The effects of COVID-19 have been felt throughout all of our communities. Our immigrant community is no exception and is particularly vulnerable as many immigrants work in some of the hardest-hit industries, live in low-income households, or lack health insurance coverage. Yet immigrants are also critical to recovery efforts with significant numbers working in health-related industries and the US food sector.

To commemorate the fifth anniversary of his encyclical Laudato Si', Pope Francis has invited Catholics to participate in Laudato Si'  Week, a nine-day global campaign taking place May 16-24, 2020.

Catholics are called to actively participate in civic life, to engage in civil and respectful dialogue in the public square, and to vote with a well-formed conscience. While Catholic lay women and men are encouraged to fully exercise their rights and duties as participants in our democracy, there are specific guidelines that Church entities and representatives are urged to follow. 

As of March 20, the bishops of all seven Florida dioceses made the difficult decision to suspend publicly attended Masses for the health and safety of priests and parishioners and to help stop the spread of COVID-19. Since then, a stay-at-home order issued by Governor Ron DeSantis went into effect for the entire state of Florida.

Pope Francis has called for parishes to be "islands of mercy in the midst of a sea of indifference." In response to this call, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops recently launched Walking With Moms in Need: A Year of Service. This nationwide effort envisions that parish communities increase outreach to pregnant and parenting moms in need. 

For decades, Florida has played a leading role in creating policies to empower parents in determining the best schools or programs to serve their children. The state offers a robust lineup of scholarships for students from low-income families or with special education needs. These options offer parents a lifeline of hope and opportunity for their schoolchildren despite facing income or job loss due to the current crisis.

As the COVID-19 pandemic ramps up, the State of Florida has been providing Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Miami with meals ready to eat (MREs), in order to augment food distribution programs already in place. The state's Emergency Management Operations Center has released MREs normally allocated for natural disasters to be given to families in need at the behest of the emergency management specialist of the Florida Catholic Conference.

The present COVID-19 pandemic has significantly unsettled people's lives. Many families are isolated at home in order to promote public health. Schools have closed their doors, leaving teachers, parents, and students struggling to adjust to distance learning.

Coach Larissa Maloney at Father Lopez Catholic High School in Daytona Beach has received worldwide attention through her online physical education instruction in response to the distance learning due to the coronavirus. Maloney, head volleyball coach and a PE instructor, started a YouTube Channel, Active Kids 2.0, with the goal of live streaming 30-minute workouts every day in order to keep her students and players active. Her workouts have been a tremendous hit and are reaching and impacting people around the world.

While regularly scheduled Masses and parish gatherings are suspended in response to the coronavirus, Florida parishes and dioceses will be live-streaming Holy Week services, including Easter Masses.

Florida's Catholic health ministries are at the forefront of meeting the corporal and spiritual needs of their communities. Medical personnel and staff bravely put themselves at risk simply by showing up for work every day to treat people who are ill and infirm.

In mid-March, Catholics schools across Florida followed the lead of their local public school districts in the decision to close campuses and move to online learning in order to protect their school communities and limit the spread of the coronavirus. On Tuesday, March 31, Florida Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran called for all school districts to extend campus closures through May 1.

Following the Monroe County School District calendar, faculty at The Basilica School of Saint Mary Star of the Sea in Key West were able to mobilize during spring break before launching virtual instruction on Monday, March 23. "Fortunately, our students have not missed a single day of instruction, said Principal Robert Wright. "While teachers and parents are climbing the learning curve, our students have adapted well. I imagine that everyone will settle in and find a routine in this second week of distance learning."

A line of people wrapped around most of the Catholic Charities of Central Florida (CCCF) building on the morning of March 25. The rush to the Semoran Mission Market came after Orange County's mayor announced an executive stay-at-home order that was set to begin at 11 p.m., Thursday, March 26. 

At the start of a March 31 live-streamed Mass from the chapel of his residence, Pope Francis prayed that people become aware of all those who lack shelter and housing and help them, and that the Church would "welcome them."

While regularly scheduled Masses and parish gatherings are suspended in response to the coronavirus, the bishops are urging Catholics to "keep holy the Sabbath" and close to the Lord through prayer and reflection on the Word of God. Additionally, dioceses and parishes are offering opportunities for prayer and virtual Mass via live stream or video.

Pope Francis has invited Christians throughout the world to join him in prayer in response to the coronavirus pandemic. "Let us remain united. Let us make our closeness felt toward those persons who are the most lonely and tried," said the Holy Father after the March 22, Sunday Angelus.

As we celebrate the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord on March 25, we also mark the 25th anniversary of Pope St. John Paul II's encyclical, Evangelium Vitae (The Gospel of Life). This prophetic document on the value and inviolability of every human life remains an indispensable source of truth. It reaffirms the "greatness and the inestimable value of human life" (EV 2) and addresses present-day legal, ethical, and moral threats to life, including abortion, artificial reproduction techniques, contraception, the death penalty, euthanasia, sterilization, and suicide. 

In mid-March the U.S. Census Bureau mailed official notices to every household requesting participation in the 2020 Census. Instead of receiving a form to fill out and mail in, basic information on all persons living and staying at your residence can be entered online. Households are to submit responses by April 1. All information provided is confidential and cannot be shared with other government agencies or local authorities.

The Regular Session of the Florida Legislature will come to a close on Thursday, March 19. Because of delays in negotiating the budget and a mandatory 72-hour review period, the session was extended past its scheduled end date of March 13 to hold a final vote on the spending plan. All other business before the Legislature has concluded.