take all precautions amid virus but also seek Mary’s intercession
By Catholic News Service PITTSBURGH (CNS) — As the coronavirus touches everyone’s life “with uncertainty, confusion, fear and suffering,” Pittsburgh Bishop David A. Zubik urged Catholics to “to reflect on a hope-filled definition of the...
