“Beloved, now is the acceptable time spoken of by the Spirit, the day of salvation, peace and reconciliation: the great season of Advent. This is the time eagerly awaited by the patriarchs and prophets, the time that holy Simeon rejoiced to see.” – St. Charles Borromeo The first day of Advent in 2025 is Sunday, November 30, 2025. According to the USCCB’s liturgical calendar, this is the first Sunday of Advent and the start of the new liturgical year. Advent will end on December 24, 2025, as we prepare to celebrate the Nativity of ...

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I love the Advent Season. I love it not just for what it leads to – the joyful celebration of Christ’s birth at Bethlehem. I love Advent for itself: a season of longing, expectation, and hope. I think that, in a way, the entirety of life is like Advent. There is, deep within us, a longing for God and, as Saint Augustine says, our hearts are restless until they rest in God. That longing and restlessness will not be entirely satisfied until we reach Heaven. Until then, in this life, many things compete for our attention. Those things variously attract us, distr...

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In our very busy world, it’s easy to feel stretched thin or spiritually scattered. This Advent, come renew your heart and rediscover the gifts God longs to give you.   Join us for a three-week Virtual Advent Mission as we reflect on how Patience, Perseverance, and Peace can take root in our lives through prayer and grace. Join us on Tuesdays: December 2, 9, & 16 from 7PM – 8PM.  To register contact Alvania at atejada@norwichdiocese.net or 860-848-2237 ext. 304. Come prepare your heart for Christ this Advent season.     ...

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*Padre Pio and the Humble Mystery of the Incarnation* For Padre Pio, the heart of December was never noise or celebration—it was wonder. He was profoundly moved by the mystery of the Incarnation, the moment when God chose to enter the world in the smallest and simplest of forms. The humility of the Christ Child touched him deeply. Witnesses often noted that even the mention of the Infant Jesus brought a tenderness to his face and a quiet reverence to his voice. Though Padre Pio did not write extensively about the liturgical days leading up to Christmas, th...

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As we enter the quiet beauty of Advent, the Diocese of Norwich invites you to pause, pray, and share the light of Christ with those in need. Join us on Thursday, December 11th at 6:30 p.m. at Sts. Peter & Paul Church in Norwich for a special Advent Holy Hour with Bishop Reidy. This sacred hour before the Blessed Sacrament will include an Advent reflection offered by Bishop Reidy— an opportunity to rest in God’s presence, deepen your anticipation for the coming of Christ, and reflect on the hope and renewal this season brings. All are welcome, and peopl...

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Lord God, on this day of Thanksgiving, we ask your blessings on our family, our friends, our home, our health and on the food we are about to eat. We thank you for this time together and the many gifts that you have given us. Help us to remember in this time of bounty those less fortunate. And may your love consume us all that we might share in our glory. Amen.

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