NEWS

MEXICO CITY (CNS) — The Latin American bishops’ council announced plans to perform an act of consecration of Latin America and the Caribbean to Our Lady of Guadalupe on Easter, “asking her for health and an end to the pandemic.”

VALLA BEACH, Australia (CNS) — Cardinal George Pell has been released from prison after 405 days behind bars after the seven judges of the High Court of Australia unanimously overturned the original December 2018 jury verdict that found him guilty on five counts of molesting two 13-year-old choirboys in 1996.

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — While countries have enforced social distancing measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, Pope Francis warned of serious consequences if the same measures aren’t applied to overcrowded prisons.

With the suspension of public Masses throughout the Diocese of Phoenix, the Church has more “adoring” fans now than ever. With faithful unable to receive Holy Communion, one pastor brought Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament to their homes.

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — With a small procession down the vast and empty central nave of St. Peter’s Basilica, Pope Francis began the first of a series of Holy Week liturgies celebrated without the presence of the faithful from the general public.

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — On the Friday before Holy Week, Pope Francis asked people to keep a long tradition of Catholic piety by focusing on “the suffering and sorrows of Our Lady.”

Just because Masses have been suspended throughout the Diocese of Phoenix due to the coronavirus pandemic doesn’t mean the faithful are being left without ways to continue to grow spiritually this Lent.

Back 1964 when the Second Vatican Council promulgated Lumen Gentium and described the family as a domestic church, no one envisioned the COVID-19 crisis and just how crucial the nurturing of faith in the home would be.

He prays especially for those suffering and for all the families whose lives have been upset in this difficult time.

WASHINGTON — Archbishop José H. Gomez of Los Angeles, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, has invited U.S. Catholics to join him on Good Friday, April 10, to pray the Litany of the Sacred Heart at noon (EDT), 9 a.m. (Arizona Time).