Sacraments Archives

Conference equips pastoral leaders as parishes begin to reopen
- May 26, 2020
As questions swirl around plans to resume public liturgies, hundreds of ministry professionals tasked with implementing those plans gathered online for two weeks of dialogue and training on mission and the sacramental life.

By Nick Mayrand
Masses in Italy are a go, but other sacraments still suffer restrictions
- May 20, 2020
While Catholics in Italy are enthusiastic about finally being able to attend Mass after a two months hiatus due to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, there are several other areas of ecclesial life that are still on hold.

By Elise Ann Allen
In Italy, possible dates floated for gradual return to liturgical life
- Apr 30, 2020
In Italy potential dates for restarting public liturgies have emerged, however, they are not set in stone, and a recent moment of tension between the Italian bishops and the government that Pope Francis intervened in has left many wondering just how unified the Vatican and the bishops’ approach to the coronavirus is.

By Elise Ann Allen

Milan church official says faithful want the Mass ‘before yesterday’

Apr 28, 2020

One day after the Italian Prime Minister declined to offer a date for restarting public Masses in his “phase 2” plan for lifting of the country’s COVID-19 coronavirus restrictions, with some advisers saying it might not happen until the end of the month, one church official in Milan said faithful want Mass now.

Italian bishops make proposal to government for restarting liturgical life

Apr 17, 2020

Father Ivan Maffeis, spokesman for the Italian bishops’ conference, has said officials Friday met with representatives of the Italian Interior Ministry to discuss the gradual return to a normal
sacramental life, with specific regard to Mass and funerals, though no date has been projected.