Seize the Moment: That Time the Apostles Were Quarantined
The apostles were once under a mandated quarantine. It’s true. You can read all about it in the first two chapters of the Book of Acts. After Jesus rose from the dead, he appeared to the Apostles over a period of 40 days. Then, he ordered them to stay in …
Archbishop Dennis M. Schnurr Sends Letter to Alter High School Family
Dear Members of the Archbishop Alter High School Family, Recently a decision was made to not renew the annual contract of a long-time and highly valued teacher at Archbishop Alter High School. This development has naturally precipitated a great outpouring of sadness and anger, as this teacher was very obviously …
Mary Garden of Mercy: Growing in Purpose
by Rebecca Sontag The first known garden to be officially dedicated to the Virgin Mary bore little resemblance to the idea of the “Mary Garden” we know today. It was not filled with purely ornamental flowers, decorative topiaries and manicured nooks punctuated here and there with lovely statuary. This particular …
Question of Faith: What is Spiritual Communion?
Q: Since public Masses have been canceled, a friend encouraged me to practice “spiritual communion.” I wasn’t sure what that meant. Can you explain? A. The practice of “spiritual communion,” as a means of drawing close to Jesus even when we cannot receive the Eucharist, has deep roots in the …
A Prayer for Workers on the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker
O glorious Joseph! Who concealed your incomparable and regal dignity of custodian of Jesus and of the Virgin Mary under the humble appearance of a craftsman and provided for them with your work, protect with loving power your sons, especially entrusted to you. You know their anxieties and sufferings, because …
NY archdiocese prays for repose of attempted arsonist after suicide
by Perry West Denver Newsroom, Apr 30, 2020 / 06:32 pm MT (CNA).- The Archdiocese of New York has offered prayer for the repose of the soul of Marc Lamparello, who committed suicide earlier this month. Lamparello had tried to enter St. Patrick’s Cathedral in April 2019 with four gallons …
Italian churches prepare to resume funerals after eight-week ban
by Courtney Mares Rome Newsroom, Apr 30, 2020 / 11:45 am MT (CNA).- After eight weeks without funerals, Italian families will be able finally to gather together to mourn and pray at funeral Masses for the victims of the coronavirus starting May 4. In Milan, the largest city in Italy’s …
Let states defund Planned Parenthood, Congressmen tell Supreme Court
CNA Staff, Apr 30, 2020 / 09:30 am MT (CNA).- More than 130 members of Congress are asking the Supreme Court to allow states to defund Planned Parenthood. In an amicus brief filed at the Supreme Court on Wednesday, 108 representatives and 29 senators argued that states should have the …
Experts offer a path to reopening churches, and the sacraments
CNA Staff, Apr 30, 2020 / 04:00 pm MT (CNA).- As more Catholic dioceses begin to resume public Masses during the coronavirus pandemic, a group of theologians and medical experts has provided guidance for doing so as safely as possible. “With proper safeguards to prevent infection, and integrating the scientific …
Whom Shall I Send, and Who Will Go For Us? Catholic Social Services Provides Health Transportation to Seniors
by Mark Danis Mahatma Gandhi said, “A nation’s greatness is measured by how it treats its weakest members.” The onslaught of the coronavirus has exposed the frighteningly fragile support structure for a vulnerable segment of our society: the elderly. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) reports the highest percentage of …
