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 coronavirus pandemic.
Catholic Church
States Doing Best to Calm ‘Mass’ Hysteria
Catholic bishops across the United States have banned public Masses and opted for a virtual celebration of the sacraments as the nation continues to be roiled from the COVID-19 pandemic, but throughout the country, governors are issuing mixed guidelines on policies for houses of worship.
New Poll Shows Catholics Have More Favorable Opinion of Church Than Last Year
While Catholics in the U.S. continue to grapple with fallout stemming from the clergy abuse scandals, new polling suggests that Catholics have a higher opinion of the Church than they did this time last year.
In John XXIII’s Hometown, Six Priests Have Died From the Coronavirus
At the heart of the European coronavirus crisis in northern Italy’s city of Bergamo, six Catholic priests have died during the past week from the disease and, as of Sunday, over 20 priests were hospitalized.
As Italy’s Coronavirus Fears Spike, All Public Masses Suspended Until April 3
On Sunday evening the Italian bishops’ conference announced the suspension of all public Masses and liturgical celebrations until April 3 amid growing fears surrounding the coronavirus outbreak, after the Italian government ordered the closure of all cinemas, museums and theaters.
Director: Church Leaders Find It Easier to Praise Dorothy Day in ‘Historical Lens’
Dorothy Day was once considered by the FBI as a “dangerous American,” but the Catholic Church may one day soon declare her to be a saint.
Public Masses Canceled in Hong Kong as Fears Over Coronavirus Swell
Responding to a government appeal for citizens to stay home in a bid to contain the spread of the coronavirus, the administrator of the Hong Kong diocese has suspended public Masses until the end of the month, including the Ash Wednesday service marking the beginning of the Lenten season.
Archbishop Chaput Says Successor Is ‘Exactly the Man Our Church Needs’
Proclaiming his successor as “exactly the man our church needs,” Archbishop Charles J. Chaput introduced Bishop Nelson J. Perez, whom Pope Francis named as the next archbishop of Philadelphia, at a Jan. 23 news conference in Philadelphia.
Police Still Looking for Perp in Church MS-13 Graffiti
Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in Bayside and its parish school were vandalized on Saturday evening, Jan. 11 by someone who spray painted the name of MS-13, an international street gang, by the main entrances of both the school and church, according to the church’s Facebook page.
Puerto Rico Reels Under Successive Earthquakes; Catholic Church Damaged
At least one person has died and one Catholic Church was destroyed by the latest of a series of earthquakes to rock Puerto Rico.