mi Norton Family Premier By www.pcmag.com Published On :: Norton Family's wealth of features and easy setup make it easy for parents to track and manage their children's activity across many devices, though it doesn't work on Macs. Full Article
mi Deals: Gaming PCs, Dell Laptops, Fitbit Tracker, Anker Accessories By www.pcmag.com Published On :: Dell's SAVE15 coupon is still live, the Dell Vostro 14 3000 is back down to just $299, and Walmart's Overpowered gaming desktop is $800 off right now. Full Article
mi Deals: SanDisk Ultra MicroSDXC, Seagate Backup Plus Hub By www.pcmag.com Published On :: Today you can save up to 30 percent on select laptops, networking devices, and storage drives at Amazon. Also, the highly anticipated game Cyberpunk 2077 is $10 off when you pre-order it. Full Article
mi Microsoft Enhances OneDrive With a Personal Vault By www.pcmag.com Published On :: Alongside a new protected area of storage, OneDrive and Office 365 storage options are changing for the better. Full Article
mi Deals: Echo Dot, 256GB Samsung MicroSDXC, MacBook Air By www.pcmag.com Published On :: The 256GB Samsung EVO Select microSDXC card is back at just $39.99, the Echo Dot is half off, and the MacBook Air is $150 off. Full Article
mi Deals: Samsung MicroSDXC, Samsung 4K TV, Dell XPS 15 By www.pcmag.com Published On :: Snag the Samsung EVO Select 512GB microSDXC card for $88, one of its lowest prices ever. Also, the 75-inch Samsung QLED 4K TV is more than $1,000 off and a Dell XPS 15 is $300 off. Full Article
mi Western Digital Launches 5 WD Black External Gaming Drives By www.pcmag.com Published On :: Capacities range from 2TB right up to 12TB, with the P50 Game Drive boasting a 'first-to-industry' USB 3.2 gen 2x2 connection and 2,000MB/s read speeds. Full Article
mi Early Black Friday Deals: Samsung MicroSDXC, Dell Vostro Desktop By www.pcmag.com Published On :: The start of November has brought a ton of great deals, with some matching last year's Black Friday prices. The 512GB Samsung EVO Select microSDXC card is only $78. Full Article
mi Thanks to Microsoft, We Can Watch Superman for Thousands of Years By www.pcmag.com Published On :: Microsoft's new write-once storage medium is constructed from quartz glass, stores data using lasers, and uses machine learning algorithms for decoding. Full Article
mi Netflix Remains on Top, Despite Crowded Streaming Market By www.pcmag.com Published On :: Even with the increase in streaming competitors, Netflix remains at the top of the pack—but how long will its dominance last? Full Article
mi Pre-Super Bowl Deals: Vizio TVs, Samsung Soundbar, Roku Premiere By www.pcmag.com Published On :: Save on a new TV, soundbar, or media streamer for the Big Game. Plus, the best deals of the week, including discounts on AirPods, Roombas, and Dell's XPS 13 laptop, are all still available. Full Article
mi On Bilingualism, Bias, and Immigration: Our Top English-Learner Stories of 2019 By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Tue, 31 Dec 2019 00:00:00 +0000 Education Week's top English-language learner stories on 2019 explored who's teaching the nation's English-learners and the struggles those educators encounter on the job, how the Trump administration's immigration policies affected students and their families and examined why more schools in the Un Full Article Specialeducation
mi Warren: 'We Are Failing on Our Country's Promise' to Children With Disabilities By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Thu, 02 Jan 2020 00:00:00 +0000 A new plan from Democratic presidential candidate and former special educator Elizabeth Warren touches on some glaring issues in special education: graduation disparities, hard-to-access school buildings, and discipline practices that disproportionately affect black, Latino, and Native American stud Full Article Specialeducation
mi Amid Confusion, Feds Seek to Clarify Online Learning for Special Education Students By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Sat, 21 Mar 2020 00:00:00 +0000 The Education Department says federal law should not be used to prevent schools from offering online learning to all students, including those with disabilities. Full Article Specialeducation
mi Special Ed. Administrators Press Congress for IDEA Waivers During Pandemic By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Thu, 16 Apr 2020 00:00:00 +0000 The requests put the nation's special education administrators in conflict with disability rights advocates who fear waivers will place millions of special education students at risk. Full Article Specialeducation
mi Autism Amid Uncertainty: Expert Advice for Parents and Teachers By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Wed, 22 Apr 2020 00:00:00 +0000 A leading autism researcher and former special education teacher offers advice to help students cope with the abrupt changes brought on by the novel coronavirus outbreak. Full Article Specialeducation
mi The Best Gaming Routers for 2020 By www.pcmag.com Published On :: Have a household of digital devices—and an online gamer or three? You need a router that's ready-made to give gaming traffic the right of way. Here's how to buy the right gaming router, along with our top-rated favorites. Full Article
mi David Smith: VE Day and World In A Day can bring us together when we're socially distant By www.heraldscotland.com Published On :: Sat, 09 May 2020 05:00:00 +0100 I was just sitting down to write this week's column when the Red Arrows flew right over my head. Full Article
mi Falkirk chairman slams Premiership "cabal" and claims they were "deceived" over reconstruction By www.heraldscotland.com Published On :: Fri, 08 May 2020 22:58:14 +0100 Falkirk chairman Gary Deans tonight slammed Ladbrokes Premiership clubs for scuppering league reconstruction hopes - and called for change at the top of Scottish football. Full Article
mi Partick Thistle brand SPFL "a disgrace" and accuse Premiership clubs of "settling scores" By www.heraldscotland.com Published On :: Sat, 09 May 2020 14:00:14 +0100 PARTICK Thistle today branded the SPFL a "disgrace" for failing to inform them that league reconstruction had been abandoned and revealed they are "deeply angered" by Ladbrokes Premiership clubs scuppering the plans. Full Article
mi Four fined for 800 mile round trip from London to Motherwell By www.heraldscotland.com Published On :: Sat, 09 May 2020 08:46:33 +0100 A family of four was caught flouting lockdown restrictions after attempting to travel to Motherwell for a mini-break. Full Article
mi Concerns raised after NHS England staff 'asked to make 400-mile trip to Scotland' for coronavirus tests By www.heraldscotland.com Published On :: Sat, 09 May 2020 10:13:22 +0100 Staff from NHS England have been asked to travel hundreds of miles to Scotland to be tested for coronavirus, according to reports. Full Article
mi Ian Blackford hits out at family's 800-mile holiday to Motherwell as Scots poke fun at bizarre trip By www.heraldscotland.com Published On :: Sat, 09 May 2020 12:07:16 +0100 A family who was fined for travelling more than 400 miles for the bank holiday weekend have been slammed online by politicians and Scots. Full Article
mi Mindset Research Is Sound, That's Not the Problem By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Wed, 10 Jan 2018 00:00:00 +0000 The research behind growth mindset and grit is familiar to many educators, but when misrepresented, can be harmful. The executive director of the Mindset Scholars Network, explains. Full Article Research
mi Scholastic awards recognize academic excellence at Penn State Berks By news.psu.edu Published On :: Wed, 29 Apr 2020 09:15 -0400 Forty-nine Penn State Berks students received recognition for the University Scholastic awards on April 2, through personalized emails. The awards presented included the Evan Pugh Scholars Award, Full Article
mi Penn State student resources remain strong amid pandemic By news.psu.edu Published On :: Thu, 30 Apr 2020 15:35 -0400 While many Penn State students are facing uncertainty amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Penn State offices continue diligently working so that students have the resources they need to succeed. Full Article
mi Vouchers Are Still an Issue in Milwaukee By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Wed, 07 Feb 2018 00:00:00 +0000 So many years after vouchers began, we still can't agree on their benefits. Full Article Vouchers
mi Extending Vouchers Into Middle Class Is Florida's Next Move By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Tue, 16 Apr 2019 00:00:00 +0000 Already home to a thriving ecosystem of private school choice, the state’s lawmakers want vouchers for thousands of new students. Full Article Vouchers
mi Randomized Placebo-controlled Trial of a 42-Day Tapering Course of Dexamethasone to Reduce the Duration of Ventilator Dependency in Very Low Birth Weight Infants: Outcome of Study Participants at 1-Year Adjusted Age By pediatrics.aappublications.org Published On :: 1999-07-01 T. Michael O'SheaJul 1, 1999; 104:15-21ARTICLES Full Article
mi Worldwide Timing of Growth Faltering: Revisiting Implications for Interventions By pediatrics.aappublications.org Published On :: 2010-03-01 Cesar Gomes VictoraMar 1, 2010; 125:e473-e480ARTICLES Full Article
mi An Epidemiologic Profile of Children With Special Health Care Needs By pediatrics.aappublications.org Published On :: 1998-07-01 Paul W. NewacheckJul 1, 1998; 102:117-123ARTICLES Full Article
mi Supplemental Therapeutic Oxygen for Prethreshold Retinopathy of Prematurity (STOP-ROP), A Randomized, Controlled Trial. I: Primary Outcomes By pediatrics.aappublications.org Published On :: 2000-02-01 The STOP-ROP Multicenter Study GroupFeb 1, 2000; 105:295-310ARTICLES Full Article
mi Factors Influencing the Composition of the Intestinal Microbiota in Early Infancy By pediatrics.aappublications.org Published On :: 2006-08-01 John PendersAug 1, 2006; 118:511-521ARTICLES Full Article
mi Predictive Ability of a Predischarge Hour-specific Serum Bilirubin for Subsequent Significant Hyperbilirubinemia in Healthy Term and Near-term Newborns By pediatrics.aappublications.org Published On :: 1999-01-01 Vinod K. BhutaniJan 1, 1999; 103:6-14ARTICLES Full Article
mi Let Minority-Serving Colleges Be a Model for Teacher Prep, Report Says By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Sun, 10 Mar 2019 00:00:00 +0000 Teacher-preparation programs need to better prepare teachers, and especially white teachers, to serve students and communities of colors more effectively, the report says. Full Article Teacherpreparation
mi Future Teachers Are Unfamiliar With Basic 'Learning Science,' Report Finds By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Wed, 11 Mar 2020 00:00:00 +0000 "There's a science of learning, and ... there's not a single teacher who couldn't benefit, I think, from knowing these principles," said the executive director of Deans for Impact, a group of education school leaders. Full Article Teacherpreparation
mi Save $30 on Canon IVY Mobile Mini Photo Printer By www.pcmag.com Published On :: The Canon IVY mobile mini photo printer, which lets you print 2-by-3-inch photos from your phone and social media, is 22 percent off at Amazon. Grab it now for just $99.99. Full Article
mi School Leader Accountability Is Missing in Action By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Fri, 22 Nov 2019 00:00:00 +0000 Teachers need coaching from proactive and intentional leaders who see everything in their buildings as their responsibility, writes guest blogger Michael Sonbert. Until then, teachers will bear the brunt of our national criticism. Full Article Accountability
mi Abington crisis communication course tackles COVID-19 pandemic By news.psu.edu Published On :: Mon, 06 Apr 2020 16:00 -0400 Students enrolled in a crisis management course are examining the pandemic and its lessons and developing recommendations that the government and even individuals can follow. It's the kind of real-world experience that students can expect to have at Penn State Abington. Full Article
mi Positive psychology course translates into support for students during pandemic By news.psu.edu Published On :: Mon, 20 Apr 2020 07:11 -0400 A Penn State Abington faculty member is teaching students enrolled to integrate the content into their daily lives to help them manage the impact of the coronavirus. Full Article
mi Entrepreneurship and innovation minor graduates record number of students By news.psu.edu Published On :: Thu, 07 May 2020 10:08 -0400 The intercollege minor in entrepreneurship and innovation (ENTI) continues to spread its influence as it graduates its largest number of students this spring with 153 across eight clusters. Full Article
mi Board committee advances tuition adjustment for summer 2020 semester By news.psu.edu Published On :: Thu, 07 May 2020 14:41 -0400 The Penn State Board of Trustees Committee on Finance, Business and Capital Planning today (May 7) advanced a plan to adjust tuition schedules for the summer 2020 semester due to the ongoing financial challenges many students and families are experiencing as a result of COVID-19 disruptions. The measure will go to the full board for a final vote on Friday, May 8. Full Article
mi Trustees committee approves interim 2020-21 budget By news.psu.edu Published On :: Thu, 07 May 2020 14:48 -0400 The Penn State Board of Trustees Committee on Finance, Business and Capital Planning today (May 7) approved a proposed interim budget of approximately $6.8 billion to support University operations. The proposal goes to the full board for consideration on May 8. Full Article
mi Barron discusses Penn State’s response to pandemic and actions for trustees By news.psu.edu Published On :: Fri, 08 May 2020 13:22 -0400 As the world continues to face the ongoing impacts of the global coronavirus pandemic, Penn State President Eric Barron outlined Friday the University’s actions over the past five months to address the challenges, protect the health and safety of the University community, and prepare for the future. Full Article
mi The Overlooked Front in the War on Misinformation: Science Class By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Fri, 25 Oct 2019 00:00:00 +0000 Media literacy belongs in science class, insists Media Literacy Now’s Andy Zucker. Here’s how to bring it there. Full Article Science
mi Colombian archbishop removes from ministry 15 priests accused of sexual abuse By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Tue, 07 Apr 2020 00:00:00 -0600 Villavicencio, Colombia, Apr 7, 2020 / 12:00 am (CNA).- The president of the Colombian bishops’ conference, Óscar Urbina, suspended 15 priests of his archdiocese from ministry who have been accused of sexual abuse. Other jurisdictions in the country have removed four other priests. Archbishop Óscar Urbina of Villavicencio told Colombian media that the accused priests represent 15% of the city’s priests. The priests are accused of committing sexual abuse in Colombia, Italy and the United States, Caracol Radio reported. Fr. Carlos Villabón, communications director and chancellor for the archdiocese of Villavicencio, told ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish language news partner, that the 15 priests were suspended while a canonical investigation proceeds at the Vatican. “On March 16, 2020 these 15 priests were notified after a preliminary investigation was carried out. They are neither convicted nor acquitted by this suspension, only asked to relinquish their parish duties, cease celebrating the Eucharist and cease their ministerial service while the complete investigation is conducted,” the priest explained. The results of the preliminary investigation “are now being sent to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith at the Vatican, and there they will determine the gravity of the facts and what the Church calls a penal canonical process will be conducted,” Villabón said. “It’s unknown how much time the canonical process will take, but the idea is that it proceed as quickly as possible, considering that in Italy and in many parts of the world there’s a quarantine because of the coronavirus,” the communications director added. Caracol Radio published a list of the 19 priests, but Villabón told ACI Prensa that the archdiocese would neither confirm nor deny the names reported. “According to a witness under protection by the prosecutor’s office, the 19 priests apparently formed a network of abusers, Caracol Radio reported. In an April 3 statement, the archdiocese of Villavicencio announced that an accusation was received Feb. 14, 2020 concerning “acts against sexual morality by some priests of this archdiocese.” “Having as a priority the alleged victim, we expressed to him our deep pain and solidarity and have offered him psychological and spiritual accompaniment. We reaffirm our commitment to act with clarity and transparency for his good and that of the Church,” the statement said. Following the protocols of the Archdiocesan Commission for the Protection of Minors, once the abuse was reported, the regional prosecutor’s office was notified and “we made ourselves completely available to cooperate in the investigations taking place in this case,” the statement said. The archdiocese said that it has taken steps “to eradicate the terrible evil of abuse within and outside our institution. We ask to be informed of any situations where one of our members has finally betrayed his vocation of service and dedication to the Lord and the community.” A version of this story was first reported by ACI Prensa, CNA's Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. Full Article Americas
mi Argentine archbishop proposes measures to open country's churches amid coronavirus pandemic By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2020 15:15:00 -0600 Denver Newsroom, Apr 21, 2020 / 03:15 pm (CNA).- An Argentine archbishop has proposed 13 measures that would aim to allow churches to reopen churches during the coronavirus pandemic while reducing the risk of contagion. The proposal is an effort to balance safety and the need for Catholics to receive the Eucharist, Archbishop Víctor Fernández of La Plata said this week. In response to the pandemic, Argentina has been under lockdown since March 20. According to John Hopkins University, there are 3,031 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with 145 deaths in the country. Fernández said that although the Church is providing material sustenance to those hardest hit by the pandemic “when we think about sustaining the interior life of the faithful and encouraging its growth, we find ourselves in the serious difficulty of seeing them deprived of the Eucharist for a long time, and we can also foresee that this situation could last for several months.” In a letter dated April 19 and addressed to the conference’s executive committee, the bishop said the Second Vatican Council teaches that “no Christian community is built up if it is not rooted and centered on the celebration of the Holy Eucharist,” and that Saint John Paul II emphasized that the Mass “rather than an obligation, should be felt as a requisite deeply inscribed in Christian existence.” Fernández said the letter he sent puts together the suggestions of several bishops and that it is understandable “that many of the faithful are calling on us to find some way to make the Eucharist accessible again.” “We tell them that they can experience other forms of prayer, and they do, but as Saint John Chrysostom has said “’You can also pray in your home, however, you cannot pray the same way you do in church where the brethren are gathered together.’” Fernández noted that Pope Francis “teaches that God ‘in the culmination of the mystery of the Incarnation, chose to reach our intimate depths through a fragment of matter.’ It’s good that our faithful have learned that and so it’s not the same thing for them,” he said, adding that Catholics are eager “the food of the love that is the source of supernatural life.” “It won’t be easy to prove that this situation is lasting too long, nor can we simply wait till the pandemic is completely over,” the prelate noted. “We know that exposing yourself to infection is irresponsible especially because it involves exposing others to infection and indirectly could lead to a public health crisis that we don’t want to see in our country,” he said. Aiming to send “a clear message to our People of God to show that we’re truly concerned and that we intend to take some steps that would allow us to resolve this situation as soon as possible,” without neglecting “the health concerns of the authorities” Fernández proposed a series of obligatory measures to celebrate the Eucharist publicly: 1) Keep a distance of two meters between people to the side, front and back. This will require removing or closing off half the pews in the church. 2) No more than two people per pew. 3) Once the pews are occupied in that manner, no more people are to be allowed to enter the church. 4) In the churches where there is usually a lot of people in attendance, the number of Masses should be increased so the faithful can spread themselves out over Saturday and Sunday at different times. Given the prevalence and closeness of churches this will not involve using transportation. 5) Mass should not be celebrated publicly at the most frequently visited shrines due to the difficulty of establishing appropriate controls. 6) There should be no line for communion, instead the Eucharistic ministers should go to the people positioned at the ends of the pews and place the Eucharist in the hand. 7) Every Eucharistic minister should wash his hands with soap before and after and apply alcohol gel. 8) The sign of peace and any physical contact should be omitted. 9) Mass should last no more than 40 minutes. 10) People should leave the church progressively, not all at once, and avoid greeting each other. 11) No intentions should be taken at Mass time, only those previously received by phone, mail or messages. 12) Those people who because of their age are prevented from attending may receive Communion at home. 13) The dispensation from the Sunday obligation should be temporarily maintained so that people who prefer to exercise extreme caution don’t feel obliged to attend. The archbishop also pointed out in his letter that “if the economic impact has to be foreseen, it’s also appropriate to place a value on those things that provide consolation and strength to people during hard times.” A version of this story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA's Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. Full Article Americas
mi Priest organizes distribution of 5,000 chicken to poor Peruvian families By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Thu, 23 Apr 2020 10:02:00 -0600 Lima, Peru, Apr 23, 2020 / 10:02 am (CNA).- As the ongoing coronavirus lockdown in Peru leaves the working poor in a vulnerable situation, one priest has been working to ensure that thousands in need have access to food. Fr. Omar Sánchez Portillo is the secretary general of Caritas Lurín, on metro Lima’s south side. Sánchez has distributed more than 15,000 food baskets, with the help of donors and volunteers at the Beatitudes Association, which he founded, since the nationwide quarantine was declared March 15. Peru’s Ministry of Health has confirmed 19,000 cases of coronavirus with 530 deaths. Recently, Sánchez also received a donation of 5,000 live chickens from a poultry farm. He found himself needing to quickly process the chickens for distribution. Sánchez turned to his fellow priests in the diocese of Lurín with an appeal on Whatsapp. To his surprise, almost 30 priests showed up to volunteer, including Bishop-elect Cristobal Mejía, who was recently named bishop of Chulucanas. The priests and other volunteers worked all day, plucking, cleaning and preparing the birds for distribution. “Today has been a long day,” Sánchez commented on his Facebook page. “Thank you dear priests! Thank you for your example, your work, and your joy. I feel proud to belong to a such an active, alive diocese so full of God, and to be part of a presbyterate full of holiness and enthusiasm for our priestly mission.” In a statement to ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish language news partner, Sánchez noted that in the Diocese of Lurín, which is comprised of 55 parishes, there are many poor people who do not have access to electricity or running water. The priest estimates about 60% of the people in the diocese live in extreme poverty. Southern Lima, where his diocese is located, contains the third and fourth most COVID-infected areas in the country. Sánchez also pointed out that most Peruvians lack the ability to save money, which leaves vulnerable populations even more at risk during the quarantine. “A lot of people are out of work and out on the street, a lot of them are temporary workers, many of them earn a living day-to-day,” he said. So far, volunteers have distributed 75,000 food baskets throughout the South Lima area. However, the needs remain great. “Every day in the parishes there are people out looking, knocking on doors, that haven’t gotten any food, or what they have gotten isn’t enough and has already run out,” he explained. Full Article Americas
mi Hunger in Venezuela becoming 'a fuel more dangerous than gasoline' By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Sun, 26 Apr 2020 06:18:00 -0600 Lima, Peru, Apr 26, 2020 / 06:18 am (CNA).- An archbishop in Venezuela warned that desperation is growing in the country, as the national coronavirus quarantine measures have compounded a tenuous political and economic situation. He urged people in the country to resist violence and social unrest. Extreme hunger “does not reason or know rules,” said Archbishop Ulises Gutiérrez of Ciudad Bolívar, adding that this desperate hunger “is becoming a fuel more dangerous than gasoline.” Gutiérrez spoke with ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish language news partner, in an April 23 interview, after looting and protests broke out in seven states in Venezuela. Protestors objected to price hikes on food and a gasoline shortage exacerbated by the ongoing quarantine that was imposed last month to halt the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the latest government report, there have been 298 cases and 10 deaths in the country due to the virus. Even before the coronavirus pandemic, Venezuela has been marred by violence and social upheaval under the socialist administration of Nicolas Maduro, with severe shortages of food and medicine, high unemployment, power outages, and hyperinflation. Some 4.5 million Venezuelans have emigrated since 2015. The current COVID-19 quarantine is “aggravating the situation,” the archbishop said, noting that the quarantine was implemented without accompanying measures to protect the most vulnerable. As a result, families are suffering, and many cannot access clean water, electricity or gasoline. The country is experiencing “a totally destroyed economy in which agricultural producers can’t get their products out because they’re not getting gasoline supplied to them, or they have to buy it on the black market for 2 or 3 dollars a liter,” he said. In some cases, crops are rotting in farmers’ fields due to lack of fuel to transport them to market. Gutiérrez voiced concern over the hunger-fueled looting and protests throughout the country, as well as the government’s violent suppression of the protests. “The common denominator in all these protests is hunger,” he stressed. With equipment in short supply and many of the country’s doctors have already emigrated due to the political and economic crisis, Gutiérrez acknowledged, the pandemic poses a significant threat. “In short, the outlook is very dark,” he said. But despite the desperate situation, the archbishop urged people not to resort to looting and violence. “[S]atisfying hunger short term [by committing robbery] only leads to the destruction of regular commerce,” he said. “The situation we’re going through is very tough, difficult, and fragile,” Gutiérrez said, likening the conditions to a pressure cooker, “which could lead us to unprecedented explosive social unrest, which nobody wants, and which would bring with it more hunger and greater suffering for the people.” Still, the archbishop said he has reason for hope: “Our trust is in God and his providence keeps us going, encouraging and accompanying our people, assisting them with our Caritas social programs.” “We have community soup kitchens, a medicine bank, outpatient medical care, programs for infant nutrition and nursing mothers, etc., which although it’s impossible to reach everyone, is a sign of God’s love through the Church,” he said. Full Article Americas
mi Priest in Costa Rica bakes bread to help families in need By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Mon, 04 May 2020 15:53:00 -0600 CNA Staff, May 4, 2020 / 03:53 pm (CNA).- When he was just 15 years old, Fr. Geison Gerardo Ortiz Marín had to quit school and find a job to help support his family. Faced with a difficult economy, Ortiz’s family was struggling financially. He quit school and found a job opportunity at a neighboring family’s bakery, where he worked for five years. The priest told ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish language news partner, that he learned important life skills from the job, such as “knowing what it is to meet a schedule, getting up at dawn and working overtime. In short, it was an enriching experience.” He took those life skills with him when he entered seminary at age 21. He has now been a priest for 10 years and serves as pastor of Saint Rose of Lima parish in Ciudad Queseda in northern Costa Rica. Recently, however, Ortiz has returned to his roots as a baker to raise funds for the needy in his parish during the coronavirus pandemic. Public Masses were suspended a month ago in Costa Rica due to the pandemic. As the lockdown continued, the priest could see the financial strain mounting on members of the community. “A lot of people starting knocking on the rectory door asking for help, while the parish and local charitable groups weren’t getting any income from the collection,” he explained. So Ortiz began baking. He uses around 55 lbs. of flour each workday to bake different kinds of bread, rolls and other items. A bag of baked goods sells for 1500 colones, or about $2.65. “With 1500 colones here we can buy perhaps a 5-pound package of rice,” he said, adding that he has been able to help about 60 families so far. From the sale of baked goods, he was able to raise extra funds, he said, which have ensured that anyone who has knocked on the rectory door has left with a package of rice, sugar or beans. No one has been sent away empty handed, the priest said. “I work all day long baking bread, selling it, and in the evenings I celebrate the Eucharist. I always tell the Lord, 'Thank you for the true bread that gives eternal life, which is the greatest of riches and is what I want our people to have, receive, taste and feel',” he said. Ortiz encouraged other priests to find creative ways to help serve those in need during the challenging times presented by the pandemic. “I believe that this is a special moment,” he said. “God has allowed me to return to my origins. God has allowed me to help meet the needs of our brothers. This is a moment in which the Lord is allowing us to live in solidarity and to reach out in a very special way.” Full Article Americas