The Stations of the Cross began as the practice of pious pilgrims to Jerusalem who would retrace the final journey of Jesus Christ to Calvary. Later, for the many who wanted to pass along the same route, but could not make the trip to Jerusalem, a practice developed that eventually took the form of the fourteen stations currently found in almost every church.  The object of the stations is to help the Christian faithful make a spiritual pilgrimage through contemplation of the Passion of Christ. The Stations of the Cross, Cathedral o...

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FCC News Desk The new restrictions on public gathering and the enforcement of social distancing rules have affected us all, but online tools are freely availalbe to help Catholics remain connected to their faith in myriad different ways.   The Diocese of Norwich and its Office of Communications have adjusted quickly to provide communicants with different, and sometimes new and unusual, means of celebrating their faith and staying informed during a rapidly-evolving situation.   Bishop Cote has announced the temporary suspension of all Masses until fu...

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Norwich, Mass, Catholic

All the faithful are invited to join Pope Francis on Friday, March 27 for a special Urbi et Orbi blessing. The prayer and blessing will be broadcast by Vatican News at 6pm Rome time, 1pm EDT, 12pm CDT, 11am MDT, and 10am PDT. The Holy Father will grant to all who participate in the livestream a Plenary Indulgence before imparting the Urbi et Orbi Blessing. Click here for the Live Stream from Vatican News

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Vatican City, Mar 25, 2020 / 03:10 pm (CNA) - The miraculous crucifix at which Pope Francis prayed Sunday for an end to the coronavirus has been taken down from its altar and transported to St. Peter's Square, so it can be present on Friday during the pontiff's benediction "Urbi et Orbi." The crucifix was removed from the Church of San Marcello al Corso by Vatican personnel Wednesday evening, and is expected to be installed temporarily at St. Peter’s Square on Thursday, according to Vatican journalist Francesco Antonio Grana. The crucifix ...

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The latest issue of the Four County Catholic is available now, and is filled cover to cover with news from within the Diocese of Norwich.   Vocations Corner Deacon Michael Bovino reflects on his call to the priesthood in the first of a series of columns by our seminarians.   Rite of Election Catechumens and candidates were welcomed by Bishop Michael R. Cote at the Rite of Election Liturgy held Sunday March 1st at the Cathedral of Saint Patrick.   Junior Ring Ceremony Students at Xavier High School celebrated a rite of passage w...

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Catholic, schools

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak, health authorities have been urging us to pay attention to our hand hygiene — and for good reason. Washing your hands with soap and water is one of our cheapest forms of infection control, and also one of the most effective. It significantly helps to prevent and slow the spread of infection. With cases of COVID-19 expected to climb in the coming weeks and months, handwashing is one way we can each play our part in helping to slow or reduce the spread of the virus — and protect ourselves and...

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Prayer

N. 200320c Friday 20.03.2020 Decree of the Apostolic Penitentiary on the granting of special Indulgences to the faithful in the current pandemic The gift of special Indulgences is granted to the faithful suffering from COVID-19 disease, commonly known as Coronavirus, as well as to health care workers, family members and all those who in any capacity, including through prayer, care for them. “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer” (Rom 12: 12). The words written by Saint Paul to the Church of Rome resonate throughout the entir...

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COVID-19

On Sunday, March 22, Pope Francis invited all Christians throughout the world, of all denominations, to unite in prayer by offering an Our Father at Noon on March 25, the Solemnity of the Annunciation. He also will give a special blessing to the world on Friday, March 27, delivering an Urbi et Orbi message that is traditionally given only at Christmas and Easter. The full text of the Pope's words follows:  "Dear brothers and sisters, In these trying days, while humanity trembles due to the threat of the pandemic, I would like to ...

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Pope

Hartford – In May 2019, Pope Francis released his apostolic letter, Vos estis lux mundi (“You are the light of the world”) to address the issue of sexual abuse and bishop accountability in the global Catholic Church. Vos estis calls upon the metropolitan archbishops to receive and investigate reports pertaining to sexual abuse and related misconduct involving bishops. In June 2019, one month after Pope Francis issued his order, the bishops of the United States approved an implementation plan for carrying out the directives of the Holy Father here in the Un...

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The Diocese has created a special page for information about Masses and Church events affected by the coronavirus.    Bookmark and Visit NorwichDiocese.org/Coronavirus to stay Up-to-Date   Note: The Temporary Suspension of the Public Celebration of Mass in the Diocese of Norwich NORWICH – Beginning effective immediately, Bishop Michael R. Cote has mandated that all public celebrations of Mass be temporarily suspended in all churches of the Diocese of Norwich (the Connecticut counties of Middlesex, New London, Tolland, and Windham and Fi...

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