Home/Stay Informed/All Diocesan Articles

All Diocesan Articles

A Dedicated Servant of Faith Takes on a New Role

Posted on January 14, 2025 in: News

A Dedicated Servant of Faith Takes on a New Role

The Office of Faith Events is thrilled to welcome Alvania Tejada as its new administrative assistant. Alvania is a familiar face in the Diocese of Norwich, bringing years of devotion, experience and heartfelt service. Originally from the Dominican Republic and a proud mother of two adult children, Alvania has long been a part of our diocesan community, holding numerous ministry roles that have impacted countless lives. Her journey brought her to the U.S. in 1998 and then to Connecticut in 2002, where her story of Faith and service truly began to flourish.

For nearly two decades, Alvania was an active parishioner at St. Mary Star of the Sea in New London, serving from 2009 to 2021 as the youth ministry coordinator, faith formation secretary and Safe Environment advocate. “We have known and worked with Alvania for years as a youth minister, and we are so excited to have her positive energy and contagious smile brightening our office and our work,” shares Liza Roach, youth and young adult minister in the Office of Faith Events.

In addition to her parish work, Alvania has served the diocese in various capacities, including part-time as the immigration program coordinator at Catholic Charities in New London. She has also supported the Development Office of the Sisters of Charity in Baltic and held a role in the Faith Formation Office at St. Mary and Sts. Peter & Paul in Norwich, where she served as director of faith formation in the summer of 2021.

After moving to Norwich in 2022, Alvania began working at Backus Hospital, yet she never let go of her passion for ministry, continuing her faith formation work as a volunteer.

Her spiritual journey deepened in 2004 when she made her first promise as a layperson with the Missionary Servants of the Word, a commitment that has continued to nourish her spiritual life.

“This job is a dream come true. I feel that God has called me to this new job, and I am inspired to do this work every day. The work I am doing now is making a difference in my own life as well as in the diocese,” Alvania shares with heartfelt gratitude.

For those wishing to connect with Alvania in the Office of Faith Events, she can be reached at 860.848.2237, ext. 304 or faithevents@norwichdiocese.net.

By Andrea Hoisl


Most Viewed Articles of the Last 30 Days

When does Christmas Actually End? Here are the Different Views.
How many days is Christmas? When should you finally take those lights off the porch or remove the tree? Read on for some of the arguments for and against commonly agreed-upon end dates for Christmas. ‘Christmas is one day’ This, of course, is the simplest answer. Christmas is typically celebrated on Dec. 25 for most of the world — or Jan. 7 for churches using the Julian calendar (Jan. 6 for yet another, considerably smaller, part of the world.) On this day, the liturgy celebrated is the feast of the Nativity of the Lord. Priests wear white vestments on...

Read More

Watch the Replay of Christmas Eve Mass from the Cathedral
Merry Christmas! The beauty of the cathedral can be experienced year-round and will remain fully decorated until the Solemnity of the Epiphany on January 6, 2025. Masses are daily 7 AM and noon.

Read More

Hope Does Not Disappoint ā€” Jubilee Year Opens in Norwich
This morning, December 29, on the Feast of the Holy Family, the Diocese of Norwich joyfully celebrated the Opening Mass of the Jubilee Year at the Cathedral of Saint Patrick. The liturgy, celebrated by Bishop Juan Miguel Betancourt, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Hartford, was a profound reminder of the Jubilee theme, “Spes Non Confundit” (Hope Does Not Disappoint), as the Church enters this sacred time of renewal and grace. Bishop Betancourt delivered a homily emphasizing the unity of the Church as one faith, one family in Christ. The celebra...

Read More

Special Report: Inside the Prison as Pope Francis Opens the Jubilee Holy Door
From inside the walls of Rome’s largest prison, Christmas hymns rang out as inmates and prison guards together sang “Silent Night” and exchanged the sign of peace during an intimate Mass led by Pope Francis to mark a historic moment — the first opening of a jubilee Holy Door within a prison. The pope’s Thursday Mass in Rome’s Rebibbia Prison Complex on the feast of St. Stephen — the first Christian martyr — marked a profound beginning to the Catholic Church’s Jubilee of Hope, symbolizing redemption and the possibility...

Read More

Christmas Pastoral from Archbishop Christopher J. Coyne
Christmas 2024 My friends, I am pleased to share with you this Christmas pastoral letter as the Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Norwich. Many of you are regular Mass goers.  Some of you come occasionally, once a month or so.  Some come once or twice a year on the major holidays of Christmas or Easter.  For others, this may be the first time you have been in a church for years or maybe even for the first time. To all of you, I say, “Welcome and merry Christmas.” Whatever your relationship with the Church may be, I invite you to c...

Read More

A Timeless Tradition: The 45th Annual Festival of Lessons and Carols at the Cathedral
The 45th Annual Festival of Lessons and Carols was held on Sunday, December 22, 2024, on the Fourth Sunday of Advent. One of the most festive ways to enjoy the beauty of the Cathedral of Saint Patrick, the event featured readings of sections of the Christmas story, choir music, and the singing of carols appropriate to the season. The evening began with a musical procession down the center aisle, setting the tone for a truly memorable celebration. Prayers were offered by Father Julian Cuervo-Lozada, Parochial Vicar of the Cathedral. Readings were proclaimed by The Cat...

Read More

Annual Catholic Appeal

ACA DONATE

English

EspaƱol

 

Latest Articles
Archbishop Coyne Reflects on the Baptism of the Lord: "Don't Ever Apologize for Being Catholic"
Celebrating Dedication- Annual Seton Scholarship Dinner Honors Champions of Catholic education
Annual Catholic Appeal Thanks You!
Monthly Pro-Life Mass to be Held February 1
A Dedicated Servant of Faith Takes on a New Role
Pope Looks Back on His Life, Urges People to Look to Future with Hope
The Transformative Power of Catholic Education
Calendar of Events

 

Recently Added Galleries
Click to view album: 40 Days for Life 2024
Click to view album: Blessing of the Fleet 2024
Click to view album: Mass of Ordination for Fr. Eric Carl Hosmer, Fr. Julian Felipe Cuervo-Lozada and Fr. Alexander James Pandolfe
Click to view album: Norwich Diocesan Council of Catholic Women (NDCCW) 46th Annual Layette
Signup for Weekly Newsletter

     

    Roman Catholic Diocese of Norwich
    201 Broadway
    Norwich, CT 06360-4328
    Phone: 860-887-9294