Dublin’s iconic St Patrick’s Day parade has been cancelled due to fears over the spread of coronavirus. Authorities had initially insisted that the festivities – which mark St Patrick bringing Christianity to Ireland in 432 – would go ahead, but bowed to pressure from doctors and announced the cancellation. A new Cabinet subcommittee on COVID-19 Read more
Pope Francis has encouraged priests to go out and ‘meet the coronavirus sick’ as he avoids crowds amid an outbreak that has killed more than 4,000 people. The 83-year-old pontiff has come down with a cold and cancelled appearances at the Vatican to avoid interacting with worshippers during the crisis. His message came after a Read more
After Christchurch mosque shootings, Bariz and Afrasyabi decided to help 51 people in honour of the 51 people who died. They returned to Christchurch this month after spending three months in Kabul and Jalalabad equipping 51 people with the means to earn a living through their own micro-enterprises. Read more
Japanese dioceses have chosen to suspend Masses for several weeks due to the ongoing coronavirus epidemic across the country. Last week, the Archdiocese of Tokyo cancelled all public Masses for more than two weeks in order to prevent the spread of the virus — a policy in line with secular precautions being taken by the Read more
Moves are afoot to free up land at the former St Mary’s School site in Gisborne for at least 30 new houses. The board of Gisborne Holdings Ltd, which operates as Gisborne District Council’s commercial arm, have signed off a subdivision for the disused site. Read more
Ten people at a five-day megachurch gathering last month in France’s Grand Est region’s fourth largest city have contracted coronavirus. The French health ministry on Mar. 3 urged the thousands of other people who were at the Feb. 17-21 evangelical rally in the Alsatian city of Malhouse to watch for possible symptoms of COVID-19. Five Read more
A diocesan priest abducted from southern Nigeria is now free after being held in captivity for nearly three days. “I have been reliably informed that Father David Echioda has been released by his abductors. Thank you for your prayers and support during this difficult time,” said an official of the Diocese of Otukpo in a Read more
The Vatican-China deal has caused two top prelates to but heads over the legitimacy of the Vatican’s 2018 agreement with China on the appointment of bishops. One expert on Chinese affairs has stepped in insisting that the deal was not only good, but a product of more than 30 years of Vatican diplomacy. Paolo Affatato, Read more
The Vatican has for a second time rejected the appeal of a nun who was expelled from the Franciscan Clarist Congregation on “disciplinary grounds” in Kerala. Sister Lucy Kalappura has maintained that the disciplinary action against her was initiated only because she participated in a protest against rape-accused catholic Bishop Franco Mulakkal, who is facing Read more