All Diocesan Articles

Each year, as Lent approaches, Catholics around the world prepare their hearts for the sacred journey toward Easter. Yet before we enter the solemn beauty of Ash Wednesday, the Church gives us a final day of joyful anticipation— Shrove Tuesday, often known as Fat Tuesday or Mardi Gras. Although the day is popularly associated with parades, colorful beads, and festive foods, its true meaning is deeply rooted in our Catholic faith and in our desire for ongoing conversion. The word shrove comes from the Old English word shriven, meaning “to be absolved of one&rs...

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On February 18, the Church enters the sacred season of Lent with the observance of Ash Wednesday, a day marked by humility, repentance, and hope. As ashes are placed on our foreheads, we are reminded of both our human frailty and God’s enduring mercy— an invitation to turn our hearts back to Him. Ash Wednesday begins forty days of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, calling us to slow down, examine our lives honestly, and prepare our hearts more intentionally for the joy of Easter.   Lenten Prayer from the USCCB Loving God, As we enter into these day...

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Pope Leo XIV urges Catholics to listen more closely to God and others — and to “disarm” their language by fasting from words that wound — in his message for Lent 2026. In his message for Lent 2026, Pope Leo XIV urges Catholics to listen more closely to God and others — and to “disarm” their language by fasting from words that wound. The Lenten season begins Feb. 18 with Ash Wednesday. In the message, released Feb. 13, the pope offers a simple definition of Lent as a time when the Church “invites us to place ...

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As the Church enters the sacred season of Lent, the Diocese of Norwich is offering a unique virtual Lenten Mission that invites participants to step away from constant technology and rediscover deeper communion with Christ. Beginning Thursday, February 26, the five-week mission will center on a guided book discussion of Media Fasting: Six Weeks to Recharge with Christ by Sister Nancy Usselmann, with a foreword by actor Jonathan Roumie. Participants will gather virtually each Thursday evening from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m., reflecting together on how intentional fasting from medi...

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Rite of Election All parishioners are invited to attend the Rite of Election on Sunday, February 22, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. at the Cathedral of Saint Patrick in Norwich. The liturgy will be celebrated by The Most Reverend Richard F. Reidy, Bishop of Norwich. Your presence is a powerful sign of welcome and encouragement for those preparing to enter or be received into full communion with the Catholic Church. The Rite of Election, celebrated on the First Sunday of Lent, is one of the most moving moments in the Church’s year. During this liturgy, catechumens and candid...

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In the tapestry of Catholic traditions, Lent stands as a profound thread weaving through the fabric of faith, calling families to embark on a transformative journey. It is not merely a season marked by abstinence; rather, Lent is a pilgrimage of the heart, an opportunity for introspection and renewal. At its core, Lent invites families to mirror the 40 days Jesus spent fasting in the desert, a period of self-examination, prayer and penance. It serves as a reminder that amid the hustle of contemporary life, there exists a sacred space for reflection and spiritual growth. ...

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