The Office of Faith Events includes the End of Life Ministry, which facilitates the production of cremation boxes made by retired carpenters, cabinet makers and shop teachers in our diocese. These retired craftsmen are using their gift and talents (and donating their time and treasure) to craft a cremation box that is available to anyone in need of one, free of charge. Some boxes come unpainted and unstatined which allows a person or family to personalize it themselves. Other boxes are stained a dark mahogoney or painted brown for a “classic” look. O...

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As we approach Lent, please allow me to speak to all who carry the unbearable sadness and guilt of an abortion experience. Be assured that Jesus keeps on loving you, no matter what. The blessed ashes distributed on our foreheads on Ash Wednesday remind us that we are all sinners; broken, imperfect, yet very precious in the eyes of God and so well loved by Him. The ashes are both a reminder of our need for repentance and the graces that flow from our Lord’s death and resurrection. Some stay away from the Church because they fear judgment of past sins. Yet as Pope Franc...

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A house fire while he was a senior in high school determined the path of retired carpenter Glenn Miller’s life work as a Catholic and pointed him in a different direction than he planned. It is a direction that through many twists and turns has brought him to a new venture in his retirement — making boxes to hold the cremains of loved ones for people who cannot afford to purchase one. This new initiative is part of the Office of Faith Events’ “End of Life Ministry.” The hand-crafted boxes have a raised cross on the cover to remind the recipi...

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In the wide, wide world of possible diaconal ministry opportunities, a bereavement ministry can be one of the most challenging, certainly one of the most rewarding and one of the less chosen. All deacons are a part of this ministry. We may preach at a funeral Mass, conduct funeral home services and offer prayers at a burial. Of course, if it is a family member, friend or parishioner you’ve known for a long time and they are close to death, you take the time to visit them. You might not realize it, but all of the above are part of bereavement support.  Even ...

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Life is unpredictable. We all know this to be true. Nothing is within our control. No amount of planning, organizing or preparation will guarantee a desired outcome. While we go about planning our days and lives, we often come to discover that God has entirely different plans for us.    My husband and I recently stumbled upon such a discovery, when we learned that we were expecting another baby. To say we were shocked would be an understatement. This baby was, in every way, very much a surprise. Truth be told, upon finding out our news, my first rea...

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Catholic Family Services “No family drops down from heaven perfectly formed; families need constantly to grow and mature in the ability to love.” ~ Pope Francis The Catholic Family Services office provides resources and support to parishes and families to promote and celebrate happy and holy marriages and families. The office provides programs in the areas of marriage preparation, marriage enrichment and support, natural family planning, and serves as a resource for the bereaved, divorced and separated, and  those seeking post-abortion healing....

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Beginning Experience of the Hudson Valley invites men and women of all ages who have suffered the loss of a spouse due to death, divorce or separation to a multi-session remote program: COPING WITH LIFE ALONE Take the first step on the road to recovery from one of life's most traumatic experiences. Program begins Sunday, January 30, 2022 At 1PM Remote Attendance Only REGISTRATION REQUIRED: Call Denise (845) 325-3147 or Victoria (860) 993-5469 Email: beginningexperienceofhv@gmail.com Website: www.beginningexperiencehv.org

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Have you lost a marriage through these trying times of COVID-19 and isolation?    There is a special heartache for those who are suffering from the loss of a spouse through death, divorce or a separation.  You are not alone.  All are welcome; women and men of all ages are encouraged to attend this one-day event: Coping with Life Alone…In the Beginning.    We also understand the issues surrounding COVID-19, and between the procedures of the Retreat Center AND Beginning Experience of Connecticut, you can rest...

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  In this time of social distancing due to Covid-19, the Diocese of Norwich Office of Faith Events seeks to support grieving families whose loved ones have died by including the names of their deceased loved ones on a Memory Page Click Here on the Diocese of Norwich Website. If you have lost a loved one in the past few months and would like his or her name included on this page, please email his or her full name, birth, and death dates to: Mary-Jo McLaughlin Catholic Family Services mmclaughlin@norwichdiocese.net The names will be changed ...

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Visit our Bereavement and Grief Support Page to Find a List of Resources and Articles to help you deal with grief.  

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