Cardinals participate in the fifth Novendiales Mass for Pope Francis on April 30, 2025, in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican. | Credit: Daniel Ibañez/CNA   Members of the College of Cardinals have gathered in Rome in anticipation of the subsequent election of Pope Francis’ successor.  There are currently 252 cardinals, 133 of whom are eligible and expected to vote in the conclave. They range in age from 45 to 99.  Pope Francis chose 149 of the current members of the college, most of whom will help choose his successor as cardinal ele...

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Prayer for the Election of a New Pope O God, eternal shepherd, who govern your flock with unfailing care, grant in Your boundless fatherly love a pastor for Your Church who will please You by his holiness and to show us watchful care. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and resign with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever. Amen.   With the passing of a Pope, the Church enters a period called Sede Vacante (Latin for “the seat is vacant”). Click here for a quick breakdown of what happens. Prayer co...

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The Most Reverend Richard F. Reidy was ordained as the Sixth Bishop of Norwich, Connecticut at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, April 29th, 2025 at the Cathedral of Saint Patrick. The gathering filled the cathedral for the Mass of Episcopal Ordination of Bishop Reidy, who comes to Norwich from the Diocese of Worcester, Massachusetts, where he was vicar general. Pope Francis appointed Reidy as Sixth Bishop of Norwich in February.   Click here to see a photo gallery of the Ordination   Click here for more information about Bishop Reidy   Video of the compl...

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Memorial Day Cemetery Mass Schedule   Schedule of Masses in the Diocesan cemeteries on Memorial Day, Monday, May 26, 2025   THE NORWICH DEANERY Saint Joseph Cemetery, Boswell Avenue, Norwich, Rev. Msgr. Leszek Janik will celebrate this Mass on Memorial Day, Monday, May 26, 2025, at 9:00 a.m.  In case of inclement weather this Mass will be celebrated in the Cathedral of St. Patrick, 213 Broadway, Norwich.   Sacred Heart Cemetery, Harland Road, Taftville, Reverend Christopher Zmuda will celebrate this Mass at 9:00 a.m. on Monday,...

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The College of Cardinals announced Monday that the conclave to elect Pope Francis’ successor will begin on May 7, as the Church enters the final preparatory phase for choosing its 267th pope. The pivotal proclamation came following a morning general congregation meeting at the Vatican, where cardinals have been gathering daily since Pope Francis’ burial at St. Mary Major Basilica on April 26. The date falls within the traditional 15- to 20-day window following a pope’s death, allowing sufficient time for the “Novendiales” mourning period ...

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The Little Sisters of the Poor have completed a 10-part video series, entitled "Parade of Saints" based on the reflections of Pope Francis on the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Here is part 1 of the 10-part series, which offers a new video every Thursday.    

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VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The funeral Mass of Pope Francis will be celebrated April 26 in St. Peter's Square, the Vatican announced. Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, dean of the College of Cardinals, will preside over the liturgy, which begins a nine-day period of official mourning and daily memorial Masses. The deceased pope's body, which was taken to the chapel of his residence late April 21, the day of his death, will be carried into St. Peter's Basilica for public viewing and prayer early April 23. The public viewing was scheduled to end late April 25 wit...

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Liam Fama still remembers growing up in the White Hills of Shelton and the pleasure he got from walking through his father’s garden, picking vegetables off the plants to eat. Today, as coordinator of the St. Joseph the Worker Garden of Blessed Michael McGivney Parish, he and a team of volunteers are providing that same pleasure, and nutritional benefits, to scores of families each week by growing organic tomatoes, eggplants, bell peppers, cabbage, kale, spinach, squash, lettuce and a lot more to help feed those in need. “There are so many people who don&rs...

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Pope Francis prays at the “Garden of Angels” section of the Laurentino Cemetery in Rome on All Souls’ Day, Nov. 2, 2024. Credit: Vatican Media The Vatican on Tuesday released a previously unpublished text by Pope Francis following his passing on Monday containing the late pontiff’s reflections on aging and death. “We must not be afraid of old age; we must not fear embracing becoming old, because life is life, and sugarcoating reality means betraying the truth of things,” wrote Francis in the preface to a book in Italian by Cardina...

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Archbishop Christopher J. Coyne led local Catholics gathered at the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Hartford in praying for the repose of the soul of Pope Francis just hours after the Holy Father’s death on April 21, 2025, the Monday after Easter. Pope Francis was 88. The archbishop, more than a dozen priests and deacons, and Governor Ned Lamont took the opportunity to assemble at the Cathedral’s noontime Mass along with area Catholics and people of other religious faiths to reflect on, and pray for, the beloved pontiff. “His was a prophetic voice, consta...

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