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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VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Almost four years after Pope Francis opened the Catholic Church's path toward synodality -- a term many in the church had never heard before -- his successor has thrown his support behind the last leg of the church's' synodal journey. The Synod of Bishops, which admitted women, lay and other non-bishop voting members among its ranks during its two universal assemblies in October 2023 and 2024, "naturally retains its institutional profile and at the same time is enriched by the mature fruits of this season," Pope Leo XIV told th...

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Kelly Henderschedt, archdiocesan director of Faith Formation and Parish Life, holds up a map showing Hartford among 20 dioceses selected to participate in a national family faith project. PHOTO BY SHELLEY WOLF   There is a map of the United States with 20 Catholic dioceses that are part of a cutting-edge, family faith project – and the Archdiocese of Hartford is literally on the map. Hartford appears proudly among the dioceses of New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and Honolulu on a map created by the National Community of Catechetical Leaders, or NCCL, a nat...

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  The original book cover of “Lord of the World” by Robert Hugh Benson. Credit: Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons   The last three popes — Benedict XVI, Francis, and Leo XIV — have on more than one occasion recommended reading “Lord of the World,” the dystopian science fiction novel written by Robert Hugh Benson in 1907. This apocalyptic novel depicts the consequences of a society that turned its back on God and presents a social critique of the customs of the West, which has succumbed to capitalism and social...

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On June 24, St. Vincent de Paul Place (SVdPP) in Norwich held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to unveil a new elevator, enhancing accessibility for clients and streamlining the movement of donations. Bishop Richard F. Reidy, at right, blessed the elevator and attendees, and SVdPP Executive Director Jill Corbin emphasized the project as a shared commitment to “accessibility and dignity.” The $3.3 million project, which began over two years ago, was funded through a combination of state support, in the form of $1.7 million from Connecticut’s Department ...

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