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Catholic News Agency
Archbishop Gomez urges prayer, support for those affected by winter storm

CNA Staff, Feb 19, 2021 / 11:25 am MT (CNA).- Archbishop Jose Gomez of Los Angeles on Friday encouraged prayer and support for those affected by a major winter storm across the southern US. “I join my brother bishops in praying for all those who have died and been injured …
George Weigel explores ‘vocation’ by elegizing historic figures

CNA Staff, Feb 18, 2021 / 03:19 pm MT (CNA).- George Weigel this month released a book collecting remembrances of a range of historical figures, with the goal of exploring “what it means to live a worthy life.” Not Forgotten: Elegies For, and Reminiscences Of, a Diverse Cast of Characters, …
Pope Francis gives Roman Curia 17th-century text as Lenten reading

by Courtney Mares Vatican City, Feb 19, 2021 / 05:00 am MT (CNA).- Pope Francis has given each member of the Roman Curia a book to include in their spiritual reading for their Lenten retreat this year. The book was written by an unnamed Cistercian monk in the 17th century …
Texas Catholics press through winter storm to help neighbors

by Jonah McKeown Denver Newsroom, Feb 18, 2021 / 12:26 am MT (CNA).- Amid a winter storm that brought freezing temperatures and widespread power outages to much of Texas, Catholics are stepping up to help their neighbors even while dealing with their own shortages of electricity and water. Unseasonably cold …
Holy Week 2021: Vatican issues guidelines for Catholics amid ongoing COVID-19 restrictions

by Courtney Mares Vatican City, Feb 17, 2021 / 07:00 am MT (CNA).- The Vatican Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments issued guidelines on Wednesday for the celebration of Holy Week this year in light of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. In the note signed Feb. 17 …
Pope Francis on Ash Wednesday: Lent is a journey from slavery to freedom

by Hannah Brockhaus Vatican City, Feb 17, 2021 / 03:15 am MT (CNA).- The 40 days of Lent are an opportunity to turn from the slavery of sin to the freedom found in reconciliation with God, Pope Francis said on Ash Wednesday. “The journey of Lent is an exodus from …
Ash Wednesday 2021: Vatican offers guidance on ash distribution amid COVID-19 pandemic

by Hannah Brockhaus Vatican City, Jan 12, 2021 / 09:00 am MT (CNA).- The Vatican gave guidance Tuesday about how priests can distribute ashes on Ash Wednesday amid the coronavirus pandemic. The Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments published a note Jan. 12, directing priests to …
Iraqi government imposes COVID restrictions weeks before papal visit

by Courtney Mares Rome Newsroom, Feb 15, 2021 / 06:30 am MT (CNA).- The Iraqi government has announced new COVID-19 restrictions, including the closure of all places of worship, less than three weeks before Pope Francis’ scheduled trip to Iraq. On Feb. 14 the health ministry of Iraq wrote that …
Pope Francis names Texas priest an auxiliary bishop of San Antonio

by Hannah Brockhaus Vatican City, Feb 15, 2021 / 05:30 am MT (CNA).- Pope Francis on Monday named Fr. Gary W. Janak, a canon lawyer and licensed counselor, an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of San Antonio, Texas. Bishop-elect Janak, 58, is vicar general and chancellor of the Diocese of …
How these seminarians in New Orleans plan to celebrate Mardi Gras

CNA Newsroom · Ep. 91: Mardi Gras (and all that jazz) by Kate Olivera Denver Newsroom, Feb 14, 2021 / 02:00 am MT (CNA).- Mardi Gras in New Orleans has been canceled only a handful of times, including during World War I and II, and the Spanish flu pandemic in …