• Holy Family and St. Stephen parishes merge and become St. Joseph and St. Stephen Parish
    Holy Family and St. Stephen parishes merge and become St. Joseph and St. Stephen Parish
    August 31, 2023
    The merger of Holy Family and St. Stephen parishes was called a cause for celebration when it was announced last weekend. The two parishes, within walking distance of each other, are officially one as of 12:01 a.m. on Sept. 1.
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  • College student inspires ‘friendship evangelization’
    College student inspires ‘friendship evangelization’
    August 30, 2023
    A university student who ministered to peers during the school year spent part of her summer reaching out to children, high school girls and college-bound young people. Kendall Mullen, 21, calls her outreach “friendship evangelization.”
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  • Worcester City Council hears draft ordinances on ‘limited pregnancy centers’
    Worcester City Council hears draft ordinances on ‘limited pregnancy centers’
    August 30, 2023
    The line item regarding advertising by pregnancy centers was tabled under privilege at a recent Worcester City Council. The item is expected to be on the agenda at the Sept. 12 meeting for comments and a vote. The council is considering draft legislation aimed at regulating “crisis pregnancy centers.”
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  • Bishop McManus talks about gender policy
    Bishop McManus talks about gender policy
    August 30, 2023
    Raymond L. Delisle, chancellor and director of communication, interviewed Bishop McManus about the sexuality and sexual identity policy as part of the "Conversation" program titled “In the News.”
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  • Bishops, laity concerned about sex education changes
    Bishops, laity concerned about sex education changes
    August 30, 2023
    The Massachusetts Catholic bishops and local lay people have expressed concern about proposed changes for sex education in the state’s public schools.
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  • Anna Maria College alumni, firefighters start the new academic year as professors
    Anna Maria College alumni, firefighters start the new academic year as professors
    August 17, 2023
    Recent graduates Xavier Harrelle and Matthew Parizo plan to make a difference not only in their communities, but at Anna Maria as well. Starting on Aug. 29, the good friends will take turns returning to campus from their firefighting jobs in Connecticut to teach a class called, “Principles of Emergency Services.”
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  • Mental Health, wellness issues addressed at Catholic schools
    Mental Health, wellness issues addressed at Catholic schools
    August 17, 2023
    St. Peter Central Catholic Elementary School in Worcester was one of several Catholic schools in the diocese which had administrators and teachers receiving certification in mental health first aid during the 2022-2023 academic year.
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  • Uniform swap helps families, recycles
    Uniform swap helps families, recycles
    August 17, 2023
    With the rise of fuel prices, inflation and the cost of education, many are seeking opportunities to reduce expenses while still providing their children with a good education in an environment where young souls and minds can thrive. And, if those opportunities promote sustainability, that’s even better. Along with its many other programs, the Saint Mary School Parents Association (SMPA) has been holding its uniform swap for more than 10 years.
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  • Knights of Columbus award scholarships to five local students
    Knights of Columbus award scholarships to five local students
    August 17, 2023
    Young members of St. Denis Parish in Ashburnham and St. Edward the Confessor Parish in Westminster were promised a total of $3,500 in scholarships from the parishes’ Knights of Columbus Council 15972 last spring, according to Jack McCarthy of St. Denis, the Knights’ financial secretary.
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  • Ghanaian Catholic Conference highlights Mary, Eucharist
    Ghanaian Catholic Conference highlights Mary, Eucharist
    August 17, 2023
    The 16th annual Ghanaian Catholic Laity Convention, held Aug. 11-13 at the DCU Center, drew about 826 people, said Father Enoch K. Kyeremateng, chaplain of the Worcester Diocese’s African Ministry and administrator of St. Joan of Arc Parish in Worcester. This year’s theme was, “The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us” (Jn 1:14), because the U.S. Catholic Church is observing the National Eucharistic Revival.
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  • Diocese Issues Policy Regarding Sexuality and Sexual Identity in Schools
    Diocese Issues Policy Regarding Sexuality and Sexual Identity in Schools
    August 15, 2023
    August 15, 2023, WORCESTER, MA -- The Diocese of Worcester has issued a standard policy for schools regarding sexuality and sexual identity. Entitled “Catholic Education and the Human Person,” it was approved by Bishop McManus in late June of this year and sent to all Catholic schools to incorporate into school handbooks beginning this fall. MORE
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  • Young people still eager to ‘create a bond’ with Christ as locals experience World Youth Day
    Young people still eager to ‘create a bond’ with Christ as locals experience World Youth Day
    August 10, 2023
    The pope, people and prayer were highlights for a local laywoman and a seminarian attending World Youth Day in Lisbon, Portugal, Aug. 1-6.
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  • Following Steubenville conference, youth in Worcester, Fall River dioceses connect
    Following Steubenville conference, youth in Worcester, Fall River dioceses connect
    August 10, 2023
    Members of local parishes joined people from other dioceses on a bus trip to the July 14-16 youth conference in Steubenville. “We had a really great group,” said Grace Benoit, 18, of Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Webster, one of the parishes on that trip. They experienced community with one another, which she found inspiring.
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  • ‘Happy priests’ needed, Come Follow Me video series relaunched
    ‘Happy priests’ needed, Come Follow Me video series relaunched
    August 10, 2023
    The Worcester diocesan TV Ministry in collaboration with the Office for Vocations, the week of Aug. 1, relaunched the video series Come Follow Me. Father Donato Infante, director of the Office for Vocations, conducted an interview with Father Thiago Ibiapina, associate pastor at Annunciation Parish in Gardner, to discuss his individual call to the priesthood.
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  • Adoration chapels help parishes to ‘flourish: A place for peace and quiet, amid worldy chaos
    Adoration chapels help parishes to ‘flourish: A place for peace and quiet, amid worldy chaos
    August 3, 2023
    Parishioners and adoration coordinators share the beauty of adoration chapels around the diocese such as Blessed Sacrament Adoration Chapel at Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Webster, Our Lady of Guadalupe Regional Adoration Chapel located in the lower church of John, Guardian of Our Lady Parish, in Clinton and Annunciation Parish in Gardner.
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  • Local storyteller creates forum for  sharing art
    Local storyteller creates forum for sharing art
    August 3, 2023
    Once upon a time, there was a storyteller who had a dream. The storyteller is Anthony McCaffrey, creator of Dovetales, a collection of religious fables or fairy tales for children. He writes them, and tells them at his parish, St. Anne and St. Patrick in Sturbridge, among other places. This spring he started a group called Artisans of Jesus and launched the website artisansofjesus.org.
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  • For service to the poor, Frank Carroll plaza rededicated
    For service to the poor, Frank Carroll plaza rededicated
    August 3, 2023
    Originally dedicated to Carroll in 2008, the plaza was rededicated on July 19 to the Worcester native in celebration of his decades of philanthropic work and service to the city. Mr. Carroll played an essential role in raising $1.7 million to purchase a fruit and vegetable store that was up for sale at the opposite end of the parking lot from St. John’s Church and renovating it into a soup kitchen and food pantry.
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  • Locals prepare for World Youth Day
    Locals prepare for World Youth Day
    July 27, 2023
    The United States is expected to have one of the five largest delegations, with more than 28,600 pilgrims, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops announced July 24. Most U.S. pilgrims are between the ages of 18 and 25, and more than 60 bishops are expected to join them.
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  • The power of the Eucharist at St. Anne novena
    The power of the Eucharist at St. Anne novena
    July 27, 2023
    Communists had closed seminaries and imprisoned some Christians. One prisoner’s sister asked a seminarian to take her brother Communion. Upon arrival, the seminarian saw an armed policeman, and quickly left. The seminarian went back the following day. What happened next was something he described as a miracle of the Eucharist.
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  • Massachusetts bishops sign petition opposing assault weapons
    Massachusetts bishops sign petition opposing assault weapons
    July 27, 2023
    The bishops of the four Catholic dioceses of Massachusetts were among the more than 350 people who signed a petition for the U.S. Congress to pass a national ban on assault weapons.
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