The latest news regarding the coronavirus pandemic can be found below. This list will be updated as more stories are posted to our website.
Diocese of Rochester
Video: Stations of the Cross with Bishop Matano (March 27)
Video: Rosary with Bishop Salvatore R. Matano (March 25)
Video: Fourth Sunday of Lent Mass with Bishop Matano (March 22)
Bishop grants dispensation from Lenten meat abstinence (March 21)
Coronavirus affects studies of Diocese of Rochester seminarians (March 20)
Diocese makes temporary changes in reception of sacraments (March 17)
Letter: Diocese makes temporary changes in reception of sacraments (March 17)
Masses in Rochester Diocese suspended due to COVID-19 concerns (March 16)
Diocese of Rochester suspends all public Masses (March 16)
List of parishes with live streams available (March 13)
Diocese, parishes, schools attempt to stem coronavirus spread (March 12)
Diocese of Rochester releases coronavirus precautions (March 12)
Sisters of St. Joseph Motherhouse is closed to all visitors until future notice; Mass, Adoration & Compline will only be available for the residents of the motherhouse.
Local Catholic Schools
Bishop addresses Catholic-school families in wake of closures (March 19)
Rochester-area Catholic schools close over coronavirus concerns (March 14)
Parishes
List of parish activities postponed or cancelled in attempt to stem coronavirus spread
National Stories
Parish, diocesan, national collections take a hit with no Masses (March 19)
Catholic University of America’s president tests positive for coronavirus (March 19)
National shrine closes following recommended coronavirus precautions (March 17)
Masses on TV, social media provide alternatives to closed church doors (March 17)
Catholic nursing homes respond to coronavirus restrictions (March 17)
Amid pandemic, half of U.S. seminarians in Rome returned home (March 16)
New Rochelle, N.Y., parish on edge of containment area (March 13)
Coronavirus prompts Catholic school closings in New York, Brooklyn (March 13)
USCCB president offers reflection, prayer in this time of the coronavirus‚Äã (March 13)
Big St. Patrick’s Day parades canceled this year amid coronavirus fears (March 12)
Coronavirus leads to Mass suspension in Seattle, dispensation in Kentucky (March 12)
U.S. Catholic colleges adapt to online format during coronavirus (March 12)
Diocese of Dallas: Make prayer part of your hand-washing to fight virus (March 12)
Some Catholic universities cancel public classes amid virus threat (March 10)
U.S. diocese adopt plans to limit spread of coronavirus (March 5)
Coronavirus prompts some Catholic colleges to halt international programs (March 3)
International Stories
Pope prays for people in financial difficulty because of pandemic (March 23)
Vatican says general absolution may be permissible during pandemic (March 20)
Pope: If you can’t go to confession, take your sorrow directly to God (March 20)
Vatican issues decree for Holy Week liturgies with pandemic restrictions (March 20)
Pope Francis urging Catholics to pray the rosary together (March 19)
Vatican official: Easter at home is an ‘opportunity for faith’ (March 18)
Pope: Pandemic can be time to rediscover love, kindness (March 18)
Pope prays for coronavirus victims, workers who died serving others (March 18)
Public Mass ban in Italy leads to new focus on ‘spiritual Communion’ (March 16)
Italian priests, religious women are among victims of COVID-19 (March 16)
Pope prays for clergy, public service employees working during lockdown (March 16)
Pope prays family relationships thrive while stuck at home (March 16)
Pope makes mini-pilgrimage outside Vatican to pray for end of pandemic (March 16)
Vatican says public will not be admitted to papal Holy Week liturgies (March 15)
Lebanon grapples with coronavirus (March 11)
Pope entrusts world threatened by coronavirus pandemic to Mary (March 11)
Catholic News Service’s Rome Bureau adapts to working in a lockdown (March 11)
Vatican closes St. Peter’s Square, Basilica to tourists through April 3 (March 10)
Dublin cancels St. Patrick’s parade after advice from health officials (March 9)
Vatican closes museums, beefs up measures to stop virus spread (March 9)
Public Masses suspended in Italy as coronavirus continues to spread (March 9)
Pope prays for coronavirus victims at live broadcast of morning Mass (March 9)
Person tests positive for coronavirus in Vatican City (March 6)
Bethlehem holy sites to be closed after coronavirus reported at hotel (March 5)
As the coronavirus spreads, Catholic entitites take precautions (March 4)
Pope has been diagnosed with cold; symptoms unrelated to coronavirus (March 4)
Lourdes shrine closes healing pools as precaution against coronavirus (March 2)
China temporarily closes places of worship in effort to contain coronavirus (Feb. 25)
Holy Land sites remain open despite coronavirus concerns (Feb. 24)
Northern Italian dioceses take drastic measures against coronavirus (Feb. 24)
CRS health official keeps close eye on coronavirus (Feb. 14)
Philippine bishops issue directives to prevent coronavirus outbreak (Feb. 11)
Vatican donates masks to China to combat coronavirus outbreak (Feb. 3)
As coronavirus spreads, churches outside China take preventive measures (Jan. 28)
Coronavirus causes China churches to suspend activities (Jan. 23)
