Home/Stay Informed/All Diocesan Articles

All Diocesan Articles

 

 

 

"There is nothing so great as the Eucharist. If God had something more precious, he would have given it to us." -St. John Vianney

Over 700 people flocked to Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Gales Ferry on December 13th to venerate the incorrupt heart of St. John Vianney.

The major relic is in the early stages of a national tour organized by the Knights of Columbus, and at the request of Bishop Michael R. Cote, it was hosted as part of the diocese’s Monthly Holy Hour for Vocations. Housed in an ornate gold reliquary, the incorrupt heart was carried into the church in a procession led by the Knights of Columbus Honor Guard, Most Reverend Michael R. Cote, the Very Reverend Gregory Galvin, diocesan director of vocations, the Very Reverend Brian Converse, pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes, and Deacon William McGann of Our Lady of Lourdes. Beginning at 5 p.m. quiet prayer and veneration was led by Bishop Cote. Monthly Holy Hour for Vocations, which included a rosary prayed in front of the Blessed Sacrament.

The reliquary was placed on the altar beside the Sacred Host in the monstrance, recalling the saint’s great love for the Eucharistic Jesus. As Vianney explains, “There is nothing so great as the Eucharist. If God had something more precious, he would have given it to us.” The pews of the church were overfl owing with not only clergy and religious but also hundreds of lay people ready to honor the saint and ask for his powerful intercession.

Those present were able to line up in front of the reliquary and approach it individually, some even touching personal belongings to the reliquary to make them third class relics. The Knights of Columbus, entrusted with this relic by the Shrine of Ars in France, are focusing the tour on praying for the Church and her priests, as Vianney is the patron saint of parish priests.

St. John Vianney was a priest in postrevolution France. Making it his mission to deal with the religious indifference in his parish in Ars, he became famous for his powerful homilies and the 10 or more hours he spent in the confessional on a daily basis. “The priesthood is the love of the heart of Jesus,” he once said.

“The priest is not a priest for himself – he is for you.”


Most Viewed Articles of the Last 30 Days

RSVP: Diocese of Norwich Outreach to Haiti Annual Fundraiser
Diocese of Norwich Outreach to Haiti will host its 15th annual For the Love of a Child Charity Gala, Saturday, April 29, 2023 at A Villa Louisa, 60 Villa Louisa Rd., Bolton, CT.  The Most Reverend Michael R. Cote, D.D., Bishop of the Diocese of Norwich, invites you to join him. Cocktails are at 6:30, followed by dinner.  The price is $100 per person.  Please RSVP on-line www.outreachtohaiti.org or call the Outreach office at 860-800-3601.    For nearly 40 years, Outreach has been helping our Haitian brothers and sisters throughout the Ar...

Read More

St. Patrick's Day Lenten Dispensation

Posted on March 16, 2023 in: News, Lent

1108

St. Patrick's Day Lenten Dispensation
Whereas, the disciplinary practice of abstaining from meat on the Fridays in Lent is an important dimension of the penitential nature of the season and applies to all Catholics who have reached the age of fourteen (canons 1251 and 1252); Whereas, this year the Feast of St. Patrick, March 17, falls on a Friday in Lent; Now therefore, in accord with canon 87 §1 of the Code of Canon Law, given the many celebrations that occur on this day in commemoration of St. Patrick, Principal Patron of the Diocese of Norwich and titular of the Cathedral, I hereby grant to all Ca...

Read More

Come Pray For Vocations

Posted on March 20, 2023 in: Events, Vocations

890

Come Pray For Vocations
Join us each month to pray a Eucharistic Holy Hour for vocations led by Bishop Cote. These hours of adoration are a wonderful opportunity to pray for vocations to priesthood and religious life, to pray for our seminarians, and for our priests and religious already serving our diocese. The first Holy Hour of 2023 is Thursday, January 19 at 6 PM.  See the schedule below.  January 19, SS. Peter & Paul, Norwich February 16, St. John, Montville March 16, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Quaker Hill April 20, St. Philip, Ashford May 11, St. Andrew, Colc...

Read More

Catholic
‘God Protected Me & the Virgin Mary Did Not Leave Me’
Mar 1, 2023 Only a few hours after Bassel Habkouk, a young Lebanese Catholic and father of two, arrived for a visit in Turkey on Feb. 6, a 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck the country and nearby Syria. Habkouk found himself trapped underneath the rubble of fallen buildings for 52 hours as a result of the devastating earthquake, which killed more than 50,000 people and injured many more with tens of thousands still missing and hundreds of thousands homeless, according to the Associated Press. Miraculously, Habkouk survived, and he recently shared with ACI MENA, ...

Read More

Employment Opportunity for an Executive Assistant
Xavier High School in Middletown is looking for the right person to fill the position of Executive Assistant to the Headmaster and Principal. Details can be found HERE.   To view other job opportunities Click Here

Read More

Continuing a Journey of Faith - The Rite of Election
The Rite of Election, held Feb. 26 at the Cathedral of St. Patrick, takes place each year on the first Sunday of Lent in churches and cathedrals throughout the world. During this rite, upon the witness of Godparents, sponsors and catechists, those gathered affirm their intention to join the Church as well as become full members of the Church.  Bishop Michel Cote accepts the elect on behalf of the whole diocese and affirms their desire to be members of the Church.  A celebration of faith in word and song took place to support the newe...

Read More

Annual Catholic Appeal

ACA DONATE

English

 

Español

 

 
Signup for Weekly Newsletter


    Recently Added Galleries
    Click to view album: Rite of Election
    Click to view album: Mass of Ordination  for Fr. Jacob Ramos
    Click to view album: Mass of Ordination for Father Lawrence Barile
    Click to view album: Palm Sunday
    Latest Articles
    31 Chances for 31 Prizes - Help Those Facing Food Insecurity
    Monthly Pro-Life Mass to be Held April 1
    Watch: Full Remarks from the 2023 CT March for Life
    With Much Gratitude, 2022 Annual Catholic Appeal Surpasses Goal for Second Year
    Love of the Eucharist - Hope & Faith Video Series
    Forgive them-The Video
    With A Father's Heart: Celebrating the Feast of Saint Joseph
    Come Pray For Vocations

    Roman Catholic Diocese of Norwich
    201 Broadway
    Norwich, CT 06360-4328
    Phone: 860-887-9294