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JN. 1, a highly contagious off-shoot of the Omicron strain, now makes up around 86 percent of COVID cases in the United States after accounting for less than 5 percent of infections nationally in early November, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports. It's also the most dominant across the globe. JN.1 cases in the US have doubled over the last month. In late December, it caused 44 percent of cases in the US, after making up around 22 percent of infections in the middle of December. That's around the time the World Health Organization (WHO) declared JN.1...

A new, fast-spreading variant of COVID-19 is sweeping across the nation, making it the most widely circulating iteration of the virus in the U.S. and around the world, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The mutation, called JN.1, is a subvariant of Omicron that was first detected by the World Health Organization in late August. At the time it appeared to be spreading slowly but as temperatures have dipped, JN.1 has spiked. In mid-October, CDC data shows JN.1 made up about 0.1% of all COVID-19 cases around the country. As of Jan. 20, the CDC estimates that's...

14 January 2024 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Catholic Church of St Stanislaus in Chortkiv, UkraineReadings at MassLiturgical Colour: Green. Year: B(II).First reading1 Samuel 3:3-10,19 ©'Speak, Lord, your servant is listening'Samuel was lying in the sanctuary of the Lord, where the ark of God was, when the Lord called, ‘Samuel! Samuel!’ He answered, ‘Here I am.’ Then he ran to Eli and said, ‘Here I am, since you called me.’ Eli said, ‘I did not call. Go back and lie down.’ So he went and lay down. Once again the Lord called, ‘Samuel! Samuel!’ Samuel got up and went...

Friday 5 January 2024 Memorial of Saint John Neumann, Bishop St. John Neumann Church in Bryn Mawr, PAReadings at MassLiturgical Colour: White. Year: B(II).Readings for the feriaReadings for the memorialThese are the readings for the feriaFirst reading1 John 3:11-21 ©Our love is to be something real and activeThis is the messageas you heard it from the beginning:that we are to love one another;not to be like Cain, who belonged to the Evil Oneand cut his brother’s throat;cut his brother’s throat simply for this reason,that his own life was evil and his brother lived a good life.You must not be...

The United States is in the throes of another covid-19 uptick, cementing a pattern of the virus surging around the holidays as doctors and public health officials brace for greater transmission after Americans return to school and work this week. Coronavirus samples detected in wastewater, the best metric for estimating community viral activity, suggests infections could be as rampant as they were last winter. A smattering of health facilities around the country, including every one in Los Angeles County, are requiring masks again. JN.1, the new dominant variant, appears to be especially adept at infecting those who have been vaccinated...

Thursday 4 January 2024 Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton on 4 January St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church (Houston) Readings at MassLiturgical Colour: White. Year: B(II).Readings for the feriaReadings for the memorialThese are the readings for the feriaFirst reading1 John 3:7-10 ©No-one sins who has been begotten by GodMy children, do not let anyone lead you astray:to live a holy lifeis to be holy just as he is holy;to lead a sinful life is to belong to the devil,since the devil was a sinner from the beginning.It was to undo all that the devil has donethat the Son of God...

Wednesday 3 January 2024 Christmas Weekday Sainte Genevieve Catholic Parish, Sainte Genevieve, MO Readings at MassLiturgical Colour: White. Year: B(II).First reading1 John 2:29-3:6 ©Everyone must try to be as pure as ChristYou know that God is righteous –then you must recognise that everyone whose life is righteoushas been begotten by him.Think of the love that the Father has lavished on us,by letting us be called God’s children;and that is what we are.Because the world refused to acknowledge him,therefore it does not acknowledge us.My dear people, we are already the children of Godbut what we are to be in the future...

Tuesday 2 January 2024 Saints Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen, Bishops, Doctors on 2 January St. Basil the Great Byzantine Catholic Church, Irving, Texas Readings at MassLiturgical Colour: White. Year: B(II).Readings for the feriaReadings for the memorialThese are the readings for the feriaFirst reading1 John 2:22-28 ©The anointing he gave you teaches you everythingThe man who denies that Jesus is the Christ –he is the liar,he is Antichrist;and he is denying the Father as well as the Son,because no one who has the Father can deny the Son,and to acknowledge the Son is to have the Father as...

(NEXSTAR) — As millions of Americans are preparing to gather for the holidays, health officials are warning of a new COVID-19 variant sweeping the country. The World Health Organization (WHO) said Tuesday it was classifying the COVID variant JN.1 as a variant of interest. Here are 5 things you should know about the new variant of interest.

17 December 2023 3rd Sunday of Advent The National Shrine of San Lázaro, El Rincón, CubaReadings at MassLiturgical Colour: Rose or Violet. Year: B(II).First readingIsaiah 61:1-2,10-11 ©He has sent me to proclaim a year of favour from the LordThe spirit of the Lord has been given to me,for the Lord has anointed me.He has sent me to bring good news to the poor,to bind up hearts that are broken;to proclaim liberty to captives,freedom to those in prison;to proclaim a year of favour from the Lord.‘I exult for joy in the Lord,my soul rejoices in my God,for he has clothed...

Friday 29 September 2023 Saints Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, Archangels Feast The altar at St. Raphael Church in Rockville, MD is supported by marble sculptures of the archangels, Saints Michael, Raphael and Gabriel. Readings at MassLiturgical Colour: White. Year: A(I).First readingDaniel 7:9-10,13-14 ©His robe was white as snowAs I watched:Thrones were set in placeand one of great age took his seat.His robe was white as snow,the hair of his head as pure as wool.His throne was a blaze of flames,its wheels were a burning fire.A stream of fire poured out,issuing from his presence.A thousand thousand waited on him,ten thousand...

Thursday 24 August 2023 Saint Bartholomew, Apostle Feast St. Bartholomew the Apostle Church, Kafr Kanna, the Holy Land Readings at MassLiturgical Colour: Red. Year: A(I).First readingApocalypse 21:9-14 ©He showed me Jerusalem, the holy city, coming down from God out of heavenThe angel came to speak to me, and said, ‘Come here and I will show you the bride that the Lamb has married.’ In the spirit, he took me to the top of an enormous high mountain and showed me Jerusalem, the holy city, coming down from God out of heaven. It had all the radiant glory of God...

15 January 20232nd Sunday in Ordinary Time The Church of the Assumption of the Mother of God, Buchach, Ukraine Readings at MassLiturgical Colour: Green. Year: A(I).First readingIsaiah 49:3,5-6 ©I will make you the light of the nations so that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earthThe Lord said to me, ‘You are my servant, Israel,in whom I shall be glorified’;I was honoured in the eyes of the Lord,my God was my strength.And now the Lord has spoken,he who formed me in the womb to be his servant,to bring Jacob back to him,to gather Israel to him:‘It is...

Thursday 5 January 2023Saint John Neumann, Bishop on 5 January St. John Neumann Catholic Church, Sunbury, OH Readings at MassLiturgical Colour: White. Year: A(I).Readings for the feriaReadings for the memorialThese are the readings for the feriaFirst reading1 John 3:11-21 ©Our love is to be something real and activeThis is the messageas you heard it from the beginning:that we are to love one another;not to be like Cain, who belonged to the Evil Oneand cut his brother’s throat;cut his brother’s throat simply for this reason,that his own life was evil and his brother lived a good life.You must not be surprised,...

Wednesday 4 January 2023 Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton on 4 January St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, Houston. Readings at MassLiturgical Colour: White. Year: A(I).Readings for the feriaReadings for the memorialThese are the readings for the feriaFirst reading1 John 3:7-10 ©No-one sins who has been begotten by GodMy children, do not let anyone lead you astray:to live a holy lifeis to be holy just as he is holy;to lead a sinful life is to belong to the devil,since the devil was a sinner from the beginning.It was to undo all that the devil has donethat the Son of God...

Tuesday 3 January 2023Christmas Weekday Saint-Étienne-du-Mont: Final Resting Place of Saint Genevieve Readings at MassLiturgical Colour: White. Year: A(I).First reading1 John 2:29-3:6 ©Everyone must try to be as pure as ChristYou know that God is righteous –then you must recognise that everyone whose life is righteoushas been begotten by him.Think of the love that the Father has lavished on us,by letting us be called God’s children;and that is what we are.Because the world refused to acknowledge him,therefore it does not acknowledge us.My dear people, we are already the children of Godbut what we are to be in the future has...

Monday 2 January 2023Saints Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen, Bishops, Doctors Church of Santa Maria della Concezione in Campo Marzio Chapel of St Gregory Nazianzen Readings at MassLiturgical Colour: White. Year: A(I).Readings for the feriaReadings for the memorialThese are the readings for the feriaFirst reading1 John 2:22-28 ©The anointing he gave you teaches you everythingThe man who denies that Jesus is the Christ –he is the liar,he is Antichrist;and he is denying the Father as well as the Son,because no one who has the Father can deny the Son,and to acknowledge the Son is to have the Father as...

Saturday 31 December 20227th day within the octave of Christmas (optional commemoration of Saint Silvester I, Pope) St. Sylvester New Church, München Readings at MassLiturgical Colour: White. Year: A(I).First reading1 John 2:18-21 ©You have been anointed by the Holy OneChildren, these are the last days;you were told that an Antichrist must come,and now several antichrists have already appeared;we know from this that these are the last days.Those rivals of Christ came out of our own number, but they had never really belonged;if they had belonged, they would have stayed with us;but they left us, to prove that not one of...

Sunday 25 December 2022Christmas Day Solemnity Grotto of the Nativity, the Holy Land Readings at MassLiturgical Colour: White. Year: A(I).Readings for the Vigil Mass, celebrated during the afternoon or evening before Christmas DayReadings for the Midnight Mass, celebrated during the night before Christmas DayReadings for the Dawn Mass, celebrated at dawn on Christmas DayReadings for the daytime Mass on Christmas DayReadings for the Vigil Mass, celebrated during the afternoon or evening before Christmas Day:First readingIsaiah 62:1-5 ©The bridegroom rejoices in his brideAbout Zion I will not be silent,about Jerusalem I will not grow weary,until her integrity shines out like the...

Thursday 29 September 2022Saints Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, Archangels Feast Saint Michael Catholic Church - Tybee Island, GA Readings at MassLiturgical Colour: White. Year: C(II).First readingDaniel 7:9-10,13-14 ©His robe was white as snowAs I watched:Thrones were set in placeand one of great age took his seat.His robe was white as snow,the hair of his head as pure as wool.His throne was a blaze of flames,its wheels were a burning fire.A stream of fire poured out,issuing from his presence.A thousand thousand waited on him,ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him.A court was heldand the books were opened.I gazed into the...