Editor’s Note After nearly ten years of ministry with the Diocese of Norwich, our dear colleague Mary-Jo McLaughlin has entered retirement. While she may be stepping away from her day-to-day role, she is not stepping away from us entirely. I’m happy to share that she will continue writing her beloved Marriage Matters column, bringing her insight and compassion to our readers in the months ahead. In the following reflection, Mary-Jo shares her heartfelt gratitude for the journey she’s been on—and the faith that continues to guide her. It’s...

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A Life of Mission and Mercy: Sr. Eileen Smith, DHS December 31, 1921 – June 17, 2025   Sr. Eileen Smith, DHS, 103, a member of the Daughters of the Holy Spirit, entered her eternal rest on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, at St. Joseph Living Center in Windham, where she had been in residence since 2018.   Rose Eileen was born December 31, 1921, in Attleboro, MA, the daughter of the late Joseph A. and Rose (Soucy) Smith, the seventh of fifteen children. She entered religious life in 1940 and made her religious profession on August 20, 1945, at the P...

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Notre-Dame de Paris (French for “Our Lady of Paris”), also known as Notre-Dame Cathedral or simply Notre-Dame, is among the largest and most well-known church buildings in the world. | Credit: Sam valadi, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons   Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris has become the most visited place in France. Since reopening its doors last December after a 2019 fire, it has welcomed more than 6 million people. On April 15, 2019, the French capital witnessed one of the most devastating tragedies in its recent history. Its iconic cathedral &mdash...

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There are several current job openings for educators in our diocese.  The positions are updated weekly, so be sure to bookmark this page in your browser-  NorwichDiocese.org/Employment Click Here to See the Current Open Positions  All candidates must complete the official professional application to be considered for a teaching position or principal position and submit it to the Diocesan School Office. Applications are available on the employment page of the website. Visit NorwichDiocese.org/Employment to view all of the open jobs in the di...

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With the arrival of summer in the Northern Hemisphere, many people take a vacation, a period of rest away from their routine but also a unique opportunity to reconnect with their faith. A bishop, a mother, and a priest shared some tips from their own experiences for “sanctifying vacations” and evangelizing at vacation spots.   1. Take time to connect with God. Speaking with ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner, the bishop of Matamoros-Reynosa in Mexico, Eugenio Lira, emphasized that summer is a time of rest to “recreate&rd...

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As the United States celebrated Independence Day last week, Pope Leo XIV received Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly and Supreme Chaplain Archbishop William Lori of Baltimore in a private audience at the Vatican. The July 4 audience was the first meeting of the U.S.-born pope with the leader of the Knights of Columbus and the chief shepherd of the Archdiocese of Baltimore, which in 1789 became the first diocese in the United States. During their visit, the supreme knight and supreme chaplain pledged the Order’s loyalty to Pope Leo and promised ongoing prayers and support...

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July 3, 2025 The Most Reverend Richard F. Reidy, Bishop of Norwich, has made the following clergy and diocesan appointments in the Diocese of Norwich   DIOCESAN APPOINTMENT Rev. Msgr. Leszek T. Janik, JCL, Vicar General of the Diocese of Norwich, while continuing as Pastor of Sacred Heart Church, Norwichtown, and Saint Joseph Church, Norwich. Effective: June 5, 2025. Very Rev. Ted Tumicki, STL, JCL, Judicial Vicar for the Tribunal Office of the Diocese of Norwich. Effective: June 5, 2025.   CLERGY APPOINTMENT Reverend Francis Gi...

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VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Leo XIV called on every parish and church group or association to become part of a "revolution" of care and gratitude by regularly visiting older people. "Christian hope always urges us to be more daring, to think big, to be dissatisfied with things the way they are," the pope wrote in his message for World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly, a church celebration that will take place July 27. "In this case, it urges us to work for a change that can restore the esteem and affection to which the elderly are entitled,&...

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As we journey through Ordinary Time, the Church calendar continues to offer rich reminders of the extraordinary lives of the saints. Mid-July presents a beautiful opportunity to reflect on men and women whose holiness, courage, and devotion continue to inspire Catholics around the world. From founders of religious orders to faithful parents and servant-emperors, these saints reveal the many ways God works through every vocation and walk of life. July 11 – Saint Benedict of Nursia (c. 480 – 547; canonized 1220) Born in Nursia, Italy, Benedict sought solitud...

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  Prayer for Our Nation   God our Father, Giver of life, we entrust the United States of America to Your loving care. You are the rock on which this nation was founded. You alone are the true source of our cherished rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Reclaim this land for Your glory and dwell among Your people. Send Your Spirit to touch the hearts of our nation’s leaders. Open their minds to the great worth of human life and the responsibilities that accompany human freedom. Remind Your people that true happiness is r...

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