Events for the annual St. Nicholas Festival at St. Nicholas Parish in Evanston were either cancelled this year or went virtual due to the pandemic but the parish kept the spirit of Christmas alive with the annual tree sale on the grounds which sold out the first day. Parishioners ordered trees and wreaths online and picked them up on Dec. 5-6, 2020.
For Ash Wednesday, Vatican asks priests to 'sprinkle' ashes on heads The Vatican Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments asked priests to take special anti-COVID-19 precautions this year when distributing ashes on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 17, including sprinkling ashes on the top of people's heads rather than using them to make a cross on people's foreheads.
Archdiocese launches COVID-19 vaccination awareness campaign When Cardinal Cupich joined other clergy in publicly receiving a COVID-19 vaccine Dec. 23 at St. Anthony Hospital, it marked the beginning of an archdiocesan campaign to encourage everyone to be vaccinated when they are able to.
In message for World Sick Day, Pope Francis calls for health care for all Praising those who help the sick and praying for those who are sick, Pope Francis called on Christians to practice what they preach, including by guaranteeing equal access to health care for all people.