In the midst of the crisis due to COVID-19 (coronavirus) generating increased needs from certain segments of the community, the Office of Life, Justice and Peace of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, in partnership with St. Vincent de Paul Society and the Knights of Columbus will launch on Tuesday, March 24, Hearts to Serve , a hotline in support to all of those in need, especially the elderly, homebound, and pregnant women.  The joint effort answers the call of Pope Francis and of Archbishop José H. Gomez, to be missionary disciples. 
“In this unprecedented time of uncertainty and sacrifice, we see wonderful acts of kindness and mercy emerging,” said Kathleen Domingo, senior director of the Archdiocese’s Office of Life, Justice and Peace. “ Hearts to Serve invites Catholics from every walk of life to join an effort of prayer and service for those most in need now. Together, we can nourish our faith and offer real comfort to our brothers and sisters. When once again we are able to gather in person, our community will be stronger for it.” 
Those in need of food or supplies can call the hotline at  855-423-6780 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. A Catholic community of volunteers will be ready to help with essential needs. They will connect callers with local resources for food and other household necessities. The services that will be provided include: grocery or medicine delivery to homes, provision of food and other necessities from local food pantries to those that might not be able to afford it at this time, and guidance for additional questions that need larger answers. 
“The Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Council of Los Angeles, is here to serve the poor and those living on the margins,” said David Garcia, executive director of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. “In this time of uncertainty, the Society is committed to collaborating with the Archdiocese of Los Angeles in its efforts to mobilize Catholics to serve the neediest in our community. As you can imagine, due to the current crisis, our parish-based chapters of volunteers, which we call Conferences of Charity, have seen an increase in calls for assistance. We will do our best to assist the Archdiocese’s outreach endeavors to help people in need.” 
To meet increased needs from the diverse communities served in the Archdiocese,  Hearts to Serve is providing those looking to help others during the pandemic with the following volunteer opportunities: 

For more information on  Hearts to Serve and for those interested in volunteering, please visit:  www.lacatholics.org/hearts-serve

 

Pope Francis on Sunday called for all Christians to respond to the coronavirus pandemic “with the universality of prayer, of compassion, of tenderness”, adding, “Let us remain united. Let us make our closeness felt toward those persons who are the most lonely and tried”.
Speaking after the traditional recitation of the Angelus, the Holy Father called on all Christians to join together in prayer. “In these trying days, while humanity trembles due to the thread of the pandemic, I would like to propose to all Christians that together we lift our voices towards Heaven,” he said.-  Vatican News

Related Story: 

Pope Francis calls on Christians worldwide to combat coronavirus pandemic with midday prayer on March 25

Free Resources To Help You Live A Quarantined Lent 
Many of us are living a Lent we never expected. We’ve now been forced to fast from sports and other live events, school, museums, birthday parties, libraries, and so much more than we ever intended.
Let’s take this gift of time and use it to grow in holiness. There is so much we can do to continue our journey to Easter! We’ve created a list of free resources to help you with your quarantined Lenten adventure. -  Catholic Link 

Helpful Links and Resources: 
A livestream is available each Sunday from the  Cathedral of Our Lady of Angels. Watch live on  YouTube or on the  LA Catholics Facebook page. The Spanish Mass is celebrated at 7:00 AM and the English Mass is celebrated at 10:00 AM.
Archbishop Gomez will celebrate daily Mass at 8:00AM and priests from the Cathedral will celebrate daily Mass in Spanish at 7:00AM and Mass in English at 9:00 AM. All Masses will be live-streamed on  Facebook and this webpage.
___
Magnificat is honored to provide complimentary access to our online versions in both English and Spanish to help people pray from home.
English:  www.magnificat.com/free
Spanish:  www.magnificat.com/gratis
 
Prayers and Devotions
Live-stream Adoration
Daily Mass with Pope Francis
Pray as you GO: Meditations with the Readings of the Day
Rezando Voy: Pray as you Go in Spanish
A Prayer for Those Suffering from Coronavirus
For Peace in Anxiety During the Coronavirus Pandemic
For Peace and Fortitude in Worry
A Blessing for Caregivers
A Blessing for Physicians
A Blessing for Nurses
A Coronavirus Prayer
A Prayer for Uncertain Times
 

LA Moves to ban evictions, add protections for homeowners 
Renters and homeowners are likely to see significant new protections against evictions and foreclosures after the Los Angeles City Council on Tuesday approved emergency measures to mitigate the economic effects of the novel coronavirus. 
At the same time, advocacy groups criticized Gov. Gavin Newsom for not doing more to prevent Californians from losing their homes during the pandemic.
L.A.'s plan will temporarily ban evictions and late fees, require landlords and residential mortgage-holders to work out payment plans with affected residents, reduce city business taxes and create a citywide rental assistance fund. The measures will not take effect immediately. Instead, the council’s vote directs the city attorney to draw up an emergency eviction plan, which could be finalized as soon as next Tuesday. -  LA Times 

Governor Newsom Issues Executive Order to Protect Renters and Homeowners During COVID-19 Pandemic

Resources for Angelenos Economically Impacted by COVID-19

The City of Los Angeles is coordinating an economic response to help Angelenos who have lost their jobs or have had their hours cut back as a result of COVID-19, so that people can find help and jobs while adhering to the Safer at Home orders issued by Mayor Garcetti and Governor Newsom. This site will be continuously updated with resources from the City, State of California and the Federal Government to help workers.  For up to date news on the latest developments on COVID-19, visit  LAMayor.org/Coronavirus. For information on business assistance efforts, visit  ewddlacity.com.