Carpe diem is an old Roman expression frequently translated as “seize the day.” It reminds us to take advantage of the present moment and not to let opportunity pass us by. Whether an athlete in competition, an investor in the market, or a suitor in love, opportunities must be recognized and grasped, or they can pass away and be lost. Holy Week is one such opportunity. It is the most important week of the Church’s year because it commemorates the most important events of history. The Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, and our faithful acc...

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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...

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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...

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On Sunday, March 29, 2026, at 7:30 p.m., the Cathedral of St. Patrick will resonate with the stirring sounds of sacred music as the Eastern Connecticut Symphony Orchestra and the Eastern Connecticut Symphony Chorus present a special Palm Sunday concert. Under the direction of Music Director and Conductor Toshiyuki Shimada and Chorus Director Daniel McDavitt, the evening promises a moving meditation through music at the threshold of Holy Week. The concert will feature Dan Forrest’s Requiem, a profound and contemporary work known for its striking beauty and emotio...

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Each year during Holy Week, the entire Diocese of Norwich—priests, deacons, consecrated religious, and laity—gather with the Bishop at the Cathedral of Saint Patrick to celebrate the Chrism Mass. This event is a profound expression of unity, as our diocesan family comes together to witness the consecration of Sacred Chrism and the blessing of the Oil of Catechumens and the Oil of the Sick. These oils are a tangible sign of the Holy Spirit’s presence in the sacramental life of the Church. From this one celebration, the oils are distributed to representat...

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