An Italian priest is one of the millions of people currently locked-down due to the coronavirus pandemic. He is also one of the many who are still trying to bring a sense of normality in these uncertain and scary times. As we are not able to leave our homes, except to shop or go to Read more
“Anybody who is not an essential worker but tries to go to work during the alert level four lockdown, is “literally putting people at risk”, says Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. Toby Morris’ dynamic graphic, posted on Spinoff demonstrates how one person’s action can have an outsized impact. On Twitter, Toby Manhire says the dynamic graph Read more
A person who lives in the same Vatican residence as Pope Francis has tested positive for coronavirus and is being treated in an Italian hospital, the Rome newspaper Il Messaggero reported on Wednesday. The Vatican had no immediate comment on the report. Francis, who has cancelled public appearances and is conducting his general audiences via Read more
The Vatican daily newspaper L’Osservatore Romano, which Pope Francis has jokingly called “the party newspaper”, suspended printing for only the third time in nearly 160 years on Wednesday due to the coronavirus. The paper, which was founded in 1861, will continue publishing online and most of its staff of about 60, including 20 journalists, will Read more
A Catholic priest in Kerala has been arrested for violating the Covid-19 advisory against conducting Holy Mass in which more than 100 people attended. Fr. Pauly Padayatti, vicar of Nithya Sahaya Matha (Mother of Perpetual Help) church at Koodapuzha near Chalakudy in Thrissur district has been arrested by the police. Despite the strict restrictions of Read more
A 95-year-old grandmother has become the oldest person in Italy to recover from the coronavirus. Alma Clara Corsini has been able to return home after beating the potentially fatal virus, which has so far claimed 5,500 lives and infected nearly 60,000 people in Italy. She was admitted to a hospital near Modena in the north Read more
An essential part of finding fulfilment in our lives is the ability to share them with others. As social beings, we crave connections with friends and family and thrive with social interactions in our weeks. For some of us, that may just being able to say good morning to our co-workers each day, and for Read more
“Instead of watching Mass on the computer, why don’t we read from the Bible together?” That’s how our eight-year old daughter reacted last Sunday when we gathered to watch the celebration of Mass at home, where we’ve been self-quarantined since last week. From the mouths of babes… Our daughter is used to seeing me as Read more
With the coronavirus forcing church closures and limiting access to sacraments, the Catholic Church has dusted off some old practices that perhaps had fallen into disuse, while also availing itself of new means of ensuring faithful can access the essentials. With increasing numbers of people confined at home with no access to Mass or confession, Read more
In response to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, Pope Francis said he will give an extraordinary blessing “urbi et orbi”. time March 27. “This Friday, March 27 at 6 p.m., I will preside over a moment of prayer outside of St. Peter’s Basilica with the square empty.” In addition to announcing the special blessing, Pope Francis Read more