Home/Stay Informed/All Diocesan Articles

All Diocesan Articles

St. John Paul II Regional School Draws from Rich Heritage
This month we focus the spotlight on another one of the outstanding educational institutions in the diocese - Saint Paul II Regional School Catholic education has a rich tradition in Middletown. For more than 100 years, parish Catholic Schools have provided education to students in pre-kindergart...

Read More

New Employment Opportunities in the Diocese of Norwich
Looking for a job? We have a number of open positions that can be found at  NorwichDiocese.org/Employment.   Be sure to keep the link to NorwichDiocese.org/Employment handy

Read More

Catholic Family Services a Constant Resource for Parishes and Families
Winter has always seemed to be a time for me to reflect on the past year. In our household it’s a little less busy than the other seasons. As I look forward to Spring and the warmer weather, I think about the many important people in my life. I am always so grateful for a happy marriage, a kin...

Read More

Love of Family - Hope & Faith Video Series
This week on the Hope and Faith Series, Mary-Jo McLaughlin, Coordinator of Catholic Family Services, speaks about how to do "small things with great love" for our family.   View previous videos or more articles on Faith by visiting NorwichDiocese.org/FaithSpar...

Read More

Bishop's Column: Called to the Joy of Love
February 2022 Four County Catholic Called to the Joy of Love My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, A faithful marriage is a re-creation in time and space of Jesus’ love for His people, the Church. Selfless love, which is the core of the Gospel message, is truly the very heart of mar...

Read More

'In closing ...' - A Year of Exploring the Sacraments
Sacraments 101: Volume 15 - In Closing… Over the last year or so, we’ve looked at the seven Sacraments of the Church as instituted and handed down to us by Jesus Himself and His Catholic Church. In these articles, we explored some of the theological foundations for each Sacrament. We...

Read More

Anchors of Hope-Diocese Celebrates Consecrated Life
World Day for Consecrated Life February 6, 2022 10:30 a.m. "Anchors of Hope" was the theme for this year's celebration of consecrated life in the Diocese of Norwich. The virtue hope is described as the anchor of the soul in the letter to the Hebrews chapter 6 v...

Read More

Vocations, faith
“Your Powerful and Authentic Voice” - Ike Ndolo Comes to UConn
On Dec. 2, National Catholic musician, speaker, campus minister, family man and podcaster Ike Ndolo came to the UConn Storrs campus to speak to university students and young adults in our diocese about "Your Powerful and Authentic Voice" in the Chapel of St. Thomas Aquinas.  It was the las...

Read More

Education Sponsorship Program Helps Haitian Woman Realize Her Dream
"For I know well the plans I have in mind for you—oracle of the LORD—plans for your welfare and not for woe, so as to give you a future of hope." (Jeremiah 29:11) These words of Jeremiah, remind us God knows each of us and has plans so that we may have a future of hope....

Read More

Catholic Charities Middletown Office Has a New Location!
Catholic Charities, Diocese of Norwich is excited to announce that the  Middletown office has relocated inside the Amazing Grace Food Pantry located at 16 Stack Street in Middletown.  This partnership will enable Catholic Charities to fulfill its mission to respond to Christ’s call t...

Read More

Page 115 of 191First   Previous   110  111  112  113  114  [115]  116  117  118  119  Next   Last   

Most Viewed Articles of the Last 30 Days

Mass at Midnight Returns to Saint Patrick Cathedral This Christmas Eve
Diocese Welcomes All to Midnight Mass There is something unforgettable about a church filled in the quiet hours of Christmas Eve, when the city has gone still and the only sound is familiar carols rising into the rafters. This year, the Diocese of Norwich invites you to experience that moment again as Mass at Midnight returns to the Cathedral of Saint Patrick on Christmas Eve. The Most Reverend Richard F. Reidy will be the celebrant. Plan to arrive early, as the Cathedral choir will begin singing Christmas carols about 30 minutes before Mass begins, helping to prepare...

Read More

Jennifer Harding named new Executive Director of Outreach to Haiti
Outreach to Haiti has welcomed Jennifer “Jen” Harding as its new Executive Director, succeeding Susan Wallace, who served the ministry since June 2019.   Jen brings extensive experience in international development and a strong commitment to compassionate, community-driven service. “At the heart of this work is walking alongside Haitian communities with humility and hope, listening first and building together,” Jen shared.   Jen joins Outreach to Haiti with 20 years of experience leading health and community programs in Afri...

Read More

Advent Hope and Haiti’s Faithful Journey- A Season of Waiting and Witness
As we journey through these days of Advent, we are reminded that this is a season filled with hope and expectation—and that our road to the fullness of God’s Kingdom has mountains to climb and valleys to descend before we reach our destination. In this season of preparation, we remember not only Christ’s coming, but also those who still wait for redemption in the midst of suffering—like our brothers and sisters in Haiti. The people of Haiti know well the twists and turns of an arduous journey as they travel a rugged road, trusting it will lead to ...

Read More

Faith, Friendship, and Forever: UConn Missionaries Discern Vocation Together
Ethan and Julie Roberts are two of the FOCUS missionaries at UConn, bringing students on campus to Christ through evangelization, outreach, and discipleship. In August, they united in the sacrament of Holy Matrimony. I recently sat down with them to discuss their discernment of their vocation to marriage. Both Julie and Ethan had transformative experiences with the Lord while in college themselves. Their earlier relationships had not been oriented toward vocational discernment. Neither had understood that the Lord had a vocational call for them—that He had a defini...

Read More

Blessing of the Christmas Manger

Posted on December 16, 2025 in: ADVENT

387

Blessing of the Christmas Manger
The beloved custom of displaying figures depicting the birth of Jesus Christ began with St. Francis of Assisi, who created the first Christmas crèche on Christmas Eve in 1223. The blessing of the manger or nativity scene may take place on the Vigil of Christmas—that is, Christmas Eve—or at another suitable time. Many families and parishes set up their mangers earlier in Advent. It is perfectly appropriate to bless the nativity scene when it is first displayed, even if the figure of the Infant Jesus has not yet been placed. When the Baby Jesus is added—t...

Read More

Christmas Creche, Tree Are Signs of Hope, Pope Says
Pope Leo XIV asked Catholics to reflect on the meaning behind Nativity scenes and brightly lit Christmas trees, and to ask God offer the gift of peace and fraternity. He also called for prayers for all those who suffer because of war and violence, saying, "We must eliminate hatred from our hearts."   VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The Nativity scene and the Christmas tree are signs of faith and hope, Pope Leo XIV said. "As we contemplate them in our homes, parishes and town squares, let us ask the Lord to renew in us the gift of peace and fraternity,&quo...

Read More

Annual Catholic Appeal

ACA DONATE

English

Español

 

Latest Articles
Jennifer Harding named new Executive Director of Outreach to Haiti
Mass at Midnight Returns to Saint Patrick Cathedral This Christmas Eve
Christmas Creche, Tree Are Signs of Hope, Pope Says
Advent Hope and Haiti’s Faithful Journey- A Season of Waiting and Witness
Blessing of the Christmas Manger
A Question of Faith — What Makes the Star of Bethlehem So Significant To Our Advent Journey?
Faith, Friendship, and Forever: UConn Missionaries Discern Vocation Together
A Diocesan Night of Unity: Our Lady of Guadalupe Mass in Norwich
Recently Added Galleries
Click to view album: Bowling with Bishop Reidy 2025
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