As summer begins to wind down, Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Norwich is inviting the community to help local children start the new school year with confidence by donating new school supplies.   Each year, many families throughout eastern Connecticut struggle to afford the basic supplies students need for a successful school year. Through this annual Back-to-School School Supply Drive, Catholic Charities hopes to ease that burden by providing children with the tools they need to learn, grow, and thrive in the classroom.   Donations of new school...

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Bishop Richard F. Reidy opens the Blessing of the Farm near the barn at Wehpittituck Farm, its loft doors draped with an American flag. As farmers moved into the heart of the growing and harvest season, members of the Catholic community gathered under a clear summer sky on Tuesday, Aug. 18, for a Blessing of the Farm at Wehpittituck Farm on Cove Road in Stonington. Bishop Richard F. Reidy led the outdoor rite in honor of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of ecology and animals, giving thanks for the land and asking God's continued protection over the farm, its ...

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A Tradition Continues in Pawcatuck Hosted by the St. Michael Maria Assunta Society, this tradition was brought here by the Sicilian Tusani who migrated and settled in Pawcatuck. The beautiful statue of the Blessed Mother was carved in Genoa from wood and shipped from Palermo, Sicily, in 1935. Over the years, the celebration has centered around the tradition of a special Sunday Mass and a procession with the statue of the Blessed Mother through the streets of Pawcatuck, accompanied by a band playing traditional music. Along the route, people stop the procession to ...

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Brothers in Christ: Building Fellowship Through Faith and Prayer   Men throughout the Diocese of Norwich are invited to deepen their faith and strengthen their relationship with Christ through Brothers in Christ, a virtual gathering centered on prayer, fellowship and meaningful discussion.   Designed as a place where men can come together to share their faith and personal experiences, Brothers in Christ offers an opportunity to encourage one another in Christian discipleship while growing in their spiritual lives.   The group will hold its f...

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The World Needs God’s Love and Mercy More Than Ever               The world's need for God's love and mercy may explain why the Divine Mercy Ministry to Seniors, a new ministry introduced by the Office of Evangelization & Discipleship, has quickly become one of the most popular new ministries in the Diocese. When the announcement about an informational meeting was released a month ago, the Office of Evangelization & Discipleship was flooded with inquiries about the new ministry and its implementation.  The ...

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How Religious Communities and Diocesan Clergy Work Together to Build Up the Church Have you ever wondered why some priests belong to a religious community and others do not? Or why are there multiple religious orders active in our diocese, some of which are connected to parishes and others that are not? These can be causes of confusion for many in the Church, but the answers lie in the foundational idea of vocation. First, we must speak of the vocation to the religious life, or more properly, the consecrated life. People in this vocation are called to give a total gif...

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