It took a lot for Michael Maratta to get down on one knee to propose to his girlfriend Amanda Ferrandino at Liberty State Park on Feb. 5. In fact, it took three tries before he was finally able to present his sweetheart with a custom-made engagement ring.
COVID-19
Shoppers Still Missing Century 21 in Bay Ridge
The Century 21 Department Store on 86th Street closed its doors in December 2020, and more than a year later, the massive retail space on one of Brooklyn’s busiest shopping strips remains an empty shell — a symbol of the lingering effect the COVID-19 pandemic on the city’s businesses.
Catholic School Officials Offer Guidance on Changing Mask Policies
As regulations differ across the country about face mask requirements in schools, some Catholic diocesan school officials have stepped in to provide guidance for faculty, parents and students.
After Quarantine for COVID-19, Cardinal Gregory Is ‘Back at Work’ and ‘Doing Fine’
Resuming his public ministry following a period of quarantine after testing positive for COVID-19 Dec. 31, Washington Cardinal Wilton D. Gregory in an interview said he was doing well and happy to be back at work.
Vatican Mandates COVID-19 Vaccines or Recovery for Employees, Most Visitors
The Vatican has updated its rules to stem the spread of COVID-19 and will require all its employees to be vaccinated against the virus or prove they have recently recovered from the disease.
Philippine Bishop: Hoarding Medicine During Pandemic Hurts the Poor
A Catholic bishop in the Philippines has warned people against bulk buying and hoarding medicines like acetaminophen and cough syrup to alleviate COVID-19 symptoms.
Pandemic Calls for ‘Significant Effort’ by International Community Including Vaccination Campaigns, Pope Says
The COVID-19 pandemic calls for an urgent reality check against baseless information and for increased efforts so everyone has access to vaccines, medicines and diagnostic tools, Pope Francis told diplomats from around the world.
Annual March for Life Still on This Year in Washington
The 49th annual national March for Life — with a rally on the National Mall and march to the Supreme Court Jan. 21 — will go on as scheduled this year amid a surge in the omicron variant in the nation’s capital.
Boston College Health Director Sees ‘Optimistic Scenario’ With Omicron
Philip J. Landrigan strongly supports COVID-19 vaccine mandates. As the director of the Boston College Global Public Health Program, it’s his medical perspective on how to keep hospitalizations and death rates down even if cases climb. It’s his theological perspective, too, as a teacher at a Jesuit university.
No Lockdown of Churches, Bishop Brennan Says
As fears about the Omicron coronavirus variant continue to rise in New York City, Bishop Robert Brennan is seeking to alleviate Catholics’ worries that churches in the Diocese of Brooklyn might be locked down.