The 2025 Annual Catholic Appeal, One Faith One Family, Leadership Meeting and Dinner took place on February 26, 2025, at St. Maurice Church in Bolton, CT. Bishop-Elect Reidy was in attendance and heartfully thanked all of the priests, chairpeople and administrative assistants for their hard work on last year’s appeal. Executive Director, Mary Ellen Mahoney also expressed her gratitude to the attendees, noting that they never would have ended the year so close to goal without everyone’s dedication and sacrifice. Father Richard Breton hosted the even...

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Celebrating 15 Years of Honoring Catholic Educators This year will mark the 15th Annual Seton Scholarship Dinner, titled respectively after Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton who is known as a founder of this country’s parochial school system, established this nation’s first all-girls Catholic School in Emmitsburg, Maryland. Elizabeth was born on August 28, 1774, and originally raised Episcopalian before converting to Catholicism. She was married to William Seton, and they had five children. The Legacy of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Elizabeth Ann Seton was the fou...

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The seventh- and eighth-graders at St. Joseph School in New London understand well the reasons they spend the morning on the third Thursday of March each year preparing dinner for the New London Community Meal Center just around the corner from the school. For 36 years, young people in grades 7 and 8 have cooked and served meals to the guests of the Meal Center. In the words of the eighth-grade vice president when asked why they do it: “God wants us to do this!”   Stones of God's Kingdom St. Joseph School makes clear to its st...

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The Blessed Michael McGivney Pilgrimage Center in New Haven is hosting a powerful new exhibition titled Among the Persecuted and Displaced: Photographs from Iraq and Nigeria, on display from March 22 through September 7, 2025. The exhibition highlights the stories of Christians who face extreme persecution in these regions, where militant groups like ISIS and Boko Haram have inflicted devastating violence and displacement. Featuring the work and outreach of Stephen Rasche, an American attorney and advocate for persecuted Christians, the exhibit offers a poignant look int...

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Sitting with Lue Ann Watchus in her office at Sacred Heart Rectory in Norwichtown, one quickly becomes aware of being in the presence of holiness. Whether it is her quiet demeanor or the softness in her voice, or the way she ends a telephone call offering a blessing to the person on the other end, there is an endearing gentleness about her that speaks of a life-long relationship with Jesus. She speaks about that relationship not in pious or overly religious tones, but as one who knows Jesus intimately as a friend and companion on her life journey. It is that relationship...

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St. Joseph School in Baltic marked a significant milestone this year—its 150th anniversary. Since its founding in 1874, the school has remained a cornerstone of faith, education, and community, shaping generations of students to lead lives of service and integrity. The anniversary celebrations on January 26, 2025, brought together alumni, students, faculty, and friends to honor this legacy. Commemorative Mass The day began with a special Mass at St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception, celebrated by Father Tito and concelebrated by Father Josemaria. Students parti...

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Cor is part of a larger initiative by The Knights of Columbus called Evangelization and Faith Formation. Cor is meant to rekindle part of Blessed Michael McGivney’s original vision for the Knights—that being the formation of the faith of men of the parish.  Blessed McGivney had a real zeal for the souls of people. Cor is not an Acronym.  It is Latin for “heart.”  Cor comes from John Henry Newman’s motto, “Cor ad cor loquitur,” which translates to “Heart speaks to heart,” It emphasizes the importance of ...

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With a warm smile, a hearty laugh, and a matter-of-fact attitude, Mother Mary David Riquier, newly elected Superior General of the Sisters of Charity of Our Lady Mother of the Church (SCMC) in Baltic, said she has learned a key approach to navigating in her new position – delegating to others. “I know I can’t do as much as I did some years back,” she said reflectively. “I have to delegate more than I used to, but it is working out very well. Our sisters are doing a wonderful job supporting me. One person cannot keep tabs on all the moving pa...

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  The heroics of St. Patrick are not appreciated as much as they should be. He is the first person in history to publicly condemn slavery, and one of the first leaders to champion the cause of equal rights. There is much to celebrate on March 17. Fortunately, his writings, though slim, are eye-opening accounts of his life: Letter to the Soldiers of Coroticus and Confession reveal much about the man. Along with other sources, they paint a picture of his saintliness. Patrick was born in Britain in the 4th century to wealthy parents. It is likely that he was bapt...

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Pope Francis’ prayer intention for the month of March is for families in crisis. “We all dream about a beautiful, perfect family but there’s no such thing as a perfect family,” Pope Francis said in a video released March 4. “Every family has its own problems as well as its tremendous joys.” He pointed out that “every member of the family is important because each member is different than the others, each person is unique. But these differences can also cause conflict and painful wounds.”  “And the best medi...

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