Due to the pandemic, some common safety accommodations have included removing hymnals from pews, forgoing choirs and wind instruments, and discouraging congregational singing which will alter the liturgical music experience at Christmas.
Pandemic causes shift in liturgical music expectations for Christmas
After shipwreck, bishops denounce treatment of Venezuelan refugees
After a boat carrying refugees was allegedly denied entry into Trinidad and Tobago and subsequently shipwrecked, Venezuelan bishops said the treatment of migrants fleeing the country constitutes a serious human rights violation.
Pope’s pandemic year in review: Prayer, online meetings, hopes for change
Lockdowns, livestreamed Masses, video messages and even something akin to Zoom meetings became a regular part of Pope Francis’ 2020, just like for millions of people around the world.
Vatican aims for eco-friendly, on-demand publishing with new press
After more than 400 years of printing for popes, the Vatican typography shop has acquired a digital press to help reduce production waste, be more energy efficient and allow for on-demand publishing to avoid print overruns.
Doctrine committee sets standards for evaluating, improving church hymns
The U.S. bishops’ doctrine committee, in a forthcoming report, suggests guidelines for bishops in evaluating hymn lyrics and for selecting hymnals being considered for use in churches.
Pandemic seen as chance for church ‘to innovate’ ways to engage young adults
There was a recurring theme during a Dec. 7-11 young adult ministry conference: Zoom encounters were adequate in the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, but they quickly became a poor substitute for in-person ministry and worship.
Vaticano ofrecerá vacuna de Pfizer contra COVID-19 a empleados
El departamento de salud del Vaticano empezará a vacunar a los empleados y ciudadanos del Vaticano contra el COVID-19 con la vacuna de Pfizer –dijo el director de la Dirección de Salud e Higiene del Vaticano a Vatican News.
Extreme heat, wildfires, storms marked advance of climate change in 2020
Extreme global temperatures, wildfires and hurricanes continued to plague the planet during 2020, prompting U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to appeal to the world to end its “war on nature.”