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Bishop's Column: Finding Joy and Balance in Leisure
July/August 2024 Four County Catholic “Through leisure, man rediscovers himself and finds again his true face, his true self, created in the image and likeness of God.” – Pope John Paul II, Laborem Exercens, 1981   My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, As...

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As Marriage Rates Continue to Plunge, How Can the Church Get More People to the Altar?
The Catholic Church needs to be focused at the parish level to drive up plunging marriage rates among the faithful, experts say, as low marriage rates in the Church mirror the collapse of matrimony in wider society.  Catholic marriage rates dropped by about 70% between 1969 and 2019, accordi...

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How Can the Catholic Church Better Prepare for the Next Pandemic?
“Everything possible must be done to keep the churches open and operational,” said Dr. José María Simón Castellví, president emeritus of the International Federation of Catholic Medical Associations (FIAMC) in a recent essay for that organization titled “Preparing the Church for th...

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In Case You Missed It: The Office of Faith Events Summer Mission Recordings
2024's Virtual Summer Mission was Recognizing the Divine in Art.   Art is a way to feel closer to God, it is a beautiful medium to connect with the divine and get in touch with your inner self. We should all take some time to explore art that speaks to the heart and see how our spiri...

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Grants from National Collections Reveal Global Impact of the Generosity of U.S. Catholics
The bishops awarded 453 grants totaling over $10.5 million that will support pastoral care, evangelization, and social ministry here in the United States and in three global regions, all made possible through the generosity of U.S. Catholics. WASHINGTON - In June, the bishops on the subcommittees...

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Catholic Charities Visits Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut’s New Innovation Center 
Kathy Capon, Norwich Diocesan Catholic Charities Board member, and Yahaira Gonzalez, New London Office Case Worker, visited the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut’s new Innovation Center on Eugene O’Neil Drive in New London, July 11, 2024. Mrs. Capon invited Erica Benvenuti from ...

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New Haven Church Rebuilds St. Trofimena Society
David Kelley says he was raised in an Italian household in New Haven that preserved “Italian food, traditions and the Catholic faith.”  Most of his Italian relatives were parishioners of their neighborhood St. Michael Church, located in Wooster Square in New Haven. The church, wh...

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Annual Golf Tournament: A Celebration of Community and Generosity
Catholic Charities Diocese of Norwich recently held its highly anticipated Annual Golf Tournament, a cherished event that brings together community members, sponsors, and participants in support of various charitable initiatives. The tournament was not only a display of golfing prowess but also a te...

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‘Always smiling’: Chiara Corbella’s Father Remembers Her Joy, Faith
Last month, the Diocese of Rome closed its investigation into the virtues and reputation for holiness of Chiara Corbella Petrillo, a 28-year-old wife and mother who died in 2012 from cancer after delaying treatment until after the birth of her son.  Chiara is known for her joy and simple fai...

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‘God is Hidden in Human Misery’: Pope Francis Highlights Dignity of Migrants, Prisoners
In the face of a sometimes “anesthetized,” consumerist society, we must recall the “scandal” of our Christian faith — that God became man and dwells in each of us, especially the weakest, Pope Francis said in the northern Italian city of Trieste on July 7. “We ...

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Your Guide to Church Bazaar and Craft Fairs and Other Events
Use the Handy List Below to See Where All the Best Church Bazaars and Craft Fairs are Being Held Throughout the Diocese. You Can Also Add Events to Your Google Calendar from Ours.          Saturday, December 13 Cookie Sale and Basket Raffle Our Lady of La Salette, Brooklyn • 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM Join us for our annual sale and raffle. This event sells out quickly, so please arrive early.   Saturday, December 13 Christmas Cookie Sale St. Mark Church Hall, Westbrook • 9:00 AM – 12:00 P...

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Celebrate the Season: Festival of Lessons and Carols Returns
To Prepare Your Heart for the Coming of the Lord You are warmly invited to the Festival of Lessons and Carols on December 21 at 7:30 PM at the Cathedral of Saint Patrick. This traditional service combines scripture readings that recount God’s plan of salvation—from humanity’s fall to the birth of Christ—with choral music, organ accompaniment, and carol singing by the assembly. The evening will include performances by: Norwich Diocesan Choir, featuring selections from Bach and Saint-Saens Cathedral Choir, Bells of Saint Patrick, and Scho...

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Blessing of a Christmas Tree

Posted on December 09, 2025 in: ADVENT

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Blessing of a Christmas Tree
The Christmas tree, a newer custom rooted in the “tree of paradise” from medieval plays, reminds us that Christ is the Light of the World. It is set up before Christmas and remains until Epiphany, with lights illuminated after the blessing.A parent or family member may lead the blessing, perhaps during the evening meal on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. Opening: Leader: ✝ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. All: Amen. Leader: Let us glorify Christ our light, who brings salvation and peace. All: Amen. Leader: As Christ was...

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Unwrapping the Stories Behind Our Favorite Carols

Posted on December 09, 2025 in: News

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Unwrapping the Stories Behind Our Favorite Carols
  When my children were in grade school, we hosted several caroling parties in December. Family and friends would pile into the house, and I’d hand out little songbooks I had put together. After a short practice session in the living room, where I could see the Cathedral from the window, we would set out into the neighborhood. We stopped at houses along the way, including the rectory and the bishop’s house, before ending at Sheltering Arms, a senior residence in Norwich. The night always ended back at home with mugs of hot chocolate and slow cookers f...

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A Festive Autumn Atmosphere at the 15th Annual Seton Scholarship Dinner
The trees surrounding the Lake of Isles provided brilliant colors of red, orange, yellow, and gold on October 26, 2025, at the 15th Annual Seton Scholarship Dinner. Dr. Gail Kingston, Superintendent of Schools, Bishop Reidy, and the Office of Development hosted nearly 160 people on this glorious fall day. This year we honored the commitment of three people who have spent their careers dedicated to our diocesan Catholic school system while enjoying the melodious voices of the Saint Patrick Cathedral Choir as they filled the room singing “God Bless America” and &l...

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