Jennifer Hubbard was the keynote speaker at this year’s Diocesan Women’s Conference. Jennifer lost her daughter in the Sandy Hook shooting in Newtown. One would think that her keynote would be inspiring while at the same time including sad recollections of a terrible low point in her life. But that could not be farther from the truth! Jennifer’s talk was filled of inspirational antidotes from her life as a cradle Catholic- sharing very frankly the ups and downs of her faith journey. She stressed that as a believer she can always count on two facts - ...

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“A Catholic cemetery is consecrated ground, an extension of the Church.” With this understanding, our cemeteries are not simply places of burial, but sacred spaces worthy of the same reverence we give within the walls of our churches. Just as we would carefully consider what is appropriate to place at the altar, so too should we be mindful of what is placed at a gravesite. The Norwich Diocesan Cemeteries serve families throughout the region and include: St. Mary and St. Joseph Cemeteries on Boswell Avenue in Norwich; Sacred Heart Cemeteries in Norwich and Wau...

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The Blessing of the Easter baskets is a long-cherished tradition in the Catholic faith. Rooted in religious significance and cultural heritage, it has come to hold profound meaning for people of all ethnic backgrounds. Its roots date back to the early 12th century history of Poland, and is now observed by many Eastern European countries, the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. Many Eastern Roman Catholics and Orthodox Christians, including Czechs, Croatians, Hungarians, Lithuanians, Russians, Slovaks and Ukrainians, also participate in this holy ritual. On Holy...

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Led by our fearless leader, Bishop Richard Reidy, we embarked on Wednesday, March 18th from a beautiful Pro-Life Mass celebrated by our Good Sheperd at the Cathedral to Hartford to attend the Rally and March For Life, peacefully praying and demonstrating for the respect of all life and the protection of the unborn. Bishop Reidy gave the closing remarks, prayer and blessing. For many of us, with the Cathedral School children attending the morning kick-off Mass, their precious young voices praying the Our Father, touched our hearts and brought tears to many eyes, making fo...

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Each year on March 25, the Church pauses to celebrate the Solemnity of the Annunciation, the moment when heaven touched earth in a profound and life-changing way. The account of this sacred encounter is found in the Gospel of Luke (Luke 1:26–38). On this day, we recall the angel Gabriel’s visit to the Blessed Virgin Mary, bringing news that would alter the course of human history: she was chosen to bear the Son of God. Scripture tells us: “The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Jose...

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On Sunday, March 15th at St. Joseph's in Rockville, more than 400 people were on hand to celebrate the Confirmation of 33 of our young people from St. Joseph's, Blessed Sacrament, St. Luke's and St. Edward's with Bishop Richard Reidy.   The Catholic sacrament of Confirmation is one of the seven sacraments and is considered a key step in a Christian’s spiritual journey. It completes the grace received at Baptism and strengthens the individual’s relationship with God. Through Confirmation, a person is sealed with the gift of the Holy...

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The Diocese of Norwich mourns the passing of Sister Joan Marie Crapps, 77, who passed away peacefully on March 16, 2026, at St. Joseph Living Center, following complications from cancer, a disease she faced with courage and faith for seven years. Born on December 21, 1948, in St. Paul, Minnesota, she was the daughter of the late Steve and Eda Mae (Dreager) Crapps. Drawn to a life of service at a young age, Sister Joan entered the Sisters of Charity of Our Lady, Mother of the Church in Baltic, Connecticut, in September 1966. She professed her Perpetual Vows in 1975, dedic...

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Students, teachers, staff, and friends of Sacred Heart School in Norwich and St. James School in Danielson were given a powerful and moving experience as they attended St. Luke Productions’ presentation of Tolton: From Slave to Priest. More than a performance, the production brought to life the extraordinary story of Father Augustus Tolton, the first African American priest in the United States, through a compelling blend of drama, music, and multimedia storytelling. Father Tolton’s journey to the priesthood was marked by perseverance, faith, and an unwave...

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VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- All baptized Christians share in the Church's mission and, guided by the Holy Spirit, are fit for renewing and building up the Church, Pope Leo XIV said at his weekly general audience. Every person who has been baptized is called to bear witness to Christ, and the whole Church, beyond its leaders, has a role in preserving the truth of the faith, the pope said March 18 in St. Peter's Square. Continuing his series of reflections on the Second Vatican Council, the pope focused on the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church ("Lumen Gentium&q...

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The Most Reverend Richard F. Reidy celebrated the Saint Patrick Mass at noon on March 17 at the Cathedral of Saint Patrick in Norwich, drawing the faithful together to honor Ireland’s patron saint and to pray as a Church during the Lenten season. The liturgy was both joyful and prayerful, a fitting celebration of Saint Patrick’s lasting witness to courage, missionary zeal and unwavering trust in God. In his homily, Bishop Reidy pointed to Saint Patrick not simply as a figure from the distant past, but as a living example of what it means to belong completely ...

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