Despite the go-ahead to begin celebrating Mass on June 12, Ontario dioceses continue to take a cautious approach to re-opening churches.
Speaking Out: Morality suffers in pandemic, too
During this time, people are rightly concerned with the dangers of COVID-19. However, there is another problem that has arisen during this confusing time.
Ontario churches given green light
Ontario churches can resume celebrating public Masses after the provincial government lifted the blanket ban on services.
B.C. back to class … but not normal
VANCOUVER -- Catholic students joined their public school counterparts across B.C. June 1 in heading back to school for the first time since their extended spring break.
BEIJING -- Catholics are upset about a directive from China's communist government asking priests to "preach on patriotism" as a condition for reopening liturgical services, suspended earlier this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Is the closure of churches and the suspension of the public celebration of Holy Mass a religious liberty issue?
Speaking Out: Sacramentality needs to return
On May 14, Ontario Premier Doug Ford unveiled the first phase of the province’s cautious re-opening strategy. Approved businesses received the green light to resume operations if in compliance with the safety protocols advised by public health.
‘Normal’ church-going a year away … or longer
It could be a year or longer before churches in Canada can begin welcoming large numbers of worshippers, said a member of the country’s Special Advisory Committee on COVID-19.
Churches battle hunger in new COVID epicentre
LIMA, Peru -- Diego Ramirez, a single father in a rural village in southern Guatemala, worked in a restaurant and kept a chicken farm, selling the birds in a market to support his three daughters.
Our spiritual journey in Easter comes to an end with the celebration of Pentecost Sunday (May 31). Just as most Canadians celebrated the Solemnity of the Resurrection in the absence of our parish communities, most of us are also going to celebrate Pentecost without gathering face-to-face as a community.
Summer camps another COVID casualty
Discussions on how Camp Vincent would operate as this year of pandemic turned into summer became a moot point once the province of Ontario took the decision out of operators’ hands.
The new seminary this Fall
Canada’s seminaries have survived the spring onslaught of COVID-19, but they’re looking across the wide expanse of summer holidays and wondering what the future holds.
VIENNA -- As people spent more time online during the coronavirus lockdown, negative remarks and even the incitement of hatred based on national, cultural or religious identity increased, a Vatican representative said.
‘Just Recovery’ looking past the pandemic
OTTAWA -- More than 150 organizations, including Catholic and other religious groups, have united to support six “Principles for a Just Recovery” which they hope will influence what Canada will look like after COVID-19.
Vatican Museums, archive, library prepare to reopen
VATICAN CITY -- The Vatican Museums, Vatican Apostolic Archives and Vatican Library will reopen June 1, almost three months after being closed as part of the lockdown to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.