News
Pope to give extraordinary global blessing March 27
At a time "when humanity trembles" during the coronavirus pandemic, Pope Francis will give an extraordinary blessing "urbi et orbi" at 6 p.m. Rome time (1 p.m. Eastern) March 27.
Vatican issues decree for Holy Week liturgies with pandemic restrictions
The Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments offered guidelines for private Masses, to be televised, in its "Decree in the Time of COVID-19" for this year only.
As public Masses cease, faithful move devotions online
With public Masses suspended in parishes due to the coronavirus, Catholics throughout the Archdiocese of Philadelphia are using digital tools such as livestreamed video to sustain their faith.
Praying remotely doesn’t mean we’re distanced from Christ
Catholics in the Philadelphia Archdiocese are starting their day with prayer together without venturing into a church, thanks to one city parish.
Ministries getting food, diapers to families during pandemic
Staff at archdiocesan social service agencies are seeing a "100% increase" in demand and a ripple effect of needs due to the coronavirus. See our list of 23 food cupboards in the region and their hours of operation.
Unity of Mass comes to Spanish-speaking Catholics at home
For 11 years in Philadelphia the Misa Televisada has been broadcast in Spanish on Univision, but a proposed fee hike placed the Mass in jeopardy. But it remains on the air because it truly is a public service.
If you can’t go to confession, take your sorrow to God, pope says
Pope Francis invited people who cannot find a priest to speak directly with the Father, tell him the truth, make an act of contrition and "draw near to God's forgiveness. Think about it. This is the moment."
Vatican says general absolution may be OK in pandemic
With the severe limits on people leaving their homes during the coronavirus pandemic, forgiveness of sins may be granted to the faithful without them personally confessing their sins first, the Vatican said.
No Mass, no offertory: Church collections take a hit
Parishes cannot function long without receiving revenue from parishioners. Dioceses that assess parishes a percentage of offertory income also would feel the pinch, as would planned national collections for church ministries.
Across Europe, shrines close in coronavirus fight
In Poland, France, Spain, Austria, Bosnia and Germany, Catholics are praying from home as priests and religious mounted "a great prayer to end" COVID-19.