Each year, on November 2nd, Catholics observe All Souls Day— a day set aside to remember and pray for our loved ones who have passed away. While we celebrate those already in heaven on All Saints Day, All Souls Day focuses on those who may still be in purgatory, undergoing final purification before entering the fullness of God’s presence. In Catholic tradition, purgatory is a place of hope and mercy. It’s where souls receive the purification needed to be with God, and our prayers, sacrifices, and Masses offered on their behalf can help. This belief is r...

Read More

Remembering Our Beloved Dead: The Gift of Prayer and Purgatory “We have loved them in life, let us not forget them in death...” — Saint Ambrose November is the last month of the Church's liturgical year. It is a time in which the readings at Mass and the observances of the liturgical calendar call to mind the Last Things. The Solemnity of All Saints (November 1) reminds us of Heaven, the goal of us all. The Thirty-third Sunday of Ordinary Time (November 15) reminds us of death, the fate of us all. The Feast of Christ the King (November 22) rem...

Read More

A stunning fall day at the Lake of Isles Golf Course in North Stonington provided brilliant colors of red, orange, yellow, and gold on October 25, 2026, for the 16th Annual Seton Scholarship Dinner. Dr. Gail Kingston, Superintendent of Schools, Bishop Richard Reidy, and the Office of Development hosted more than 100 guests. Named in honor of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, the dinner recognizes the lasting impact of Catholic education and honors educators whose service reflects the mission of Catholic schools throughout the diocese. Bishop Richard Reidy (left) stands wit...

Read More

Brothers in Christ is a gathering of men who come together to share faith, personal experiences, and meaningful discussion. Virtual fellowship meetings are held on the second Thursday of each month. Our next meeting will be held on Thursday, November 12, 2026, from 7:00 to 7:45 p.m. The guest speaker will be Deacon Peter Gil, who will speak about St. Vincent de Paul Place. The meeting will take place virtually via Webex. If you are interested in joining this session and building fellowship and discipleship with other men devoted to Christ, please register by contactin...

Read More

Donate to the Four County Catholic   If you're old enough to remember the Apollo 13 mission, you'll remember the famous words: "Houston, we have a problem." While things at the Four County Catholic are thankfully much less dramatic, we do have a problem of our own. We simply have more good news than we have room to print. Every two months, our editorial team faces the same challenge. We gather inspiring stories from our ministries and parishes across Eastern Connecticut — people serving the poor, young people growing in faith, famili...

Read More

Judith (Judy) Hughes — Funeral arrangements are included at the end of this tribute. — It is with sadness that we share the news of the passing of Judith (Judy) Hughes, whose nearly five decades of faithful service and dedication to spiritual renewal touched countless lives throughout the Diocese of Norwich. Judy began her ministry in the late 1970s working alongside Father Ray Introvigne at the Spiritual Renewal Center in Norwich. She later became associate director and, in 1994, was appointed co-director. Together, they led parish missions, retreats...

Read More