You can make a Cursillo – a retreat-like weekend – once in your life. But you can spend the rest of your life living out what you gain there. Leaders of the Cursillo movement in the Worcester Diocese are working on new – and old – ways to help people do that.

African children and teenagers are performing a play written by a fellow parishioner that teaches them how to act. The Singing Stars children’s choir from the African community at St. Peter Parish-St. Andrew the Apostle Mission is putting on “Pricked Rose” at 7 p.m. June 1 in the gym at St. Peter Central Catholic Elementary School, 865 Main St.

Michele Norris, award-winning journalist, spoke at the 172nd commencement of the College of the Holy Cross, held Friday in the DCU Center, where 750 diplomas were bestowed.

“Everybody was distraught” upon learning that St. Bernard Parish was being merged with St. Camillus de Lellis Parish across the city, Maureen Hayes said recently. That was in 2010. But that sorrow has turned to joy.

WORCESTER – “The Catholic Church stands with you,” Bishop McManus told immigrants at a special Pentecost Mass Saturday evening at St. Paul Cathedral. He tried to assure those who fear having to leave the United States that the Church will do everything it can to protect them. 

Lay people are called to change the culture through the lens of the Church, but in the United States they have not picked up the baton, Bishop McManus said during a presentation about physician assisted suicide May 17.

Prayers and praise, presentations and presence were his birthday gifts. He received them with his trademark warm smile, outstretched hands and rousing rendition of “Danny Boy.” The guest of honor, on his 90th birthday – Saturday, May 12, was none other than Daniel P. Reilly, bishop emeritus of the Diocese of Worcester.

Recently, Bishop McManus asked the priests and laity of the diocese to pray for the immigrant community on Pentecost weekend. It is very fitting because on Pentecost we celebrate the birthday of the Church. It is not race, color of skin, or place of origin that makes the Church, but it is the Holy Spirit – the source of unity and human solidarity.

Developing a relationship with Jesus, through his Mother, was at the heart of two talks given to healthcare professionals May 10 and 11. Sister Angela de Fatima Coelho, a medical doctor from Portugal, was special guest at the 14th annual Divine Mercy Medicine, Bioethics & Spirituality Conference, held at the College of the Holy Cross

The Worcester Diocese will conduct a capital campaign over the next two years to address “critical diocesan and parish capital issues,” Bishop McManus announced this week. The campaign will be conducted by Guidance in Giving Inc., the bishop said.

The Catholic Schools Office has announced that it is seeking to fill a new position in the Diocese of Worcester, Associate Superintendent of Secondary Schools. The person will work directly with the three Central Catholic High Schools in the Diocese, namely Holy Name, St. Bernard, and St. Peter-Marian, eliminating the need for a separate headmaster or president. The goal of the new position is to foster a more system-wide approach to diocesan Catholic secondary education in order to optimize performance across the three secondary schools while simultaneously improving operational efficiency. While this new position oversees operations at all three schools, this does not involve a merger of the schools. The three schools will continue to operate with individual principals and staff, as well as maintain a niche character which reflects the charisms of their founding religious communities, including the Sisters of St. Anne, the Sisters of St. Joseph, the Sisters of Mercy, and the Presentation Sisters of the Blessed Virgin Mary. CLICK TITLE FOR MORE

Youth were encouraged to develop a relationship with Jesus, spread his word and be open to a vocation Saturday. They were attending the annual Scouting Religious Awards Mass at St. Paul Cathedral to receive religious medals they have earned in the Boy Scouts of America (BSA), Girl Scouts of America (GSA) or American Heritage Girls (AHG).

The Men of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary have been sharing the infinite love of Jesus and Mary with people throughout Massachusetts. They do so by spreading devotion to the Sacred Heart by enthroning Jesus in homes, parishes, businesses and schools.

The Massachusetts Catholic bishops released a statement Monday urging support for an increase in the hourly minimum wage.

Mother’s Day is a time to remember our mothers and all they have done for us. But for the women of St. Denis Parish in Douglas, Mother’s Day signals the beginning of their annual campaign - “Mother’s Love” -to help other mothers in need.

WORCESTER – Blessed Sacrament Parish received a $10,000 grant this week to educate and support families dealing with addictions. The project is to be carried out at the church and in neighborhoods and homes.

The Assumptionists are rededicating themselves to St. Anne and St. Patrick Parish in Sturbridge by establishing a new local community of men there. Assumptionist Father Dennis M. Gallagher, provincial superior of the North American Province, made the announcement last weekend.

Parishes around the diocese have embraced Pope Francis’ teaching on the environment in different ways. But now, at the urging of Peter Dunbeck of St. Luke the Evangelist Parish in Westborough, the diocese has established a ministry team to address ecological issues.

WHITINSVILLE – St. Patrick Parish’s video ministry has been thriving. Its goal is “to share the Word of God with our friends, neighbors and fellow parishioners around the world.” It’s been doing so by live-streaming the church’s Sunday Mass each week.

A young woman’s concern about a slain police officer led to Blessed Sacrament Parish sending 500 rosaries to the Yarmouth Police Department.