Father Robert H. Blute, who for more than a quarter century was pastor of St. Adelaide parish in Peabody died on March 18, 2020, at Marian Manor in South Boston. Born July 7, 1929, he was the only son of the late Harry and Mary (Sheehan) Blue, his younger sister Barbara Jost precede him in death. The family had roots in Boston beginning in Roxbury and then moving to West Roxbury, where young Robert attended local public schools and was graduated from Roslindale High School. At the time of his retirement, he recalled that attending Boston Public Schools in his time was almost like going to a Catholic School; more than half the students sometimes much more than that and probably 75 percent of the teachers were Catholic and proud of it.

OXFORD, England (CNS) -- Catholic dioceses and religious orders across Europe are offering to turn church facilities into spaces needed for health care or housing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Church leaders throughout Europe have been struggling to maintain Catholic religious devotions during enforced national lockdowns against the coronavirus, but have also sought ways, in addition to regular aid from Caritas and other Catholic organizations, of making resources available for health and social services.

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The worldwide coronavirus pandemic is not God's judgment on humanity, but God's call on people to judge what is most important to them and resolve to act accordingly from now on, Pope Francis said.