Nicole Mamura

From Archbishop Bernard A. Hebda: State Officials have communicated to religious leaders that the next two weeks are critical for the containment of the COVID-19/coronavirus and that all congregational gatherings should be avoided. While I am sure that the advice is startling for those of any creed, it particularly hits hard for Catholics, given our beliefs about the Mass and the Eucharist.

As a result of COVID-19/coronavirus and mitigation strategies and recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Minnesota Department of Health, all Catholic Center employees who are able to perform their work duties and responsibilities remotely are for the time being encouraged to do so.

From Bishop Andrew Cozzens, Vicar for Catholic Education: Across the twelve-county territory of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis are 91 Catholic schools with over 3700 employees serving over 29,000 students in prekindergarten through 12th grade. 

Across the twelve-county territory of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis are 91 Catholic schools with over 3,700 employees serving over 29,000 students in prekindergarten through 12th grade.

From Archbishop Bernard A. Hebda: At his news conference this afternoon, Governor Tim Walz announced the Minnesota Department of Health’s recommendations of no gatherings of more than 250 people as well as limiting small group interaction.

From Archbishop Bernard A. Hebda: In ordinary circumstances, Catholics are obliged to participate in Mass on Sundays and other holy days of obligation. This obligation is suspended in cases of moral or physical impossibility, and may also be dispensed for a just cause when it is for the spiritual good of the faithful.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have confirmed that a parent of the St. Thomas Academy community tested positive for COVID-19. The individual and the school are coordinating their response with the Minnesota Department of Health.