TUESDAY, MARCH 17 – ST. PATRICK’S DAY
NEW GUIDELINES President Trump urged Americans to avoid traveling for the next 15 days, and to avoid gatherings of more than 10 people. He also said to avoid eating in restaurants and bars, and to work or engage in schooling from home if possible. “If everyone makes this change, or these critical changes and sacrifices now, we will rally together as one nation and we will defeat the virus,” said Trump. READ
DOW DROPS 3,000 The Dow Jones dropped a whisker below 3,000 points – the worst percentage drop since the Black Monday crash in 1987. The stock market fell after President Trump said the worst of the outbreak could last until August. Trump also conceded that the economy “may be” heading into a recession. READ
OHIO ELECTION ON HOLD? Today is the schedule date of the Ohio primary, but state officials have cited a “health emergency” to order the polls closed. Gov. Mike DeWine said: “During this time when we face an unprecedented public health crisis, to conduct an election tomorrow would force poll workers and voters to place themselves at a unacceptable health risk of contracting coronavirus.” READ
$1,000 CHECKS Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are considering legislation that would send a $1,000 check to every adult in the country to help Americans deal with the economic damage of the coronavirus. Sen. Mitt Romney, R-UT, and Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-OH, both support the idea. “While expansions of paid leave, unemployment insurance, and SNAP benefits are crucial, the check will help fill the gaps for Americans that may not quickly navigate different government options,” said Romney. READ
TIME TO RETIRE? Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is reportedly encouraging older federal judges who were appointed by Republican presidents to consider stepping down so that they can be replaced by younger conservative nominees who could serve for 30 to 40 years. READ
CORONA BABY BOOM? The coronavirus outbreak has millions of Americans staying in their houses. Could this lead to a baby boom in nine months? Dr. Kevin Kathrotia of Millennium Neonatology in North Carolina thinks so. “It’s going to happen. It’s probably going to be the biggest baby boom we’ve seen,” said Kathrotia. “Anytime there’s the threat of a hurricane, there’s a little baby boom.” READ
PRAYER Join us in a Novena Prayer to Our Lady of the Annunciation. Today we’re praying for those who have contracted the coronavirus. Many of our brothers and sisters have already fallen ill with the virus. We pray that God may comfort them and grant them a speedy recovery! READ
CORONAVIRUS Italy is one of the countries hardest hit by coronavirus. Sadly, ten priests in Italy have died of coronavirus. “The number of priests who have died this week and that of those who are still in a particularly serious situation is very high,” Bishop Francesco Beschi of Bergamo said. READ
SACRAMENTS A Catholic priest in Bowie, MD, is offering confession while observing the 6-foot social distancing requirements. “Since I cannot guarantee your physical safety by opening up the Church or the office to visitors, I have set up a ‘drive through confessional’ and will be hearing confessions in the Church parking lot to maintain a six-foot distance while penitents stay in their cars,” Fr. Scott Holmer said. READ
SAINT OF THE DAY We probably know more legends about Saint Patrick than facts. But from the amount of work he did, and by the after-effects of that work, we can understand what type of man he was. He tirelessly toiled to spread the Gospel, at times against formidable odds. But as often happens, the legends prove more interesting than the facts. READ
DAILY READINGS “Remember your mercies, O Lord.” (Ps 25:4) READ
