Pope announces extraordinary ‘urbi et orbi’ blessing March 27 March 22, 2020By Cindy Wooden Filed Under: Coronavirus, Feature, News, Vatican, World News In response to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, Pope Francis said he will give an extraordinary blessing “urbi et orbi” (to the city and the world) at 6 p.m. Rome time March 27.
Vatican issues decree for Holy Week liturgies with pandemic restrictions March 21, 2020By Cindy Wooden Filed Under: Coronavirus, Feature, Lent, News, Vatican, World News “By the mandate of the supreme pontiff for the year 2020 only,” the congregation issued guidelines March 20 for celebrating the Triduum and Easter liturgies without the presence of the faithful.
Coronavirus closures slow offertory collections but not parish costs March 21, 2020By Mary K. Tilghman Filed Under: Coronavirus, Feature, Giving, Local News, News No Masses during the COVID-19 pandemic could mean several weeks without offertory collections and this has many pastors worried.
Coronavirus restrictions throw plans for weddings, funerals into disarray March 20, 2020By Tim Swift Filed Under: Coronavirus, Feature, Local News, News From weddings to baptisms to funerals, the coronavirus pandemic and the social distancing precautions that go with it have thrown solemn and celebratory Catholic services into disarray.
Archdiocese’s churches stay connected to parishioners during pandemic March 20, 2020By Mary K. Tilghman Filed Under: #IamCatholic, Coronavirus, Feature, Local News, News While archdiocesan churches are closed during the COVID-19 pandemic, pastors and staff are trying to keep in touch with their parishioners by streaming daily Mass, sending emails or posting online videos.
Stay firm in faith, seek St. Joseph’s intercession, pope says March 19, 2020By Cindy Wooden Filed Under: Coronavirus, News, Saints, Vatican, Video, World News In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, the daily lives and routines of millions of people have been turned upside down, Pope Francis said, but they must help each other stay firm in faith.
Across Europe, shrines close, following directives for fighting COVID-19 March 19, 2020By Jonathan Luxmoore Filed Under: Coronavirus, Feature, News, World News Europe’s Catholic shrines have followed directives for combating the coronavirus by tightly restricting organized events, although some pledged to stay open for Masses and pastoral care.
Westminster priest thinks outside the box as coronavirus closes the confessional March 19, 2020By Tim Swift Filed Under: Coronavirus, Feature, Local News, News Amid the current coronavirus pandemic that is keeping most people at home and 6 feet apart to prevent the spread of the virus, St. John Church in Westminster has launched a creative solution to deliver the sacrament of reconciliation. Call it curbside confession.
Pope encourages faithful to pray rosary on Feast of St. Joseph, March 19 March 19, 2020By Catholic News Service Filed Under: Coronavirus, Feature, News, World News Pope Francis urged people to join the Italian bishops’ request that Catholics pray the luminous mysteries of the rosary together March 19, the feast of St. Joseph.
Archbishop Lori addresses faithful about pandemic March 18, 2020By Archbishop William E. Lori Filed Under: #IamCatholic, Coronavirus, Feature, Local News, News I know the profound sense of hurt so many of our people are experiencing without the ability to receive our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament.
Amid coronavirus, ‘grab and go’ becomes the norm for Baltimore’s Catholic soup kitchens March 18, 2020By Paul McMullen Filed Under: Catholic Charities, Coronavirus, Feature, Local News, News, St. Vincent de Paul Baltimore Across the Archdiocese of Baltimore and throughout the United States, families and individuals rush to grocery stores to stock their pantries and refrigerators in response to the possibility that the coronavirus could have people stuck in their homes for the coming weeks, if not months. Food uncertainty, meanwhile, was already a constant consideration for those […]
Mercy fast tracks new intensive care ward amid coronavirus crisis March 18, 2020By Tim Swift Filed Under: Coronavirus, Feature, Local News, News Mercy Health Services received approval March 18 from the state of Maryland to add an additional 32-bed inpatient acute care unit to its Baltimore hospital to cope with the growing threat of the novel coronavirus pandemic.