Home/Stay Informed/All Diocesan Articles

All Diocesan Articles

Father Gregory Galvin, Director of Priestly Vocations

It’s hard to believe that by the time Easter arrives this year we will only be ten days away from the month of May.

God continues to answer the many prayers from all parts of the diocese regarding an increase of vocations. I am excited to announce that Bishop Cote happily accepted Mark Johnson into sponsorship to begin studies for the priesthood. Mark has been discerning a vocation to the priesthood actively since his sophomore year at UCONN and will hopefully be accepted into seminary later this summer. He will be graduating from UCONN in May, with two degrees in science. Mark grew up attending St. Joseph parish in Rockville and lives in Tolland.

With Easter not far off, we are happy to announce that third year theologian Mike Bovino, originally from Pawcatuck, will be ordained a transitional deacon May 23, 2019 at St. Mary Church in Stonington. Mike will begin his fourth year of theology at Mount St. Mary Seminary in Emmitsburg Maryland in September and is looking forward to being called to priestly ordination the last weekend of June in 2020.

Deacon Michael Castiblanco will be finishing his studies this May at Mount Saint Mary Seminary, and has been called to Priestly Ordination by Bishop Cote for June 29, 2019.

As you can see much is going on in the diocese regarding vocations to the priesthood. Therefore, I also want to call to your mind that this coming May, we have our Annual Diocesan Seminary Education Fund collection. We appreciate the prayerful support for our seminarians. Please consider making a gift towards their education. Your donation makes it possible for these men to be well trained and well prepared to lead God’s family in the future.

We appreciate the support you give to our future priests. Have a blessed Holy Week and Easter Season.


Most Viewed Articles of the Last 30 Days

Laugh, Think, Cry, and Pray — Reconnecting with Faith This Lent
An Unforgettable Speech I had the privilege of working at ESPN for 13 years, and during that time, I witnessed some incredible moments that transcended sports. One of the most powerful was Jim Valvano—Jimmy V—delivering his unforgettable speech at the 1993 ESPY Awards. Battling cancer, he spoke about what makes a good day: “Number one is laugh. You should laugh every day. Number two is think, you should spend some time in thought. And number three is you should have your emotions moved to tears. Could be happiness or joy, but think about it. If you lau...

Read More

Joyous Rite of Election Welcomes Catechumens and Candidates to the Diocese
Calling it a "cause for great joy," Bishop Richard F. Reidy welcomed 250 people on the road to becoming Catholic or completing their initiation during the Diocese of Norwich's annual Rite of Election.  The Rite of Election on Sunday, February 22, 2026, at the Cathedral of Saint Patrick was a watershed in several ways for the Diocese of Norwich. This year, the diocese welcomed 98 catechumens, along with 152 candidates, making for the highest combined total for the Diocese of Norwich in 10 years.  This is another step toward their journ...

Read More

Palm Sunday Concert Planned at Cathedral of St. Patrick
On Sunday, March 29, 2026, at 7:30 p.m., the Cathedral of St. Patrick will resonate with the stirring sounds of sacred music as the Eastern Connecticut Symphony Orchestra and the Eastern Connecticut Symphony Chorus present a special Palm Sunday concert. Under the direction of Music Director and Conductor Toshiyuki Shimada and Chorus Director Daniel McDavitt, the evening promises a moving meditation through music at the threshold of Holy Week. The concert will feature Dan Forrest’s Requiem, a profound and contemporary work known for its striking beauty and emotio...

Read More

God Offers New Possibilities, Not Prohibitions, With His Invitation to Love, Pope Says
Beginning with the story of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, humankind has had to face "the age-old dilemma: can I live my life to the fullest by saying 'yes' to God? Or, to be free and happy, must I free myself from Him?" Pope Leo XIV said during an early morning Mass celebrated in the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Rome. ROME (CNS) -- While Satan tempts humanity with the lie of gaining unlimited power, God offers the gift of true freedom that leads to real love, relationships and fulfillment, Pope Leo XIV said. Beginning with the story...

Read More

Pope Leo XIV Explains the Church’s ‘Human and Divine Dimensions’
Pope Leo XIV leads the weekly general audience in St. Peter’s Square on March 4, 2026. | Credit: Daniel Ibanez/EWTN News The pope’s catechesis focused on the dogmatic constitution Lumen Gentium, one of the pillars of Vatican II. VATICAN CITY — Pope Leo XIV said Wednesday that the Church cannot be understood solely from a human perspective but rather as the fruit of God’s plan of love for humanity realized in Christ. He also emphasized that this does not imply the spiritual superiority of the Church’s members. “An ideal and pure C...

Read More

Resources to Help You on Your Lenten Journey

Posted on February 25, 2026 in: Lent

377

Resources to Help You on Your Lenten Journey
One week into Lent, we are invited to pause and ask how this season is shaping us. It is a moment to take stock of our prayer, our sacrifices, and the ways we are drawing closer to the heart of Christ. During Lent, we prepare for the celebration of Christ’s resurrection through prayer and reflection. We contemplate the promised Second Coming of Jesus as Savior. And amid the flurry of preparations, we look for practical ways to observe the holiness of the season in our everyday lives. To help you with this preparation, we have gathered various Lent ...

Read More

 

 

 

Latest Articles
Pope Leo XIV Explains the Church’s ‘Human and Divine Dimensions’
2026 Annual Catholic Appeal will officially kick off March 7 and 8
USCCB Respect Life Prayer Guide
‘God Chose You for Me’: Marriage Retreat Day Planned for March 21
Called by Name in the Silence of Lent
Why Do the Bones of St. Francis Draw Hundreds of Thousands of Pilgrims?
Servant of God Sister Thea Bowman’s Voice Needed ‘More Than Ever’
We Can Help. Promise to Protect-Pledge to Heal.
Recently Added Galleries
Click to view album: Adventure, Faith and Fellowship with Bishop Reidy
Click to view album: Ninety-Fifth Anniversary of the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Saint Brendan the Navigator Catholic Community
Click to view album: Episcopal Ordination of Bishop Richard F. Reidy
Click to view album: Students Called to Feed the Hungry
Signup for Weekly Newsletter


    Roman Catholic Diocese of Norwich
    201 Broadway
    Norwich, CT 06360-4328
    Phone: 860-887-9294