Costa Rica priest sings public health message (AP) A Roman Catholic priest better known for his outreach to the poor is winning new fans with his catchy public health-focused lyrics set to a popular 1990s salsa tune as Costa Rica experiences its worst moment of the COVID-19 pandemic. For the past two Sundays, Sergio Valverde has performed his song and choreographed dance at the front of Cristo Rey church south of San Jose. His aim is getting people to wear protective masks and continue being careful…
Catholic doctor weighs in on COVID vaccines for children (CNS) Dr. Paul Cieslak, a senior health adviser for the Oregon Health Authority’s COVID-19 response and a member of St. Rose Parish in Portland, said it’s not clear how long immunity lasts after a vaccination or after an infection or what new strains will emerge. If it becomes impossible to reach herd immunity because either immunity does not last or the virus mutates, the disease probably will become endemic, Cieslak said. That is, it would continue to circulate in pockets of the world but not cause the illnesses and deaths of the past year. It would be more like the measles or the flu…
Parishes around the world mark Blessed Carlo Acutis’ birthday (CNA) Catholic parishes across Italy and as far away as the Philippines celebrated what would have been the 30th birthday of Blessed Carlo Acutis on Monday. Acutis, who was born on May 3, 1991, became the first millennial to be beatified by Catholic Church in October 2020. The live stream of his beatification Mass in Assisi went viral, with hundreds of thousands of people watching online…
German parishes to include same-sex couples in blessing services (America) “Love wins” – that is the name of the initiative in which Catholic chaplains in parishes across Germany plan to invite people to “blessing services for lovers” on and around May 10. It was launched in Hamburg at the weekend. The campaign’s website said the aim was to celebrate “the diversity of people’s different life plans and love stories” and to ask for God’s blessing…
Mother’s Day retreat designed for women coping with infertility (Catholic Philly) An online retreat this coming weekend will offer support to women for whom Mother’s Day is a painful reminder of childlessness. Springs in the Desert, a Catholic ministry dedicated to assisting couples affected by infertility, will host “Belonging: Springs of Hope,” a mix of live events and pre-recorded talks from May 7 to 9…
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