All Diocesan Articles

  A Lifetime of Love Jack and Jane Sterry’s life together goes back to when both were just schoolkids living in Portland, Connecticut.  Jack was a senior and Jane an incoming freshman at Portland High School when Jack took one look at Jane and knew she was the one for him. They’ve been together ever since and celebrated 69 years of marriage on June 30th.  “I was lucky with this guy,” Jane said while patting Jack on the arm as both sat in the front pew of the Cathedral of Saint Patrick in Norwich, waiting for the start of the Si...

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The National Shrine of the North American Martyrs   On Thursday, October 16, a busload of travelers and I accompanied Bishop Reidy on a pilgrimage to the National Shrine of the North American Martyrs. The day was marked by a pleasant bus ride, prayer, Holy Mass, and the beautiful vistas of the Mohawk Valley. Shrine of Our Lady of Martyrs The Shrine, also known as Our Lady of Martyrs Shrine, is located in Auriesville / Fultonville, NY. It encompasses the village known as Ossernenon, where Saints Isaac Jogues, René Goupil, and Jean de Lalande were martyred, a...

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Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati (1901–1925) has long been admired for his vibrant spirit, devotion to the Eucharist, and tireless service to the poor—qualities now officially recognized by the Church with his canonization.   A Life of Adventure, Prayer, and Service Born into a well-to-do family in Turin, Italy, Pier Giorgio might easily have embraced a life of ease. Instead, he chose a radical path of generosity. Known affectionately—and mischievously—as “the Terror” by peers at the Royal Polytechnic of Turin, his lighthearted p...

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The Quiet Beauty of November November begins with a quiet beauty. The air cools, the leaves fall, and nature itself seems to pause, reminding us that all things, even life, pass through seasons. It is fitting, then, that the Church dedicates this month to remembering the faithful departed, those who have gone before us marked with the sign of faith, yet still journeying toward the fullness of heaven. We enter this sacred time with two beautiful feasts that frame our hope and our prayer: All Saints’ Day on November 1st and All Souls’ Day on November 2nd. On...

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In his first major document as pontiff, Pope Leo XIV has released a powerful call to action for the universal Church. His apostolic exhortation, Dilexi Te (“On Love for the Poor”), promulgated on October 4, 2025, the Memorial of St. Francis of Assisi, and released in English five days later, sets forth a vision of the Church centered on compassion, humility, and solidarity with the poor. Building upon the unfinished work of Pope Francis, Dilexi Te weaves together the pastoral wisdom of two shepherds whose lives and ministries have been deeply shaped by Latin Ame...

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As fall is now upon us, the days grow cooler, and the scent of kitchens fills the air. It is a season that draws us back to family tables, to recipes passed down through generations, and to the warmth that food and fellowship bring. Cooking becomes more than a task; it becomes a way of remembering, of handing on traditions, and of savoring the love that binds families together. It is in that spirit that the following reflection takes shape.   Yet, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand.” Isaiah ...

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