Faith Sparks

Since the Church celebrates the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary on October 7, the entire month is dedicated to celebrating the Holy Rosary. But how did this extra-liturgical devotion become the most popular Catholic devotion? A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE ROSARY According to legend, St. Dominic was given this prayer by the Virgin Mary, instructing him to use it as an aid against the Albigensian heresy in the beginning of the 13th century. History, however, indicates a murky beginning that most likely started in the Middle Ages where lay monks and laypeople who didn...

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Awakening: How is the Holy Spirit at work in your life?    Awakening: How is the Holy Spirit at work in your life?  Join us for a 4-part Mission designed to help deepen your faith!  Rediscover God’s Unconditional Love, Learn more about the Holy Spirit’s Gifts, develop a deep and meaningful prayer life, experience the mercy of God through a deeper understanding of reconciliation.  For two weeks, Tuesdays and Thursdays, October 3rd, 5th, 10th, and 12th  at 7:00-8:30 pm, Our Lady of Sorrows, 14 Prospect St, Essex. Register online...

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From September to June the Office of Faith Events Hope and Faith video series will ask the question, “What is your favorite part of Mass and why?”  If you would like to share your answer to this question in a short 2 minute video that would be shared with the whole diocese, please contact Marianne at 860-848-2237 ext. 304 or email at manicholas@norwichdiocese.net

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Editor's note: the following is from the Archdiocese of Hartford website. In January, I attended a prayer service for Sanctity of Human Life Sunday at my church. The entire evening was quite beautiful. What really set the tone was what I saw driving up to the church before the service. In the darkness of the night were hundreds of luminaria lining the sidewalk and driveway going into the church. On each was written, “choose life.” They created such a beautiful and serene effect on such a cold January night. Like all of those who came that evening to pray ...

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Editor's note: the following is from the Archdiocese of Hartford website. “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” (Gal 5:22-23) Summer arrives with some of God’s great gifts! He gives us longer days with warm sunshine, green grass, beautiful flowers and my favorite summer gift … delicious, colorful, sweet fresh fruit! When we think of fruit our mind might drift to visions of big red strawberries or sweet juicy peaches, but there is another kind of fruit for fami...

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Catch up on Brothers in Christ if you missed it - you can view it by watching the video replays below.   Brothers in Christ, the Catholic Men's Group which meets both in-person and virtually, this month has Deacon Ron Freedman who speaks on Men's Spirituality and Spiritual Discernment. Click the link and enjoy!   View previous videos or more articles on Faith by visiting NorwichDiocese.org/FaithSparks    

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Catch up on Brothers in Christ if you missed it - you can view it by watching the video replays below.   Brothers in Christ, the Catholic Men's Group which meets both in-person and virtually, in May has Fr. Jacbo Ramos speak on using the Gifts of the Holy Spirit in your daily life. Click the link and enjoy!   View previous videos or more articles on Faith by visiting NorwichDiocese.org/FaithSparks    

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This week on the Hope and Faith Series, Marianne Nicholas- Administrative Assistant for the Office of Faith Events, speaks about a summer sabbatical. View previous videos or more articles on Faith by visiting NorwichDiocese.org/FaithSparks    

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Thanks to the kindness and efforts of so many across the Diocese, more than 300 families received an Easter basket this year as part of the Office of Faith Event’s (OFE) annual Make a Memory Easter Basket project. More than 200 baskets were donated to St. Vincent de Paul Place in Norwich and another 100 to the Amazing Grace Food Pantry in Middletown. All of the baskets were donated by families, individuals, and parishes throughout the Diocese. Each basket, designated for a specific age and gender, included a variety of items including age-appropriate Easter cand...

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This week on the Hope and Faith Video Series, Gina Raymond speaks about her experience during Eucharistic Adoration, which led her back to God. View previous videos or more articles on Faith by visiting NorwichDiocese.org/FaithSparks    

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This month on the Hope and Faith Series, Louise Barbaro of St. Luke's in Ellington, speaks about her tremendous experiences with attendance at Adoration. View previous videos or more articles on Faith by visiting NorwichDiocese.org/FaithSparks    

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Who knew that a young boy’s Catholic school education would solidify his career path in life? Especially when he really did not want to continue on to a Catholic high school as an adolescent.  But life has a way of redirecting us and showing us what is truly important. That is what happened to Nicholas P. Cerreta, dean of students at Xavier High School in Middletown.  After attending Mount Carmel Catholic grammar school in Meriden, Connecticut, from kindergarten through grade 8, Cerreta was ready to move on to a local public high school, but his mom had o...

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