All Diocesan Articles

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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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Eight hundred years after his death, the remains of St. Francis of Assisi were exhumed and placed on public display in the crypt of the Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi for a monthlong veneration, highlighting the Catholic tradition of venerating relics as tangible reminders of holiness. ROME (CNS) -- Eight hundred years after his death, the bones of St. Francis of Assisi have been placed on public display for the first extended public viewing in history, drawing hundreds of thousands of pilgrims to the hilltop town. Following Pope Leo XIV's approval and blessing...

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