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...

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The Diocese of Norwich proudly announces the Our Lady, Queen of Hope Award, which celebrates the extraordinary contributions of women of faith within our diocesan community. Named after Mary, our Blessed Mother and role model in faith, this award recognizes women who exemplify vision, leadership, and hope in the Catholic Church. Award Details: The recipient will receive an award and a check for $200, made payable to the Catholic charity, parish, or diocesan ministry of her choice. Nominee Criteria: Nominees should embody the following qualities: Strong fai...

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This past Sunday, Archbishop Christopher Coyne, Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Norwich, delivered an inspiring homily at the Baptism of the Lord Mass. In his message, he urged the faithful to embrace their identity as Catholics with confidence and joy, reminding them, "Don't ever apologize for being Catholic." Archbishop Coyne drew meaningful connections between the baptism of Jesus and our own call to live as beloved children of God. He reflected on the feast's profound significance, encouraging the community to proclaim the Good News boldly...

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Four Acclaimed National Comedians to Perform at 2nd Annual “Comedy, Charity, Community” Night at Wesleyan University, Friday, January 24th, to benefit Amazing Grace Food Pantry St. Vincent de Paul Middletown (SVDM) in partnership with Wesleyan University’s Robert F. Schumann Institute of the Bailey College of the Environment is proud to present a night of “Comedy, Charity, Community” on Friday, January 24, 2025, from 6 to 9 p.m. at. Wesleyan University’s Fayerweather Building, Beckham Hall, 55 Wyllys Ave, Middletown. Tickets ($69) a...

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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...

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I recently attended a reunion of my high school class. Most of the men I hadn’t seen in over a half-century. We reminisced about our high school experience, the great times, the great and not-so-great teachers, and the good and bad of attending an all-boys high school. But what we all remembered most was the wonderful academic environment created by the Vincentians who administered the school. We attended St. John's Preparatory School, which at the time was located on Lewis Avenue in the Bedford-Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn, New York. “The Prep” w...

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