A beloved Worcester “Block Mom,” a Harvard-educated convert, and one of the most compelling pro-life voices of her generation — could she also be a future saint? The Vatican has now approved the next step in the cause of Ruth Pakaluk, a former parishioner of Bishop Richard F. Reidy when he served as rector of the Cathedral of St. Paul in Worcester. In this article by Matt McDonald for the National Catholic Register, you’ll discover how her remarkable journey from atheism to Catholicism, her tireless pro-life witness, and her heroic serenity in suffer...

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    The Connecticut Catholic Public Affairs Conference (CTCPAC)— the public policy office of Connecticut’s Catholic bishops— serves as the Church’s voice on issues of life, justice, and moral concern at the state Capitol. Each year, the Conference publishes its Annual Abortion Report, compiling official data from the Connecticut Department of Public Health to provide a clear picture of abortion trends across the state. The newly released 2025 report reveals a sobering reality: abortion numbers in Connecticut have continued to rise sha...

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Dear Brothers and Sisters in the Lord, Catholic Schools Week is a celebration which began in 1974. This is a yearly celebration of Catholic Education throughout the United States. The theme for National Catholic Schools Week for 2026 is: “Catholic Schools: United in Faith and Community.” Catholic Schools educate the whole person mind, body and soul. It is based on Pope Francis’s words, “Christ is alive and He wants you to be alive.” Catholic Schools Week is celebrated from January 25 - January 31, 2026. The companion to National Catholic ...

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The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) approved the consecration of the nation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus in 2026 to accompany the country’s 250th anniversary. At the USCCB Fall Plenary Assembly in Baltimore, bishops voted “to entrust our nation to the love and care of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.” Devoting the nation is an opportunity “to remind everyone of our task to serve our nation by perfecting the temporal order with the spirit of the Gospel as taught by the Second Vatican Council,” Bishop Kevin Rhoades of ...

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Blessed Juan de Palafox y Mendoza and Our Lady of Guadalupe. | Credit: Public domain   Pope Leo XIV praised the missionary work of the Church in Mexico throughout history, inspired by the message of Our Lady of Guadalupe and the example of Blessed Juan de Palafox y Mendoza. In a message addressed to the participants of the 17th National Missionary Congress of Mexico, being held in Puebla Nov. 7–9, the Holy Father noted that the greatest privilege and duty of missionaries is “to bring Christ to the heart of every person.” Taking a closer lo...

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As the Advent season approaches and our hearts turn toward the light of Christ, the Diocesan Evangelization and Discipleship team is inviting the faithful to take part in a simple yet meaningful act of charity. This year, the team is collecting unused Christmas cards that will be lovingly written out by the youth of our diocese and delivered to the patrons of St. Vincent de Paul Place, Norwich. It is a small gesture with the power to bring comfort, dignity, and joy to those who may be struggling during the holidays. Each card becomes more than a greeting— it bec...

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