The archbishop of Wellington Cardinal John Dew said consideration must be given to the Covid-19 level 4 regulations when practising pastoral care. He said there is a need to be pastorally close to the sick person and their family but not risk further virus transmission. “The regulations around movement are to absolutely minimise the possibility Read more
The number of staff and students at Auckland’s Marist College who have tested positive for coronavirus has risen to 11. Stephen Dallow, Marist Girls College board of trustees chairman, said seven of the cases were teachers, including the school’s principal, Raechelle Taulu, while the other four were students. “We believe we will have more cases tomorrow and ask Read more
There are few times stranger to start cohabiting with one’s partner than the week before a citywide lockdown. Less than two weeks after I moved the majority of my things across New York City, I found myself occupying a new, though by now not unfamiliar, apartment. Thanks to the restrictions of the lockdown, the geography Read more
We are entering truly unprecedented times for people of faith. Churches, synagogues, and mosques around the world have suspended regular worship services for an indefinite period of time. This coming weekend may represent the fewest people engaging in corporate worship in the last two millennia. This is uncharted waters for those in church leadership. Many Read more
Last summer I underwent radiation treatment. And every time I passed through the doorway marked “Radiation Oncology,” my heart seemed to skip a beat. While I was in little danger (my tumour was benign, and, yes, one sometimes needs radiation for that), I daily met people who were close to death. Every weekday for six Read more
If a priest is wearing a mask and standing three or six feet away from a penitent requesting the sacrament of reconciliation, is he really more present to a penitent he knows than he would be by telephone? Maybe, but maybe not, said Father Giorgio Giovanelli, a professor of canon law at Rome’s Pontifical Lateran Read more
Pope Francis said he has “hope in humanity” during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. In an interview for a television programme this week, Francis was asked if he was “optimistic” in face of the pandemic. He replied, “that’s a word I don’t like, because optimism to me, I’m not saying it is, to me sounds like Read more
Conservative cardinal, Raymond Burke, has published a letter on his website saying access to Mass and the sacraments should be available even during the coronavirus pandemic lockdown. “In considering what is needed to live, we must not forget that our first consideration is our relationship with God,” Burke wrote. “That is why it is essential Read more
Pope Francis, along with Orthodox, Anglican and Protestant church leaders and Christians throughout the world joined in simultaneous prayer on Wednesday to ask God to stop the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The Church of England also asked Anglicans to join Archbishop Justin Welby of Canterbury in praying with Francis, tweeting: “Please join us wherever you are. Read more
Reports of a dying priest giving the respirator donated by his parish to a younger patient are not true, the secretary general of his diocese, Fr. Giulio Dellavite, says. While Fr. Giuseppe Berardelli (pictured) is remembered fondly by those who knew him as a man of kindness and self-sacrifice, he did not do this. “There Read more