All Diocesan Articles

Sister Mary Mercedes Cook, SCMC, entered eternal life on Sunday, January 4, 2026, following a long illness. Her final years were spent at St. Joseph Living Center in Windham, where she received compassionate care. Born Jacqueline Fayre Cook in Hagerstown, Maryland, on December 18, 1939, she was the daughter of the late Garland and Anita (Willis) Cook. Her family later moved to Norwich, Connecticut. She graduated from the Academy of the Holy Family in Baltic and entered the Novitiate of the Sisters of Charity of Our Lady, Mother of the Church in 1958. She professed perpet...

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Pope Leo XIV has proclaimed a “Special Year of St. Francis” to commemorate the 800th anniversary of the saint’s death. During this time of grace, which will extend until January 2027, the faithful are granted the opportunity to obtain a plenary indulgence. This Franciscan Jubilee Year, considered a gift for the entire Church and an occasion for authentic spiritual renewal, was inaugurated on Jan. 10 with a decree issued by the Apostolic Penitentiary of the Holy See. Until Jan. 10 of next year, the faithful can obtain this grace under t...

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The Diocese of Norwich is inviting families and individuals of all ages to reach new heights— literally— at a free indoor rock climbing event on Saturday, February 7, at Central Rock Gym in Glastonbury. Adding to the excitement, Bishop Richard Reidy will be in attendance, offering participants a special opportunity to share in an evening of fellowship, encouragement, and fun with the diocesan shepherd. Designed as a welcoming experience for beginners and seasoned climbers alike, the event will run from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. and provides a safe, supervised...

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There are moments in life when loss arrives quietly and seems to dissolve into the folds of ordinary days, leaving behind a hollow ache and the sense that something precious slipped through your hands before the world ever had the chance to know it. Grief like this settles in the hidden places of the heart, searching for somewhere to land, somewhere to breathe, somewhere to be held with the gentleness it deserves. For our family, one of those moments came in July of 2023. We experienced a traumatic miscarriage, a sorrow we carried mostly in silence because that is so oft...

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The Knights of Columbus held an Exemplification of the Fourth Degree on Sunday, January 11, 2026, at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Norwich, marking a significant moment in the life of the Order and the Diocese. The Fourth Degree, the highest degree within the Knights of Columbus, emphasizes the principle of Patriotism and calls members to live their Catholic faith in faithful service to God, country, and community. The day began with Mass at 10:30 a.m., which was celebrated at the cathedral and offered in prayer for the candidates and their families. Following Mass...

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On Thursday, January 15, 2026, St. Vincent de Paul Middletown celebrated a major milestone with the groundbreaking of St. Vincent’s Commons at 12 Liberty Street in Middletown—a visible sign that the mission is moving forward, not just in words, but in bricks and mortar. The ceremony brought together supporters, community partners, and guests for an upbeat, hope-filled moment: prayers offered, plans shared, and then the symbolic “shovels in the ground” that officially marked the start of what will become St. Vincent’s Commons. Executive Di...

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