All Diocesan Articles

  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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On Sunday, March 9, the First Sunday of Lent, the Cathedral of Saint Patrick in Norwich was filled with faith and anticipation as catechumens from across the diocese gathered for the Rite of Election. This significant step in their journey toward full initiation into the Catholic Church marks their formal enrollment in the Book of the Elect, bringing them one step closer to the Easter sacraments. With our diocese still awaiting the appointment of a new bishop, Archbishop Emeritus of the Archdiocese of Hartford presided over the celebration, offering words of encouragemen...

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  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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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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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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