The St. Vincent de Paul Place food pantry and kitchen in Norwich was the recipient this week of a generous donation from the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe during a visit by tribal and city officials.  "We extend our heartfelt thanks to the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation  for their generous donation to help us provide food to our most vulnerable community members through our pantry," St. Vincent de Paul Place Norwich posted online.  The donation of $25,000, part of an annual giving campaign, comes during an ongoing disruption to SNAP benefits.&n...

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Maria Sweeney Joins Evangelization & Discipleship as Youth and Young Adult Minister The Diocese of Norwich is pleased to welcome Maria Sweeney as our new Youth and Young Adult Minister in the Evangelization and Discipleship Ministry. Maria, a wife and mother of four, and her family are parishioners of the Cathedral of Saint Patrick, Norwich. Before moving to Connecticut in 2020, she served for many years in parish youth ministry in both the Diocese of Rockville Centre and the Archdiocese of New York, where she led retreats, youth pilgrimages, and parish-based cate...

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The Vatican on Saturday named St. John Henry Newman a doctor of the Church. The 19th-century English saint — a former Anglican priest who converted to Catholicism — joined 37 other saints who have been given the same honor. Born in London and baptized into the Church of England in 1801, Newman was a popular and respected Anglican priest, theologian, and writer among his peers prior to his conversion to Catholicism in 1845. He was ordained a Catholic priest in 1847 and later made a cardinal by Pope Leo XIII in 1879. As a Catholic, Newman deepened and contri...

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Pope Leo XIV’s prayer intention for the month of November is for the prevention of suicide.  “Let us pray that those who are struggling with suicidal thoughts might find the support, care, and love they need in their community and be open to the beauty of life,” the pope said in a video released Nov. 4.  According to a press release, this month’s video was made in collaboration with the Diocese of Phoenix.   In the video, Pope Leo recites an original prayer written specifically for this month’s prayer intention...

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Karen Huffer Retires as Diocesan Finance Officer With deep gratitude, the Diocese of Norwich announces the retirement of Karen Huffer, Finance Officer. Known for her professionalism, steady leadership, and deep commitment to the mission of the Church, Karen’s work has touched nearly every aspect of diocesan life—quietly ensuring that the financial foundation of our ministries remains sound and transparent. As Finance Officer, Karen oversaw the budgeting, reporting, and compliance functions that support parishes, schools, and ministries throughout eastern C...

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In his first major document as pontiff, Pope Leo XIV has released a powerful call to action for the universal Church. His apostolic exhortation, Dilexi Te (“On Love for the Poor”), promulgated on October 4, 2025, the Memorial of St. Francis of Assisi, and released in English five days later, sets forth a vision of the Church centered on compassion, humility, and solidarity with the poor. Building upon the unfinished work of Pope Francis, Dilexi Te weaves together the pastoral wisdom of two shepherds whose lives and ministries have been deeply shaped by Latin Ame...

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The dilemmas are real, and our decisions cut deep. As medical professionals, we struggle to integrate our Catholic values into the practice of medicine. Here is just a sampling of the moral struggles confronted by physicians every day: Many physicians are inundated by requests for birth control prescriptions. Countless young women go to the doctor specifically for that reason, being quite upfront that they want the pills to avoid pregnancy and to “just have fun.” Many medical professionals now know that if they say no, their healthcare organization might disc...

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Once an “ordained” Satanic priest, Bartolo Longo underwent one of the most dramatic conversions in recent Church history. He was canonized a saint on Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025, in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican. | Credit: Courtney Mares/CNA   St. Bartolo Longo — a former Satanist “priest” whose remarkable conversion led him to create a Shrine to Our Lady of the Rosary and spread devotion to the prayer — was canonized by Pope Leo XIV on Oct. 19. In addition to his example of faith and Marian devotion, Bartolo Longo (Bart...

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  A Lifetime of Love Jack and Jane Sterry’s life together goes back to when both were just schoolkids living in Portland, Connecticut.  Jack was a senior and Jane an incoming freshman at Portland High School when Jack took one look at Jane and knew she was the one for him. They’ve been together ever since and celebrated 69 years of marriage on June 30th.  “I was lucky with this guy,” Jane said while patting Jack on the arm as both sat in the front pew of the Cathedral of Saint Patrick in Norwich, waiting for the start of the Si...

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The National Shrine of the North American Martyrs   On Thursday, October 16, a busload of travelers and I accompanied Bishop Reidy on a pilgrimage to the National Shrine of the North American Martyrs. The day was marked by a pleasant bus ride, prayer, Holy Mass, and the beautiful vistas of the Mohawk Valley. Shrine of Our Lady of Martyrs The Shrine, also known as Our Lady of Martyrs Shrine, is located in Auriesville / Fultonville, NY. It encompasses the village known as Ossernenon, where Saints Isaac Jogues, René Goupil, and Jean de Lalande were martyred, a...

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