All Diocesan Articles

The Blessing of the Easter baskets is a long-cherished tradition in the Catholic faith. Rooted in religious significance and cultural heritage, it has come to hold profound meaning for people of all ethnic backgrounds. Its roots date back to the early 12th century history of Poland, and is now observed by many Eastern European countries, the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. Many Eastern Roman Catholics and Orthodox Christians, including Czechs, Croatians, Hungarians, Lithuanians, Russians, Slovaks and Ukrainians, also participate in this holy ritual. On Holy...

Read More

Experience the Sacred Journey of Holy Week Cathedral of Saint Patrick, Norwich The Cathedral of Saint Patrick invites the faithful to enter more deeply into the sacred beauty of Holy Week through a series of solemn liturgies with the Most Reverend Richard F. Reidy. From Palm Sunday through Easter Sunday, these sacred celebrations offer an opportunity to walk with Christ through His Passion, Death, and Resurrection. Holy Week is the heart of the Church’s liturgical year—a time to reflect, remember, and rejoice in the hope of Easter. Holy Week Liturgic...

Read More

Diocese of Norwich Outreach to Haiti Invites You to the 19th Annual Gala For the Love of a Child Charity Gala Saturday, April 18, 2026 A Villa Louisa 60 Villa Louisa Road Bolton, CT Purchase Tickets Join Bishop Richard F. Reidy for this special event benefiting the children of the Archdiocese of Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Cocktails and appetizers begin at 5:30 p.m., followed by a dinner buffet. The evening will also feature Haitian crafts, artwork, a silent auction, and a keynote address by Marlene L. Daut, an award-winning author, scholar, and profe...

Read More

Jennifer Hubbard was the keynote speaker at this year’s Diocesan Women’s Conference. Jennifer lost her daughter in the Sandy Hook shooting in Newtown. One would think that her keynote would be inspiring while at the same time including sad recollections of a terrible low point in her life. But that could not be farther from the truth! Jennifer’s talk was filled of inspirational antidotes from her life as a cradle Catholic- sharing very frankly the ups and downs of her faith journey. She stressed that as a believer she can always count on two facts - ...

Read More

"The spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me." (Is 61:1) The 2026 Chrism Mass was celebrated on Tuesday, March 31, at the Cathedral of Saint Patrick in Norwich. The Most Rev. Richard F. Reidy, Bishop of the Diocese of Norwich, presided over the sacred liturgy, which marks a highlight of Holy Week. This special Mass featured the bishop's blessing of the holy oils — used throughout the year for sacraments such as Baptism, Confirmation, Anointing of the Sick, and Holy Orders — and the Renewal of Priestly Promises by the clergy ...

Read More

As Catholics across the United States prepare to welcome a striking rise in new converts this Easter, the Diocese of Norwich is very much part of that larger story of renewal. The National Catholic Register reports significant growth in dioceses nationwide, and here in Norwich that same momentum is clearly visible, with the Diocese recording a 112% increase and welcoming 98 catechumens and 152 candidates this year—the highest combined total in 10 years. This article offers a timely national perspective on something we are also seeing close to home: people are searchin...

Read More