Catholic Provost Church of the Holy Trinity in Leipzig First state in Germany reopens churches
Saxony has become the first state in Germany to allow churches to re-open for public services. The governor of Saxony, Michael Kretschmer, announced that from last week onwards churches could hold services albeit “on a small scale”.
Mass was duly celebrated in the Catholic Provost Church of the Holy Trinity in Leipzig for the first time since the suspension of Church services over five weeks ago.
Attendance was subject to the first 15 members to have registered on the internet and were let into the church by parish priest Provost Gregor Giele.
Catholic university in US offers new students free tuition
A Catholic university in the US has announced it will cover tuition costs for all incoming students this winter.
President Fr Dave Pivonka TOR of Franciscan University in Steubenville, Ohio said: “We feel called by God to ease the burden for students, so they can experience the irreplaceable value of a Franciscan University education.
“We hope this unique response will help them to overcome these obstacles and uncertainties and step out in faith with us.”
The free tuition will go to new undergraduate students. The University has also created a financial aid fund to assist returning students facing hardship due to the pandemic.
Indonesia Catholics and Muslims offer Ramadan aid
The Jakarta Archdiocese and Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) have teamed up to help those affected by coronavirus during Ramadan.
Under the project ‘Your Ramadan, My Ramadan’, NU Social Care and the diocese have started distributing food packages from April 24 to May 25 to marginalised Muslims.
“We and the NU are friends,” said Jesuit Fr Christopher Kristiono Puspo. “Whenever there is a natural disaster, we always work together in emergency response and disaster mitigation.
“When it comes to humanity, we have the same vision, have one heart and mind. As Muslims enter their holy month, we want to build solidarity with them in dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic,” he added.
Zambia bishops establish coronavirus response fund
The Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops (ZCCB) has set up a Covid-19 Response Fund (CRF) to give support to health facilities and help prevent the spread of the virus.
“This fund will supplement the efforts government has put into place,” said Bishop Moses Hamungole on behalf of the ZCCB.
“We therefore urge our Catholic Faithful and other people of good will, to heed this call and contribute generously towards this fund.”
Bishop Hamungole said the fund will be used to support Church initiatives dealing with the sick, elderly, people with mental and physical disabilities, orphans and the poor.
Church offers facilities to help Myanmar fight virus
Catholic officials in Myanmar have offered Church properties for the State to use as quaratine centres during Covid-19.
Seminaries, Church-owned land and a Catholic Religious Conference building have been offered in Yangon as facilities to accomodate patients, nurses and doctors.
Bishop Raymond Sumlut Gam, head of Caritas (Karuna) Myanmar, said the Church has joined the nation’s battle against the virus through Karuna-run awareness campaigns and a response team led by Cardinal Charles Bo.
“The Church has pledged to contribute its involvement as a wider response through Caritas and the national team,” he said.