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Pascua Yaqui ceremonies

The five Yaqui leaders of Lenten ceremonies are limiting attendance to only participants into the cultural grounds for the remainder of the season, the Pascua Yaqui Tribe recently announced.

The decision was made for health concerns because of the coronavirus pandemic, officials said.

Lenten ceremonies are held on cultural grounds at Cristo Rey in New Pascua, San Ignacio de Loyola in Old Pascua, Santa Lucia Templo in Guadalupe, Capilla Senor de los Milagros in Barrio Libre on South 16th Avenue and Capilla San Martin de Porres in Barrio Libre on West 39th Street.

Diocese furloughs

Twenty-three employees at the pastoral center of the Roman Catholic Diocese of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ will be furloughed, it was announced Friday.

Eight employees will be placed on full furlough, and 15 will have their salaries and hours cut, according to Bishop Edward J. Weisenburger.

The furloughs go into effect Monday, April 6.

There were 50 employees working at the pastoral center, adjacent to the downtown St. Augustine Cathedral at 192 S. Stone Ave.

"If donations allow us to do so, it is our hope that some or all of these employees might be restored to fuller employment," Weisenburger said in a news release.

"This action has proven very painful as our co-workers are very dear to us and their services are greatly needed by the parishes and communities we serve," said the bishop.

Interview requests

The Star is seeking to interview people who have elderly residents in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ care facilities for a story about how families are coping with the forced separation and what measures people are taking to keep in contact with their quarantined relatives in these facilities during these extraordinary times. If you would like to possibly be part of an upcoming story, contact reporter Carmen Duarte through email at cduarte@tucson.com