Massachusetts Citizens for Life presented the first "Mark Rollo Award for Life" at its 50th anniversary gala Oct. 14. Keynote speaker Dr. Ben Carson gave the award to Dr. Rollo's wife, Annette Rollo of Fitchburg. Attendees were challenged to continue defending life at every stage.
Echoing the call of the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Bishop McManus has joined with his brother bishops in the United States in calling for a day of fasting, abstinence and prayer on Tuesday, October 17, for peace and reconciliation in the Holy Land amid a rapidly escalating war between Israel and Hamas. Please consider taking some time on Tuesday to offer your own prayers for peace and, if possible, to fast or abstain in solidarity with those who are suffering in this crisis.
Patricia Sandoval, a pro-life and chastity speaker, spoke personally about her journey of healing from abortion, what it was like to work at Planned Parenthood, and overcoming addiction, at this year’s Worcester Catholic Women’s Conference.
Christopher Klofft, a professor at Assumption University and Pope St. John XXIII National Seminary in Weston, retold creation accounts from Genesis, in light of St. John Paul II’s Theology of the Body in his talk. Deborah Savage, a professor at Franciscan University and co-founder and director of the Siena Symposium for Women, Family, and Culture, built upon it in hers.
“Courage in some ways is a peer support group system. There is no desire for change in a person except for a desire for holiness,” Father Blatchford said.
Faith, family and fellowship were highlights of the 2023 Worcester Catholic Women’s Conference, which drew about 375 participants to St. Joseph Elementary School.
Continuing to celebrate Mass is important to the diocese’s two newest senior priests. And the longest-serving senior priest is still in the ministry after 18 years. The diocese’s five men in this type of work help meet sacramental and pastoral needs at those parishes.
These experiences – and the sense of a new calling – moved Kathy Archambault to start the St. Monica Circle at St. Denis last year. The group brings together, for prayer and sharing, people who are concerned about loved ones who’ve left the Church.
Father James A. Houston served as a priest for 55 years, the final 31 as pastor at St. Rose of Lima Parish in Northborough. “He made the people feel very much a part of the parish,” Bishop McManus said. “After all those years, he was baptizing children of people who grew up in the parish.”
Ten years ago, Bishop McManus decided to begin a fundraiser for retired priests and the “Celebrate Priesthood! – Taste of the Diocese” gala was born. “I’ve always said that the people of the Diocese of Worcester have been extraordinarily generous,” Bishop McManus said. This year Celebrate Priesthood! will be held on Thursday, Oct. 26.
Hundreds of women will gather tomorrow for the Worcester Catholic Women’s Conference with the theme, “Male and Female He Created Them.” Speaking at the conference will be Father Colin Blatchford, Christopher Klofft, Father Derek Mobilio, Patricia Sandoval and Deborah Savage.
St. Mary of the Hills Parish has a new icon of St. Joseph. It’s the work of a former seminarian who came from Colombia specifically to create it for this church – and to make a retreat while doing so.
The Diocese of Worcester has a new monsignor: Msgr. Richard F. Reidy. He was named a "Chaplain to His Holiness," with the title of Reverend Monsignor, by Pope Francis.
Catholic Charities’ Crozier House, a men’s substance abuse recovery home, is expanding at 10 Hammond St. following the move this summer of the Catholic Charities Worcester County offices from that building to the Mercy Centre on West Chester Street.
After being resuscitated twice and enduring immense health struggles, Father Conrad S. Pecevich, who some have dubbed “Miracle Man,” has been recovering at St. Patrick’s Manor, a care facility in Framingham. But his life-and-death experiences have helped him to discover an additional calling.
Tricia Brzenk – a teacher and pre-school director – had prepared to be a Catholic school leader. But her induction to becoming principal at St. Anna Elementary School in Leominster involved the unexpected.
On Saturday, Oct. 7, St. Joseph School in Webster will host the upcoming 2023 Worcester Catholic Women’s Conference. The theme is “Male and Female: He Created Them.” Christopher Klofft, an associate professor of theology at Assumption University, will speak at the conference.
St. Paul Church in Warren is now an oratory in which the extraordinary form of the Mass will be celebrated. A religious community committed to the traditional Latin Mass, and new to the Diocese of Worcester, will serve the pastoral needs of parishioners. The decree also changed the canonical status of St. Stanislaus Parish in West Warren to a territorial parish to serve the needs of the Catholic community of Warren.
