Loneliness is the feeling of being disconnected, excluded and disengaged from others, an agonizing feeling of emptiness or desolation, a feeling that no one cares. At the same time there is the yearning to belong, a restlessness to make a satisfying relationship, to feel valued. Prior to the coronavirus pandemic, loneliness had been identified as Read more
The Catholic Church in Brazil is currently fighting both fake news and the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. During the pandemic lockdown, fake news on the internet seems to have intensified in Brazil. Much of it is directed against the Church, often by people who claim to be Catholic. One event that triggered a new wave of Read more
“An Easter of Solitude”: This is how Pope Francis, standing alone in an empty St. Peter’s Basilica, described what the holiest day of the year would look like for many Catholics as the coronavirus pandemic forced churches to close and their members to stay at home. As the pope was speaking, Mariana Scavo, 32, ate Read more
Msgr. Kevin Sullivan, executive director of archdiocesan Catholic Charities, said emergency food distribution in recent weeks was made possible thanks to the dedication of agency staffers and the generosity of agency partners. Additional food distribution projects are being planned, he said, as more New Yorkers face dire circumstances stemming from the coronavirus pandemic. “We’re grateful 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
“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
Agencies working with the homeless community are worried that people living on the street will be left behind if there is a community outbreak of Covid-19. Homeless advocacy group Gimme Shelter has estimated 40,000 or more New Zealanders are currently defined as homeless, About 5000 sleeping rough and the rest live in inadequate, temporary, or overcrowded Read more
The Mental Health Foundation has noticed increased concern about how to manage mental wellbeing since the pandemic. More people seeking advice on how to cope with stress and anxiety. The Mental Health Foundation chief executive Shaun Robinson said there had been a rise in panic and worry. “Concern and anxiety are mounting for a number Read more
Archbishop Novatus Rugambwa, the apostolic nuncio to New Zealand, has self-isolated after a recent trip to Italy. His move is in line with guidance from New Zealand authorities to help prevent the spread of coronavirus COVID-19. On 2 March the New Zeland Government recommended that people who have been in northern Italy or the Republic Read more