On Friday, 27 March, the Pope will preside over a moment of prayer on the sagrato of St Peter’s Basilica, the platform at the top of the steps immediately in front of the façade of the Church. “I invite everyone to participate spiritually through the means of communication”, he said. The ceremony will consist in readings from the Scriptures, prayers of supplication, and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament; and will conclude with Pope Francis giving the Urbi et orbi Blessing, with the possibility of gaining a plenary indulgence for all those who listen to it live through the various forms of communication.

United as Catholics and with other Christians around the world, we begin our second “Catholic Schools Weekend of Prayer” in St. Peter’s Square at 1p.m. ET tomorrow, Friday, March 27. We will all listen as our Holy Father, Pope Francis, gives a special blessing, “Urbi et Orbi” (To the City & To the World). I encourage you with your children to receive this extraordinary blessing, normally only given on Easter & Christmas mornings, which gains for us all a plenary indulgence. Watch it on the Catholic Faith Network. Our local shepherd, His Eminence Timothy Cardinal Dolan, Archbishop of New York, in a special video message for our students from St. Patrick’s Cathedral, reminds us in the video that fear is unnecessary in the presence of faith.

During the pandemic the archdiocese has suggestions for internet access options for home-based learning.

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