By Jonah McKeown Washington D.C., Mar 21, 2020 / 04:07 pm (CNA).- A Franciscan friar is the first person known to have died as a result of coronavirus (COVID-19) in the District of Columbia. Br. John-Sebastian Laird-Hammond, OFM, was hospitalized with the virus last week, and died Friday, the Washington …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Paul Haring By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) — While conferences and meetings can be postponed for months because of the coronavirus pandemic, the liturgies of Holy Week and Easter cannot, with the exception of the chrism Mass, said the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments. "By …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Melissa Moon, Detroit Catholic By Dennis Sadowski CLEVELAND (CNS) — With kids at home because schools are closed and online education on tap for at least several weeks, parents are wondering how to ensure that learning continues. For Catholic home-schooling families though, having kids learn at home is …

By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) — In places particularly hard hit by the coronavirus pandemic and with severe limits on people leaving their homes, conditions may exist to grant general absolution to the faithful without them personally confessing their sins first, the Vatican said. The Apostolic Penitentiary, a Vatican …

IMAGE: REUTERS By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) — People who cannot get to confession because of the coronavirus lockdown or another serious reason can go to God directly, be specific about their sins, request pardon and experience God’s loving forgiveness, Pope Francis said. "This is the right time, the …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Gregory A. Shemitz By Mark Pattison WASHINGTON (CNS) — One byproduct of canceled Masses is no offertory collection. And a byproduct of no offertory collection is puncture wounds in the budgets of parishes, dioceses and national collections. "It’s a big hit, and it’s gonna hurt," said Patrick Markey, …

IMAGE: CNS/screen grab By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) — In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, the daily lives and routines of millions of people have been turned upside down, Pope Francis said, but they must help each other stay firm in faith. In a video message released March …

IMAGE: CNS photo/courtesy Sabat family By Judith Sudilovsky JERUSALEM (CNS) — Communal church life is an integral part of family life for George and Randa Sabat and their four children, but with a strictly enforced lockdown on the city and the two neighboring towns of Beit Jala and Beit Sahour, …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Rhina Guidos By Dennis Sadowski CLEVELAND (CNS) — Social distancing and sheltering in place doesn’t have to mean total isolation for people of faith accustomed to advocating for peace and justice concerns. Prayer, keeping in touch with friends and colleagues through online technology and digital communication, and creativity …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Zoey Maraist, Arlington Herald By Carol Zimmermann WASHINGTON (CNS) — This Lent is one for the record books. Parish fish fries, prayer services, Stations of the Cross, and daily and Sunday Masses are all canceled, and some dioceses have already announced they will not have services during Holy …