Masses canceled in Manila as COVID surges (UCANews.com) A Manila bishop has canceled all Masses and liturgical celebrations in 44 parishes involving 1.4 million churchgoers following an “alarming” and “sustained” increase of Covid-19 cases in the Philippines. Bishop Honesto Ongtioco of Cubao said most cases were in capital Manila where businesses have resumed operations…

Report: Benedict has ‘painful, not serious condition,’ is recovering  (CNN) Former Pope Benedict is recovering from a “painful but not serious condition,” the Vatican has said, following reports in a German newspaper claiming he was very ill with shingles. “The health condition of the Pope Emeritus is not cause for particular concern, except for the fact that he is 93 years old and recovering from the acute phase of a painful but not serious condition,” the Vatican press office said, citing Benedict’s private secretary, Archbishop Georg Gänswein, in a statement to CNN…

Louisiana deacon removed from ministry over abuse allegation (WWL) A deacon at St. Francis Xavier Church in Metairie has been removed from his position after the Archdiocese of New Orleans was made aware of claims of abuse against the man, WWL-TV reports. Archbishop Gregory Aymond removed Deacon V. M. Wheeler based on the claims of abuse that happened two decades ago, prior to Wheeler becoming a deacon. According to the report, the allegation was made this week…

Notre Dame organ undergoes major cleaning (AP) Pipe by precious pipe, the organ that once thundered through Notre Dame Cathedral is being taken apart after last year’s devastating fire. The mammoth task of dismantling, cleaning and re-assembling France’s largest musical instrument started Monday and is expected to last nearly four years…

Catholic meditation app sees spike in popularity (CNS) When the developers of the Catholic meditation app Hallow launched it in 2018, they hoped to attract young Catholics, but what is now the country’s No. 1 Catholic app has a bigger reach than that…