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As the pandemic upended everything, churches, schools and organizations had to quickly find ways to adapt, including livestreaming Masses and teaching on video platforms, outdoor worship, drive-thru confessions and a return to socially distanced in-person Masses.

Advent is a time of anticipation. We wait, marking the passage of time with our Advent candles, counting the days. Drawing closer to Bethlehem. This year has felt more Lent than Advent, but it has been a time of waiting, a year of mandated patience.

Mary's Immaculate Conception offers a glimpse to the promised life for all Christians who open their hearts to God and his grace, Pope Francis said.

Marking the 150th anniversary of St. Joseph being declared patron of the universal church, Pope Francis proclaimed a yearlong celebration dedicated to the foster father of Jesus.

With the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe closed for her feast to prevent the spread of COVID-19, Pope Francis said Catholics still can receive a plenary indulgence Dec. 11 and 12 for their Marian devotion if they follow certain conditions.

The "gravity" of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and "the lack of availability of alternative vaccines," are "sufficiently serious" reasons to accept the Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna vaccines, the chairmen of the U.S. bishops' doctrine and pro-life committees said Dec. 14.

Joy should be the hallmark of a Christian's life, a reflection of knowing that one is loved by God, saved by Jesus Christ and committed to leading others to him, Pope Francis said.

The days leading up to Christmas are a great time to prepare ourselves mentally and spiritually to celebrate the coming of our Lord. However, for many of us this time can be difficult when our world seems almost unrecognizable from just a year ago. We may be anxious, lonely, distressed or discouraged. How do we deal with these feelings, during a time when the Lord is inviting us to joyous anticipation of Christmas?

Admittedly not a big fan of needles and injections, Miami Archbishop Wenski winced as he became among the first South Floridians and possibly the first U.S. bishop to receive a COVID-19 vaccination.

Especially in a year when the COVID-19 pandemic will rule out many people's favorite Christmas traditions, they have a right to express their dislike of the decidedly untraditional Nativity scene on display in the center of St. Peter's Square, said a priest who specializes in catechesis through art.