News
While people stay home, pope calls for help for homeless
As governments have issued shelter-in-place orders to curb the spread of the coronavirus, Pope Francis asked people to pray for and assist those who are homeless, and offered a reflection on the cross.
Pandemic fosters creativity as dioceses move through Lent into Holy Week
As Catholics dutifully sit at home, doing their part to protect people from COVID-19, the Holy Spirit has been inspiring creative ways to minister and pray together around the U.S.
Sisters’ work during 1918 flu seen as model for crisis today
Throughout the U.S., thousands of women religious put others before themselves and tended the sick and dying, especially in Philadelphia, as nurses and caretakers for affected families.
Brooklyn priest who died from COVID-19 called ‘great missionary among us’
Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio of Brooklyn March 28 announced the death of 49-year-old Father Jorge Ortiz-Garay, who is thought to be the first U.S. priest to die from COVID-19.
Join in the Lenten virtual retreat this week
Watch, listen and pray in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia's “The Power of Faith and Hope in a Time of Uncertainty: A Virtual Lenten Retreat" featuring a video presentation every evening at 7 p.m.
Pope joins U.N. call for immediate global cease-fire
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.
Archbishop Perez invites all to online Lenten retreat
A slate of local priests, religious and lay leaders will offer a six-night series of videos offering reflections and prayers next week starting at 7 p.m. Monday, March 30.
Leaders cheer $2 trillion in federal COVID-19 relief
Archbishop Paul Coakley, head of the U.S. bishops' social justice committee, welcomed the aid package that will help vulnerable people and workers as the economy has ground to a halt.
Pope offers Mass for those living in fear of pandemic
In his daily Mass, Pope Francis prayed for "people who cannot cope, who remain frightened by this pandemic. May the Lord help them to stand up, to react for the good of all society and the entire community."
Across Europe, churches offer empty facilities to help fight COVID-19
The church truly is becoming a "field hospital" during the pandemic as Catholic dioceses and parishes expand homeless shelters, offer rooms to medical personnel and create makeshift morgues.